The University of South Florida (USF) has exclusively engaged Jack Farrell & Associates (www.jackfarrell.com) to find its next Dean of Libraries. Interested candidates should provide a CV and a 2-page cover letter to Jack Farrell (jack@jackfarrell.com). The cover letter should address: 1) why am I interested? 2) how am I qualified? and 3) what is my vision for the Libraries going forward? Thank you.

 

 

The University of South Florida (USF) invites nominations, expressions of interest, and applications for an exceptional leader to serve as Dean of the USF Libraries. The university seeks a dynamic leader who will build on the USF Libraries' existing strengths to further advance the university toward becoming a top 25 public research university.

 

The Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the USF Libraries, overseeing a multi-campus research library system that supports a top 50 R1 AAU university serving nearly 50,000 students across campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee. The Dean will lead all aspects of library operations – including strategic planning, teaching and learning support, collections, services, outreach, and initiatives – to ensure the USF Libraries advance the success of students, faculty, and staff in alignment with the university’s strategic goals. This role demands a visionary and forward-thinking leader with a deep commitment to academic excellence, innovation, fundraising, and collaborative partnerships. The position is located on USF’s Tampa campus, and relocation assistance is available.

In serving its community of students, faculty, and researchers, the USF Libraries provide access to: 1.3 million print and electronic volumes; over 52,000 e-journal subscriptions; and over 800 databases. Its collections are constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of its patrons.

The following sections outline the key responsibilities, qualifications, leadership expectations, and strategic priorities for this position.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for the USF Libraries, aligning library strategy with USF’s mission and strategic priorities. The Dean will lead long-range strategic planning for the library system, ensuring that the USF Libraries continuously evolve as a 21st-century research library that supports the university’s teaching, research, and clinical programs. This includes anticipating and responding to emerging trends in scholarly communication, digital scholarship, data management, and information technology to keep USF at the forefront of innovation.
• Academic & Research Support: Champion the USF Libraries’ role in academic leadership by advancing teaching, learning, and research support services. The Dean will promote student success at all levels (undergraduate, graduate, and professional) through robust information literacy programs, research consultation, and innovative student-centered services. They will foster scholarly and creative activities by enhancing support for the research lifecycle – from data curation and open-access initiatives to digital scholarship and publishing services. The Dean is expected to articulate a compelling vision of how library resources and expertise enrich faculty teaching and research, integrating the Libraries deeply into the academic enterprise.
• Library Operations & Resource Management: Oversee all aspects of library operations across USF’s campuses, including management of collections (print, digital, archival), budgeting and financial planning, facilities and space utilization, and adoption of new technologies to improve user experience. The Dean will ensure efficient, high-impact services and user-focused operations, evaluating and adapting service models to meet evolving campus needs. They are responsible for stewarding substantial resources and assets, ensuring fiscal accountability, and strategic allocation of the USF Libraries’ ~$24 million budget. The Dean also oversees library facilities, including any renovations or expansions, to create forward-looking learning environments.
• Human Capital & Organizational Development: Recruit, develop, and retain exceptional library faculty and staff (roughly 135 team members), creating a collaborative culture of excellence. The Dean will foster a culture of professional growth, set high performance standards, and provide mentoring and development opportunities for library faculty and staff. They should champion a climate that values innovation, teamwork, and continuous improvement, and cultivate shared governance and transparent decision-making processes within the USF Libraries. Maintaining open communication and a supportive work environment that empowers staff at all levels is a key leadership expectation.
• Fundraising and External Engagement: Proactively lead library fundraising and development efforts. The Dean will work closely with University Advancement to cultivate donors, alumni, and corporate partners, securing philanthropic support for library initiatives and endowments. This includes communicating a compelling narrative of the USF Libraries’ impact and needs and serving as an energetic ambassador to external stakeholders. The Dean will also pursue grants and external funding opportunities to advance strategic projects. Additionally, they will engage with the wider community and professional organizations to elevate the USF Libraries' regional and national profile.
• Collaboration and Partnership: Collaborate extensively with faculty, academic administrators, and university leadership to integrate library resources and expertise into university initiatives. As a member of USF’s academic leadership team, reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President, the Dean works with other college deans, vice provosts, non-academic leadership, and USF Health leaders to advance institutional goals and cohesion across the university. The Dean will forge strategic partnerships with academic units (e.g., joint initiatives with colleges), research centers, health programs, and student support services to ensure the USF Libraries contribute to and amplify major institutional priorities. Externally, the Dean represents the USF Libraries to regional consortia, national associations, and global partners, positioning USF as a leader in the library and information sector. The Dean is expected to be a dynamic advocate who effectively communicates the USF Libraries’ mission, services, and value to all stakeholders.

