The Wake Forest University ZSR Library has expressly engaged Jack Farrell & Associates to find the winning candidate for this important position. Interested parties should send a CV and cover letter to Amy Morse (amy@jackfarrell.com). Details on the cover letter are found below. Thank you. 

 

Overview:

The Z. Smith Reynolds Library (ZSR) of Wake Forest University seeks a creative and collaborative library leader to serve as Associate Dean (AD). The successful candidate will be someone experienced with library faculty review and promotion as well as library employee development. In addition, they should be familiar with trends in academic library assessment as well as higher education in general. The Associate Dean serves on several university-level committees and represents the library in the absence of the Dean. The successful candidate will enthusiastically partner with others to grow our welcoming environment. We strongly encourage those who are passionate about fostering diverse, inclusive, and equitable libraries to apply.

 

The Associate Dean is the senior administrator in the Library after the Dean of Library and plays a vital role in managing all aspects of Library operation and maximizing the success of the superb ZSR team of 65 (34 dedicated library faculty and 31 staff). The Associate Dean leads the Library in the absence of the Dean and directly supervises the Library Business Manager, the Communications and Events Coordinator and the Library Fellow.

This is a full-time, twelve-month position, with library faculty status, and reports to the library Dean. ZSR Library faculty are governed by the policies established by the University’s Faculty Handbook and are evaluated annually on Librarianship (70%), Scholarship and Professional Achievement (20%), and Service (10%). The Associate Dean will be located in the ZSR Library with occasional flexible work options. The new AD will have resources for their professional development, join a welcoming and highly innovative team, have free access to the campus Wellbeing Center, enjoy proximity to beautiful parks and walking trails, experience a vibrant local arts community, sample amazing restaurants, benefit from a superb K12 school system and so much more.  Relocation assistance to Winston-Salem is available to the successful candidate. Learn more about the affordable, high quality of life in Winston Salem here: https://www.winstonsalem.com/living-here/lifestyle/

 

The Z. Smith Reynolds Library is dedicated to improving diversity, equality, and respect among our staff, students, collections, and services. We strive to overcome historical and divisive biases in our society and embrace diverse points of view as assets to the fabric of our community. All positions will be called on to contribute to building this environment.

The Associate Dean manages library faculty affairs including working with the library’s peer review committee and managing faculty contracts and appointments. The position also coordinates the staff hiring processes working closely with the University’s Human Resources. The Associate Dean coordinates the annual review process for staff and faculty and manages library committees. Experience with leading in and developing policies for a hybrid work environment is also valued. In addition, this position coordinates communication, planning, and assessment efforts. The Associate Dean works with the Dean and Library Business Manager to plan the annual budget and review employee salaries.

The deadline for applications is May 24, 2024.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited program or a master’s degree in a related field with experience in an academic, special, or research library setting. We also seek candidates who demonstrate:

• Significant and sustained leadership experience, ideally in an academic library setting;
• Experience with promotion and review of librarians;
• Experience with library employee development;
• Knowledge of best practices and trends leading through change;
• Experience with utilizing assessment and data in decision-making
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

 

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

We want to emphasize that these preferred qualifications are not required and that we are committed to helping our future colleague develop these preferred skills if needed.

• Familiarity with library faculty affairs, including appointment, promotion, and governance;
• Project management and problem-solving skills, ability to set priorities and manage multiple projects and competing deadlines;
• History of collaborative leadership with proven ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders to build consensus;
• Prior experience leading and managing a team in the academic library setting;
• Engagement in professional and/or subject discipline organizations, research, or publications.

 

Salary and Rank: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position is appointed to a Library Faculty rank as established by Wake Forest University. Rank at appointment is based on the successful applicant’s experience and relevant credentials. We anticipate hiring at the Associate Librarian or Librarian rank. The starting salary for this position would be no less than $120,000 annually and negotiable based on experience. Wake Forest offers a generous benefits package. https://hr.wfu.edu/benefits/

 

NOTE: The ZSR Library has engaged Jack Farrell & Associates (www.jackfarrell.com) to find the winning candidate for this position. Interested candidates should provide a CV and 2-3 page cover letter to Amy Morse (amy@jackfarrell.com). The letter should address the following:

• Highlight the ways you’ve been successful in supporting library employee development and success;
• Your experience with and/or knowledge of the promotion and review process for librarians, ideally with faculty status but experience with other promotion and review systems is relevant;
• Share with us your focus on excellence and your core commitment to using assessment to drive decisions;
• Give example(s) of projects or service that represented the library to the broader organization and/or community, ideally in a university setting;
• Describe how you have fostered an inclusive workplace and supported diversity initiatives.

 

About the Library and University

The Z. Smith Reynolds Library, with a collection of over 1.9 million volumes, materials expenditures of over $6 million, and an operating budget of over $13 million, serves over 5,500 undergraduates and over 2,800 graduate and professional students within the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, Divinity School, and the School of Professional Studies in Charlotte, NC. We collaborate with the Coy C. Carpenter Medical Library and the Law Library to supplement services for the School of Medicine and the Law School. Wake Forest is a private university where academic excellence is consistently recognized through rankings in the top tier of the country’s finest liberal arts institutions. Wake Forest offers a rare combination – the academic and technological resources, facilities and Division I athletic programs associated with a large university with the compact campus, small classes and individual attention only a smaller school can provide.

 

The University has a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the world, as indicated by the motto “Pro Humanitate.” The university is beautifully located between the western mountains and east coast beaches of North Carolina.

 

In order to provide a safe learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background screens for all final candidates being considered for employment.

 

Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce to maintain the excellence of the University, and to offer students richly varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.

 

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations for all final faculty candidates being considered for employment.

 

Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive work environment committed to excellence in the spirit of Pro Humanitate. In adherence with applicable laws and as provided by University policies, the University prohibits discrimination in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and veteran status and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.