Assistant Dean for Public Services

Job Announcement: Assistant Dean for Public Services

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Libraries seek an innovative, creative, and dynamic professional for the newly created position of Assistant Dean for Public Services. This position, reporting to the Dean of Libraries, will provide administrative leadership in public service areas including User Access (circulation, course reserves, and stacks maintenance), User Experience and Assessment, and certain aspects of building maintenance and planning (especially as it relates to the user experience). This position is part of the UAB Libraries’ senior leadership team and will play a critical role in providing a seamless and unified experience to library patrons, especially in physical library spaces.

Review of applications will begin in early-November 2022.

Duties include:

• Plan, coordinate, and facilitate public services activities and provide leadership in setting goals and priorities. Responsible for overall operational efficiency of the User Access Department and the off-site storage facility.
• Develop, revise, and implement policies, procedures, and strategies in relevant areas.
• Supervise, mentor, motivate, and evaluate direct reports and have oversight of indirect reports, including student assistants, in those areas.
• Ensure accessibility and discoverability of physical resources and library public spaces.
• Plan for and develop the areas of assessment and user experience, especially as they relate to user experience in physical library spaces. Hire, supervise, and evaluate personnel serving in this area.
• Demonstrate principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in public services operations and physical facilities.
• Collaborate with administrative leaders in Research, Instruction and Scholarly Communication, Technology and Technical Services, Historical Collections, and Clinical Services, to facilitate process improvement and enhancement of user services throughout UAB Libraries.
• Foster effective communication, teamwork, collaboration and shared problem-solving within and between departments.
• Serve as a member of the libraries’ leadership team, sharing in policy-making decisions, planning, and management responsibilities.

Required qualifications

• American Library Association (ALA) accredited master’s degree or other advanced degree(s) appropriate to the position.
• Library experience with increasing responsibilities, preferably in the public services area.
• Experience managing employees, preferably in a library environment
• Excellent customer service skills, including the ability to effectively interact with others in a diverse academic environment.
• Strong organizational skills with proven success in independently managing and prioritizing multiple projects and managing deadlines.
• Demonstrated commitment to public service
• Ability to conceptualize, articulate, and implement short and long-range goals
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications skills
• Ability to support and enhance a diverse learning and working environment.
• Demonstrated strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Preferred qualifications

• Professional experience in the areas of library circulation and course reserve;
• Record of responsiveness to community needs, particularly inclusive community building, in an academic library or other public service environment.           
• Prior experience with library assessment such as with library instruction, e-resources, collections management, access services, etc.
• Prior experience with library user experience, usability, and accessibility efforts.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative environment as well as take initiative on independent projects.

UAB Libraries are committed to advancing equitable access to information, intellectual freedom, and the public good for the UAB community and the community at large. We recognize our social responsibility to advocate for marginalized voices and to inform and educate to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and mutual respect.

UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of, race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans.

A pre-employment background check investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment.

About UAB and Birmingham

UAB has been ranked as the top Young University in the United States for two consecutive years by Times Higher Education, and Forbes recently named UAB America’s No. 1 Best Large Employer, No. 4 in the nation among Best Employers for Diversity. UAB has been consistently recognized among a select few universities as a Diversity Champion by Insight into Diversity for the institution’s longstanding commitment to shared values that include diversity, inclusion and respect. UAB —among one of the most diverse campuses in the nation — is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts and creating an environment that can serve as a model for the kind of society we strive to build. UAB is the first university in the United States to adopt the Okanagan Charter and become an internationally recognized Health Promoting University.

Downtown Birmingham has enjoyed a revitalization in recent years, with the development of Railroad Park — an award-winning urban park — and its adjacent Regions Field, home to the minor league Birmingham Barons — an award-winning stadium. The park and stadium projects have kickstarted major growth in surrounding districts, including craft breweries, boutique shops, restaurants, loft and apartment buildings, innovative workspaces, and hotels.

There are a host of attractions only a short walk from UAB’s campus, the Birmingham Civil Rights District National Monument, composed of sites such as Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park and the Civil Rights Institute — a major destination for visitors from around the world. Birmingham's cultural scene is thriving, with museums, numerous galleries, music and arts festivals, theaters and live music venues, a professional ballet company, a professional opera company, a School of Fine Arts, the Jazz Hall of Fame, and the recent restoration of the historic Lyric and Alabama theaters. Birmingham is in proximity to many state and national parks, lakes, urban greenspaces, and hiking and biking trails. The city has more green space per capita than any other major city in the United States.

To learn more about the University of Alabama at Birmingham click here. To learn more about the UAB Libraries click here.

Qualified applicants please follow this link to apply online:

https://uab.peopleadmin.com/postings/16611