Each of these areas will require a leader who can balance day-to-day management with strategic vision, while remaining agile in adapting to the rapidly changing landscape of academic libraries and higher education.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Educational Credentials: An earned terminal degree (Master’s degree or higher) in library and information science or a closely related field is required, with credentials meriting appointment at the rank of a senior library faculty. Additional advanced or doctoral degrees in relevant disciplines are welcome.
• Leadership Experience: Substantial administrative experience in an academic or research library (or similar complex information organization) is essential. The ideal candidate has a record of distinguished library leadership, demonstrating success in roles that include strategic planning, budgeting and resource management, personnel supervision, and program development at scale. Experience leading a large, multi-campus or multi-library system is highly desirable, as is experience working in a comprehensive research university environment with a broad spectrum of disciplines.
• Academic Vision and Innovation: Demonstrated evidence of a forward-thinking vision for the evolving roles of major research libraries – including emerging trends in scholarly communication, digital scholarship, open science, and library technologies – is required. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to innovate and implement new services or initiatives that advance scholarly outcomes, such as digital repositories, data services, open educational resources, or AI-driven information services.
• Commitment to Student and Faculty Success: A strong commitment to supporting student success, faculty excellence, and research impact is essential. The candidate should have experience developing programs or services that enhance learning and research, such as information literacy curricula, research consultation services, or collaborative academic partnerships. Evidence of effective collaboration with faculty and academic leadership in integrating library resources into the curriculum and research enterprise is expected.
• Fundraising and Resource Development: Proven aptitude for fundraising and external resource development is required. The successful candidate will have experience engaging with donors, securing philanthropic gifts or grants, and building supportive relationships with alumni, friends, foundations, and other external partners. A track record of advocating for resources and successfully increasing funding (internal or external) for library initiatives is highly valued.
• Scholarly and Professional Engagement: The candidate should have a record of scholarly, professional, or creative accomplishments commensurate with a senior library faculty appointment, including contributions to library and information science scholarship, leadership in professional associations, and engagement with best practices in academic librarianship. Knowledge of trends across disciplines (including STEM, humanities, social sciences, and health sciences) and how libraries support them is expected.
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication skills – both oral and written – and strong interpersonal abilities are required. The Dean must be able to articulate the USF Libraries’ vision, values, and needs effectively to a variety of audiences. This includes building consensus within the USF Libraries and advocating persuasively to university leadership, faculty, students, and external stakeholders. A demonstrated ability to listen to and engage diverse perspectives, build trust, and foster collaboration is key to success in this role.
• Management Skills: The role demands adept organizational and management skills, including the ability to lead complex projects and multi-faceted initiatives to completion. The successful candidate will be effective at change management in a rapidly evolving information landscape, demonstrate sound decision-making and problem-solving abilities, and have experience using data and assessment to inform strategy and improve services. Fiscal acumen and experience overseeing substantial budgets or financial plans are important, as is the ability to strategically manage facilities and technology resources.

