UF Job: Assessment Librarian – come work with an amazing team!

The UF Libraries are hiring for an Assessment Librarian. Please see the full job posting: http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/pers/FacultyPositions.html  and the posting is also copied below for ease.
I’m excited that the UF Libraries are hiring for this position, and very excited that we’ll soon have a new collaborator and leader for building a culture of assessment! I’m personally super excited to know that I’ll soon have a new colleague and collaborator!

POSITION VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT POSITION:
Assessment Librarian
RANK: Associate University Librarian
REPORTS TO: Dean of University Libraries
SALARY: Minimum salary $63,700; Actual salary will reflect selected professional’s experience and credentials
REQUISITION #: 0907727
DEADLINE DATE: April 6, 2015 – review of applications will begin on March 19, 2015
Please note that this posting has specific instructions for the submission of application materials – see our website at: http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/pers/careers.htm or the APPLICATION PROCESS section below for further details. Failure to submit the required documents may result in the application not being considered.
JOB SUMMARY
The Assessment Librarian is a faculty tenure track position that is a leader in developing and coordinating the implementation of a comprehensive and strategic assessment program within the George A. Smathers Libraries. The position serves to promote a culture of assessment, to provide various forms of expertise and increase the technical competencies of library staff in this area. This expert oversees and participates in assessment efforts throughout the Libraries; collects, analyzes, and documents a wide range of data; and contributes to a data–driven approach to achieving strategic objectives. The Assessment Librarian supports data analysis and reporting needs across the Smathers Libraries, and provides training and consultation on evaluation, data, and reporting tools and techniques. The work of the Assessment Librarian and the engagement of library staff will both enable the Smathers Libraries to document value and impact and to make evidence-based decisions, ensuring that the most effective programs, services, and spaces are offered to users. The Smathers Libraries encourages staff participation in reaching management decisions and consequently the Assessment Librarian will serve on various committees and teams, including the Statistics and Assessment Committee. To support all students and faculty and foster excellence in a diverse and global society, the Assessment Librarian will be expected to include individuals of diverse backgrounds, experiences, races, ethnicities, genders, and perspectives in work activities. The Assessment Librarian will pursue professional development opportunities, including research, publication, and professional service activities in order to meet library-wide criteria for tenure and promotion.
RESPONSIBILITIES

• Promotes the integration of assessment and evidence-based decision making related to services, collections, technology, and physical spaces, and positions the results of library assessment activities to enhance the Libraries and their impact.
• Coordinates the team-based development of conceptual frameworks and plans for assessment and the development and implementation of the systems necessary to collect, store, process, and disseminate data for internal decision-making and external reporting.
• Analyzes and reports quantitative and qualitative data gathered from various sources including library systems, vendor statistics, observations, surveys, web analytics, interviews, and focus groups and facilitates the use of this data to support of strategic planning, and other overall library initiatives.
• Manages data collection for annual reporting and survey responses including: gathering; reviewing, validating and evaluating; and synthesizing data submitted by library departments.
• Collaborates on cross-departmental quantitative and qualitative user and research studies and actively participates in or supports assessment-focused data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings.
• Investigates and communicates new methods for data collection, analysis, and documentation, and contributes to ongoing efforts to validate and improve evaluation instruments and protocols.
• Provides consultation to support library staff and units as they gather, process, analyze, manage, and report data related to library resources and services, including guidance on conducting unit assessments and the most suitable qualitative and quantitative protocols.
• Serves on committees and project teams, including the Statistics and Assessment Committee to contribute technical expertise to research and evaluation methodologies.
• Prepares and delivers internal training and documentation on statistical tools, statistical analysis, and assessment methodologies.
• Applies technical expertise to support and enhance the scholarly research activities of library staff.

QUALIFICATIONS
Required:

• A master’s or Ph.D. degree in the statistics, social sciences, or other relevant discipline or a master’s degree in library and information science or equivalent from an ALA-accredited school.
• Minimum of 8 years directly applicable professional experience.
• Expertise in a wide range of qualitative and quantitative data analysis methodologies and data visualization tools.
• Experience in conducting assessment projects and in documenting data, and providing recommendations for improvements.
• Expertise in program/outcomes evaluation, research design, instrument design, and the management, analysis, and reporting of data.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish positive and productive collaborations working with diverse audiences and colleagues throughout the Libraries and beyond.
• Demonstrated ability to present complex information to audiences who possess different levels of library knowledge.
• Demonstrated ability to advance multiple complex projects in a team environment, meet deadlines, and prioritize work.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Articulate and persuasive written and oral communication skills.
• Initiative, flexibility and the ability to adapt to a complex, rapidly changing academic environment.
• Planning and leadership skills, with the ability to function independently, take initiative, and set goals and priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Strong potential for meeting the requirements of tenure and promotion (outlined at http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/pers/cdh).

