Associate Director of Instruction, Research, and Reference

The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law seeks to fill the position of Associate Director of Instruction, Research & Reference in the Thurgood Marshall Law Library.

Come join the Thurgood Marshall Law Library at the Francis King Carey School of Law at the University of Maryland Baltimore – ranked as one of America’s Best Employers (Forbes Magazine)! The law school campus is located in the heart of historic downtown Baltimore, steps away from a daily rotation of food trucks, seasonal farmers’ market, one of the oldest indoor markets in the country (Lexington Market), Camden Yards, and the Inner Harbor. The university’s shuttle provides easy access to other parts of the city. Baltimore has a rich history as a major transportation hub with the intersection of its seaport and the oldest railroad in the United States (Baltimore & Ohio). The economy has since shifted from industry and trade to knowledge and service. As a thriving intellectual hub, it is home to numerous academic campuses and libraries. With easy access to mountains and beaches, a quick drive or train ride to Philadelphia, New York, DC, and multiple airports, Charm City lives large.

The Thurgood Marshall Law Library is committed to innovation from playing an instrumental role in the robust, required legal research instruction program to the digitization of unique civil rights collections. We welcome applicants who are interested in building on this foundation and helping to lead forward-thinking initiatives that align with the university’s core values: respect and integrity; well-being and sustainability; equity and justice; and innovation and discovery.

Job Summary:

The Associate Director of Instruction, Research, and Reference reports directly to the Executive Director of the Thurgood Marshall Law Library. This position is an essential member of the library’s leadership team, providing input on strategic directions for the law library and leading critical programs and initiatives. This position oversees the day-to-day management for all legal research instruction, research support for faculty, and the library’s reference services. This position contributes expertise to library and campus committees, and participates in local, regional, and national organizations. In partnership with the Executive Director, this position will ensure that a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility is reflected in library services, operations, and team members.

Essential Responsibilities include:

ADMINISTRATION

• Contributes to operational and strategic planning as a member of the law library’s leadership team.
• Responsible for developing and implementing all policies and procedures for instruction, research, and reference in coordination with the Executive Director.
• Manages, evaluates, and mentors a team of direct and indirect reports that includes librarians, staff, and students.
• Actively supports and encourages professional development of direct and indirect reports.
• Ensures timely and accurate communication of relevant internal operations, procedures, and/or initiatives to direct reports.
• Participates in relevant library committees and task forces.
• Responsible for developing solutions within the context of instruction, research, and reference to meet the evolving needs of the Carey Law community.

INSTRUCTION

• Oversees the management, assessment, and implementation of the required legal research program.
• Evaluates and integrates new pedagogical approaches, technology, and best practices to facilitate student success in the legal profession.
• Proposes, develops, and implements updates to the legal research program (e.g., in anticipation of NextGen Bar Exam).
• Teaches in the required legal research program (i.e., first-year legal research, and advanced legal research).
• Communicates and partners with other first-year teaching faculty and leaders as needed to facilitate intentional, innovative legal instruction for law students.
• Coordinates ad hoc instruction in service of law school curriculum (e.g., guest lectures).

RESEARCH

• Responsible for the design, implementation, and assessment of support for faculty scholarship, research services, and initiatives.
• Oversees design and implementation of communications strategy for law faculty in coordination with Executive Director (e.g., biannual communications, relevant posts to weekly law school newsletter, centralizing access points, streamlining workflows).
• Primary point of contact for Lawyering Faculty.
• Works collaboratively with other personnel within the library and law school more generally to support the law school’s institutional repository.

REFERENCE

• Manages all aspects of the library’s reference department to ensure the library provides consistent, high-quality information services to the Carey Law community and other patrons.
• Develops goals and priorities for reference in service of the dynamic needs of the Carey Law community.
• Designs and implements centralized reference consultation model for current law students.
• Responsible for overseeing reference schedule and service points across all relevant channels (e.g., chat, in-person, email).
• Participates in reference coverage.

Qualifications :

Required Qualifications include:

• Master’s in Library Science (or related) and Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited program required.
• Minimum four years of academic law library experience with at least two years of supervisory experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Record of creativity in problem-solving and open-mindedness in decision-making.
• Able to contextualize new information and services to internal and external stakeholders.
• Committed to coaching and mentoring direct and indirect reports.
• Dedicated to fostering and modeling a collaborative, positive working environment.
• Strong project management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to prepare and explain reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external colleagues.
• Enthusiasm for innovation and user-centered services.
• Experience with the application of new and emerging technologies in library environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
• Collaborative approach to problem solving and working across teams and departments.
• Ability to prioritize and complete tasks in a rapidly changing environment.
• Understanding of library leadership trends, concepts, and best practices.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with members and affiliates of the law school community.
• Experience teaching legal research across multiple formats.

Preferred

• Experience assessing and updating legal research course or program.
• Experience assessing and updating faculty services program.
• Experience teaching in an asynchronous course.
• Experience managing in a flexible work environment.
• Experience using Blackboard.

Salary and Benefits:

• Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• This position offers a generous benefits package that includes 22 vacation days, 14 floating and fixed holidays, 15 sick days; comprehensive health insurance and retirement options; and tuition remission for employees and their dependents at any of the University System of Maryland schools.
• The position is a 12-month library faculty appointment. The successful candidate will be expected to meet library and university requirements for permanent status and promotion within established timeframes.

Availability: The position is available immediately.

To Apply:

Interested applicants should apply online at https://www.umaryland.edu/jobs/ and include a cover letter, CV/resume, the names and contact information of three references, and a separate signed/dated affidavit page (stating “I verify that my CV is current and accurate”). Individuals from historically marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. The position will remain open until filled. To ensure consideration, submit your materials by March 5, 2023.

UMB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law or policy. For assistance related to employment, please contact HRJobs@umaryland.edu .

If you anticipate needing a reasonable accommodation for a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), during any part of the employment process, please submit a UMB Job Applicant Accommodation Request . You may also contact HRDiversity@umaryland.edu . Please note that only inquiries concerning an ADA request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.