Desired Leadership Qualities and Competencies

In addition to the above qualifications, the ideal candidate will exemplify a set of personal attributes and leadership competencies necessary for success as Dean of the USF Libraries:

• Visionary & Strategic Thinker: Capable of articulating and executing a compelling vision for the future of the USF Libraries, with strategic planning expertise and an innovative, forward-thinking mindset. They should be able to anticipate future trends and position the Libraries to lead in areas such as digital scholarship, data services, and new pedagogies.
• Collaborative Leadership: A collaborative leadership style, with the ability to inspire and unite teams around shared goals. The ideal Dean values teamwork, transparency, and shared governance, and excels at building partnerships across organizational boundaries. They should be skilled at working across disciplines and departments to create synergies and advance common initiatives.
• Integrity and Professionalism: The highest standards of professional and personal integrity, ethics, and accountability. The Dean should engender trust and respect, model civility, and maintain composure and sound judgment even in challenging situations. They take responsibility for decisions and promote a culture of ethical behavior and compliance.
• Effective Communication & Listening: Outstanding communication and listening skills, with a talent for advocating and articulating a compelling narrative on behalf of the USF Libraries. The Dean should be a persuasive spokesperson and an empathetic listener who genuinely seeks input from stakeholders. Strong negotiation and conflict-resolution skills are also important for navigating complex institutional dynamics.
• Innovation & Adaptability: Innovative and adaptable, open to new ideas and approaches in library services and technologies. The Dean should encourage experimentation and creative problem-solving, and be adept at guiding the organization through change. A proven ability to implement modern, digital-first solutions (for instance, leveraging emerging technologies or AI in library contexts) and to adapt quickly – as exemplified by USF Libraries’ rapid shift to remote operations during the COVID-19 pandemic – is highly desirable.
• Relationship-Building & Advocacy: Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships and networks both within the university and externally. The Dean should be an energetic advocate for the USF Libraries, able to engage students, faculty, administrators, donors, and community partners. They should be comfortable in public-facing roles and skilled in garnering support for library initiatives through advocacy and diplomacy.
• Results-Oriented & Accountable: A results-driven leader who sets high standards and achieves goals. The ideal Dean will combine vision with execution – translating strategic plans into action and measurable outcomes. They hold themselves and their team accountable for progress and use assessment data to drive continuous improvement. They should also be able to prioritize effectively, balancing ambitious long-term objectives with attention to day-to-day operational excellence.

Strategic Priorities for the Next Dean

Upon assuming the role, the Dean of the USF Libraries will be expected to focus on several key strategic priorities and opportunities, in alignment with both the Libraries’ and the University’s vision:

1. Develop and Implement a Bold Strategic Plan: Lead the creation and execution of a refreshed library strategic plan that supports USF’s aim to be among the nation’s premier research universities. This includes setting clear goals for the USF Libraries that advance USF’s institutional strategic priorities (e.g., improving student success, growing research and innovation, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration) and establishing metrics to track progress. The Dean will ensure this plan is forward-looking, realistic, and developed in consultation with library stakeholders and university leadership.
2. Advance Digital Scholarship and Innovative Services: Continue to expand USF Libraries’ role as a central hub for innovation and digital scholarship on campus. Priorities include bolstering the USF Libraries’ digital collections and institutional repository, supporting faculty and student engagement with digital humanities/data science, and investing in emerging technologies (such as artificial intelligence and advanced computing) to enhance library services. Building on USF’s early shift to a “digital preferred” library model in the 1990s, the Dean will drive ongoing innovation in how collections and services are delivered, including championing open-access initiatives, textbook affordability programs, and creative “twists” on traditional library activities to meet evolving user needs.
3. Foster Community Engagement: The Dean can leverage the USF Libraries as a platform for community engagement in the Tampa Bay region – through partnerships, public programming, and collaborative initiatives that extend the Libraries’ reach and demonstrate their value to the community.
4. Enhance Academic Collaboration and Integration: Deepen the integration of the USF Libraries into the university’s academic and research enterprise. The   Dean should proactively develop partnerships with colleges, departments, and USF Health to embed library expertise and resources into grants, curricula, and research projects. For example, working with faculty to incorporate information literacy into the curriculum, supporting data management plans for research, and partnering on interdisciplinary research initiatives. The Dean will also collaborate with university IT and teaching centers to position the library as a key partner in educational technology and pedagogy innovation. Strengthening the library’s role in student academic success initiatives and graduate student support is similarly critical.
5. Lead Fundraising and Resource Acquisition: Aggressively pursue fundraising, grants, and revenue-generating opportunities to support library growth and innovation. A strategic priority for the Dean will be to cultivate major gifts and donor investments that can fund endowments, new library spaces, cutting-edge programs, and collection enhancements. This includes reinvigorating the Friends of the Library group and alumni networks, seeking partnerships with foundations and industry, and advocacy in the university budget processes. Expanding the USF Libraries’ resource base will be key to achieving the ambitious goals USF has set (such as ARL-level collections and services).
6. Achieve Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Membership: Guide the USF Libraries in reaching the standards and benchmarks necessary for admission to the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) – a long-term aspiration for USF. This involves continuing to build research-intensive collections, increasing library support for faculty research outputs, benchmarking library services against ARL peers, and demonstrating the Libraries’ impact on research and student outcomes. The Dean will work to elevate USF Libraries’ national profile, ensuring it is recognized among the leading research library institutions. Progress toward ARL membership will serve as a key indicator of the Libraries’ excellence and align with USF’s stature as an AAU institution.

