Director of Digital Library and Scholarly Technologies (DLST)

Columbia University Libraries

Columbia University Libraries seeks a dynamic and engaged leader to serve as the Director of Digital Library and Scholarly Technologies (DLST). The Director of DLST leads development of strategic vision, prioritization and assessment of system-wide Libraries digital library, scholarly technology services, and online web presence. The Director of DLST leads a creative and innovative team that advances development and implementation of digital library and scholarly technology systems for Columbia affiliates and the global scholarly community, in support of the University mission to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and convey the products of its efforts to the world.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Technology and Preservation, the Director of DLST is a critical member of the Technology and Preservation leadership team and the Libraries' Leadership Council.

Responsibilities 

• Works closely with Collections divisions to advance Digital Collections programs and services, provides leadership, vision and innovative approaches to enhance and integrate Libraries’ digital technologies and tools in support of faculty and student teaching, learning and research, and oversees development and management of digitization, preservation, born-digital and archival technologies and processes to support growth and sustainability of digital collections and archival collections.
• Works closely with the Digital Scholarship Division to deliver programs and services in support of research and scholarship, including the Academic Commons institutional repository, journal publishing, faculty-driven projects, research data and research services. Coordinates and participates in planning for new and enhanced technology-based scholarly communications solutions and services.
• Partners with Digital Project Management, Library Information Technology, Preservation, Digital Scholarship, special collections units, other parts of the Libraries and other campus technology organizations as appropriate. Serves on Leadership Council, library committees and project teams within the Libraries, with other Columbia entities, and with other institutions as needed to further the programmatic and strategic goals of the Libraries.
• Pursues external funding, including grants, foundation and donor-based support, to develop and/or enhance digital libraries and scholarly technologies that advance teaching, learning and research.
• Communicates broadly with Libraries’ staff about the division’s systems, services and accomplishments. Advocates for digital library and scholarly technologies at Columbia and beyond. Represents the Libraries on campus, regional and national discussions of digital library and scholarly system development, contributing to national efforts, standards and practices.

Minimum Qualifications

MLS or other advanced degree in a related field and a combination of experience in libraries, museums, archives, publishing, or other cultural heritage institutions.

• Demonstrated knowledge of library digital technology systems and services
• Demonstrated knowledge of digital library standards, practices and technologies
• Demonstrated ability to plan and implement new end-user systems
• Demonstrated experience in staff management and development
• Significant technology implementation management experience
• Significant project management experience
• Commitment to DEI in academic library and university settings

Preferred Qualifications

• An advanced degree relevant to research and scholarship
• Experience with project and program planning and development
• Technology-related grant writing
• Experience with development RFPs and contracts for outsourced services

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and strongly encourages individuals of all backgrounds and cultures to consider this position.

About Columbia University Libraries

We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, identities, and abilities to apply for this unique opportunity to become a part of our evolving Libraries and University community. Columbia University Libraries is a globally-recognized academic research library system, serving one of the world’s most important centers of research and learning in the most exciting and dynamic city in the world. Talented Libraries staff build, sustain, and make discoverable collections that transcend traditional boundaries of format and domain, keeping pace with a dynamic and rapidly evolving information environment and creating opportunities for users to encounter 4,000 years of human thought.

Our decisions are informed by new curricula developed to meet the needs of a more diverse student body, new and emerging areas of research being conducted by a broad spectrum of researchers, including graduate students and newly-hired faculty, as well as by perspectives from the diminished or entirely lost voices of historically oppressed, marginalized, and underserved populations and communities. As an organization, the Libraries provides a supportive, connected environment where every employee’s perspective is valued and every employee is encouraged to grow. All staff members have an impact on Columbia’s mission to advance knowledge at the highest levels and make the results of research accessible to the world.

Columbia University has a longstanding commitment to diversity rooted in values of inclusion and social justice, a commitment reflected in the curriculum and throughout University life. Columbia welcomes applications from candidates who share these values and who will foster their contribution to the University’s educational mission. We invite applicants who have demonstrated creative approaches to empowering and mentoring staff, leading projects, solving problems, and developing user-centric programs, services, or collections. We offer salary and benefits commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Search Committee will review applications and nominations and will continue to receive and review them until the position is filled. Proposed start date is negotiable.