Analysis and Planning Consultant, University Libraries

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.

For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

Join the Pennsylvania State University Library Assessment Department as an Analysis and Planning Consultant to lead and refine the University Libraries' User Engagement Program.

The User Engagement Program strengthens the Libraries' understanding of how learners and researchers use, experience, and value library services, providing evidence that informs strategic planning, resource allocation, and continuous improvement across the university system.

Serving as a trusted advisor to library leadership and operational teams and a key contributor to the program, the Analysis and Planning Consultant advances evidence based decision making through analytics, assessment, and user research.

Responsibilities:

User Engagement Program Leadership and Continuous Improvement:

• Lead and continuously refine the University Libraries' User Engagement Program to ensure systematic understanding of user needs, experiences, outcomes, andperceptionsof value.
• Establish and advance frameworks, methodologies, and practices that support user-centered decision-making across the organization.
• Identify emerging trends and opportunities for inquiry, coordinate user engagement activities across library units, and promote the integration of user insights into strategic and operational planning.
• Steward a culture of evidence-informed service development that strengthens the Libraries'effectiveness and impact.

Assessment Studies and Organizational Investigations:

• Design and conduct investigations that evaluate library services, programs, initiatives, operations, and emerging organizational questions.
• Serve as the point of contact for collaborations with departments, leadership, and strategic action teams to define research questions, select appropriate methodologies, collect and analyze evidence, and communicate findings.
• Develop actionable recommendations that inform decision-making, improve services, assess outcomes, and advance organizational priorities.
• Conduct comparative or contextual analyses, where appropriate, to place findings in relation to peer practices, institutional priorities, or broader higher education trends.
• Translate assessment and research findings into organizational intelligence through evidence synthesis, trend identification, performance and outcome measurement, and the communication of insights that support strategic and operational decision-making.

Professional Leadership and Organizational Contribution:

• Contribute to the development of colleagues and the advancement of the Libraries and the broader profession through mentoring, committee service, outreach, and professional engagement.
• Supervise student and part-time employees as assigned, support onboarding and staff development activities.
• Participate in Libraries and University-wide service initiatives and represent the Librariesin professional communities and collaborative partnerships whereexpertisein assessment, user engagement, and research methods is needed.

Stakeholder Consultation:

• Provide consultation on qualitative and quantitative research design, methods, analytics, and ethical research practices, including Institutional Review Board (IRB) guidance as applicable to library faculty and researchers.
• Educate and mentor colleagues on research integrity, methodological rigor, and evidence quality.

Additional responsibilities include but is not limited to:

• Serve on Libraries and University wide committees and participate in professional assessment communities to advance institutional goals and assessment practice.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated professional experience conducting or supporting applied research and assessment in an academic or research intensive context, including research design, instrument development, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and the production of professional and evaluative reports
• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods, including statistical analysis, and experience using relevant data analysis…