By concentrating on these strategic priorities, the new Dean will play a pivotal role in positioning USF Libraries as a dynamic, innovative, and indispensable partner in the university’s continued rise in prominence. The Dean’s success will be measured by the Libraries’ contributions to student achievement, faculty productivity, research impact, and community engagement, as well as the cultivation of a forward-thinking library organization.

About the University of South Florida
Founded in 1956, the University of South Florida has rapidly evolved into a global powerhouse that transforms lives through education, research, and innovation. In 2023, USF received a historic invitation to join the Association of American Universities (AAU), a tremendous milestone that formalizes USF’s position as a leading research university. USF is designated by the State of Florida as a Preeminent Research University, a metrics-based recognition for excellence in student success, research, innovation, and national rankings, which has further cemented USF’s position among the state’s strong public and private support ecosystem. U.S. News & World Report has ranked USF as one of the nation’s top 50 public universities for seven consecutive years.

 

USF plays a significant role in catalyzing growth across the state of Florida, and the breadth and depth of the university’s economic impact are evident across all aspects of its operations. The university has a total economic impact of $9.8 billion and supports 111,246 jobs, underscoring its role as one of the most powerful economic engines locally and throughout the state.

 

Life in Tampa Bay

Tampa is currently ranked #23 Best Place to Live in 2026 by U.S. News & World Report.

 

The University of South Florida is located in the Tampa Bay area with campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee. Situated along Florida’s Gulf Coast, the Tampa Bay area is celebrated for sunshine, mild winters, world-renowned beaches, miles of beautiful bay views, and a diverse food scene. In addition to over 165 parks and beaches, Tampa Bay is home to several museums, theme parks, attractions, and music, art, and cultural festivals, including Busch Gardens, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, the Florida Aquarium, the Dalí Museum, and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Sports fans cheer for hometown favorites, including the three-time Stanley Cup champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL), two-time Super Bowl champions the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL), the Tampa Bay Rays (MLB), and of course, our beloved USF Bulls!

 

With deep Cuban roots, Tampa is nicknamed “Cigar City,” as it was once the cigar capital of the world (our Cuban sandwich is pretty famous, too). USA TODAY has named Tampa International Airport as America's Best Large Airport in its annual 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for 2024.

 

Tampa Bay has a vibrant economy, no state income tax, and is 2% below the national average for cost of living. It is home to some of the best healthcare facilities in the U.S., including. Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute (located on the USF Tampa campus) and three hospitals ranked as “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News and World Report.

 

You and your family will enjoy calling Tampa Bay home.

 

The University of South Florida (USF) has exclusively engaged Jack Farrell & Associates (www.jackfarrell.com) to find its next Dean of Libraries. Interested candidates should provide a CV and a 2-page cover letter to Jack Farrell (jack@jackfarrell.com). The cover letter should address: 1) why am I interested? 2) how am I qualified? and 3) what is my vision for the Libraries going forward? Thank you.