Preferred:

• Experience in designing and/or conducting usability testing, and facilitating focus groups.
• Knowledge of federal grant guidelines, writing, and research skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the operations, services, key issues and trends in academic libraries and institutions of higher education.
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative assessment methodologies, tools and standards, and their application in academic libraries.
• Strong working knowledge of standards for assessment in higher education.
• Ability to assess training and support needs; develop training content and instructional materials, and other documentation; and conduct workshops for library staff.
• Record of including individuals of diverse backgrounds, experiences, races, ethnicities, genders, and perspectives in research, teaching, service and other work.

THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
The University of Florida (UF) is a major, public, comprehensive, land-grant, research university. The state’s oldest and most comprehensive university, UF is among the nation’s most academically diverse public universities. UF has a long history of established programs in international education, research, and service. It is one of only 17 public, land-grant universities that belong to the Association of American Universities. UF traces its beginnings to a small seminary in 1853 and is now one of the largest universities in the nation, with more than 50,000 students. For more information, please consult the UF homepage at http://www.ufl.edu.
GEORGE A. SMATHERS LIBRARIES
The libraries of the University of Florida form the largest information resource system in the state of Florida. The UF Libraries consist of seven libraries; six are in the system known as the George A. Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida. The libraries hold over 5,800,000 print volumes, 8,100,000 microfilms, 630,000 e-books, 121,016 full-text electronic journals, 889 electronic databases, 1,300,000 documents and 766,000 maps and images. The libraries have built a number of nationally significant research collections, including the Latin American, Judaica, Florida History, Children’s Literature, and Maps and Imagery Collections. The Smathers Libraries are a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL), and LYRASIS. The library staff consists of more than 400 FTE librarians, technical/clerical staff and student assistants. The organizational chart is available at http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/orgchart.pdf.
STATISTICS AND ASSESSMENT
The Smathers Libraries is committed to a culture of assessment to make informed decisions about services, spaces, collections, and organizational change. Assessment is a cross-departmental effort within the Libraries, on campus, and beyond. The Statistics and Assessment Committee was established to coordinate library-wide collection and reporting of statistics and data as well as develop and promote assessment procedures to facilitate development of an evidence-based decision making model and a broader library culture of assessment at the Smathers Libraries. Committee members consult and equip library staff with the knowledge, tools, and support needed throughout the research process to meet assessment needs and stay abreast of best practices and trends regarding the collection of data and use of metrics in assessing library performance and contributions to university objectives. The Libraries completed a strategic directions planning process in 2014 and are initiating assessment and evaluation processes, which reflect the Balanced Scorecard methodologies used at other academic libraries.
COMMUNITY
Gainesville, Florida and the surrounding community are home to approximately 240,000 people and both the University of Florida and Santa Fe College. Situated just over an hour from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, the city is surrounded by over 40 nature parks, including many spring-fed lakes and rivers. In 2007, Gainesville was ranked as the “Best Place to Live and Work” by Frommer’s Cities Ranked and Rated and as one of the “Best Places to Live and Play” by National Geographic Adventure. Gainesville is known as an innovative municipal government and an innovative city. Gainesville continues to receive national recognition as a top-rated city. Some of Gainesville’s accolades are listed at the Gainesville Awards and Recognition link. A recent article in Florida Trend Magazine offers an in depth Community Portrait of Gainesville and the University of Florida. Gainesville was featured in the “Top 100 Best Places to Love 2014” on Livability, America’s Best Places to Live & Visit. The area has numerous cultural institutions and is a haven for sports fans. Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Tallahassee, and St. Augustine are all within a two-hour drive.
BENEFITS
Vacation days, paid holidays, and sick leave days; retirement plan options; insurance benefits; tuition fee waiver program; no state or local income tax. Prospective employees should review the information about employment and benefits at UF available at http://hr.ufl.edu/benefits/.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, submit 1) a cover letter detailing your interest in and qualifications for this position; 2) a written statement answering the question ‘Why has assessment become an emerging discipline within academic libraries?’(250-500 words); 3) a documentation depicting the work product of an assessment project you have led; 4) your current resume or CV; and 5) a list of three references including their contact information (address, telephone number, and email). Apply by April 6, 2015 (applications will be reviewed beginning March 19, 2015). Submit all application materials through the Jobs at UF online application system at http://jobs.ufl.edu/postings/62282. Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you have any questions or concerns about this process please contact Bonnie Smith, Smathers Libraries Human Resources Office, at bonniesmith@ufl.edu. The University of Florida is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from women and minority group members. We are dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic environment; we strongly encourage applications from women, members of underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. As part of the application process, applicants are invited to complete an on-line confidential and voluntary demographic self-disclosure form which can be found at: http://www.hr.ufl.edu/job/datacard.htm. This information is collected by the University of Florida’s Office of Human Resources to track applicant trends and is in no way considered by the Smathers Libraries in the selection process. Final candidate will be required to provide official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/.