Head, Design & Discovery
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor
**Head, Design & Discovery**
**How to Apply**
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be
attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address
your specific interest in the position, include your salary requirements, and
outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.
**Job Summary**
The University of Michigan Library seeks an experienced professional to manage
and lead the newly created Design & Discovery unit within the Library
Information Technology Division (LIT). Design & Discovery, composed of twelve
talented and experienced designers, librarians, and developers, encompasses
three essential IT service areas:
* LIT-wide program and service management
* User experience (usability, accessibility, content, information architecture, design)
* Front-end web application development
The Head of Design & Discovery, reporting to the Associate University
Librarian for LIT, provides leadership for programmatic initiatives of the
unit; directs management of the unit's project and operational portfolio; and
collaborates with the IT leadership team to guide the strategic direction of
the division as a whole. The work of the Design & Discovery unit is highly
collaborative, with projects and initiatives involving staff from across LIT,
the Library, the campus, and beyond. Unit activities include coordinating
strategic initiatives; designing user-centered IT service models and cross-
division work flows; providing analytics-driven guidance for public discovery,
access, and content systems; promoting the adoption of technology policies and
standards; and coordinating IT project and resource stewardship initiatives.
The unit's service and operational portfolio includes the library web site;
in-house and vendor-based cross-platform search and discovery systems; user
interface frameworks; library staff business work flow and content tools; and
digital exhibits. Within its design portfolio, the unit promotes user-centered
design while providing leadership and expertise in User Experience (UX)
strategy, user research, assessment, content creation and management, and web
accessibility.
The successful candidate will work as part of a team of IT managers, with a
combined staff of over 60 FTE, focused on realizing the dual mission of the
division: enabling library services through elegant technology solutions; and
uniting the preservation, access, and publishing of digital content.
Collectively, the division supports the development and upkeep of fundamental
services including the library website; information discovery and access
applications; the library management system; learning analytics; and learning
technologies.
The University of Michigan Library is one of the world's largest academic
research libraries and serves a vibrant university community that is home to
19 schools and colleges, 100 top ten graduate programs, and annual research
expenditures approaching $1.5 billion a year. To enable the university's
worldchanging work and to serve the public good, the library collects,
preserves, and shares the scholarly and cultural record in all existing and
emerging forms, and leads the reinvention of the academic research library in
the digital age.
The library is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and
encourages all employees to fully incorporate their diverse backgrounds,
skills, and life experiences into their work and towards the fulfillment of
the library's mission.
**Responsibilities***
_Leadership and strategy_ - Contributes to strategic planning for LIT in the
context of library and university goals, and translates strategic thinking
into goal-oriented planning and implementation road maps for Design &
Discovery priorities and areas of activity
_Management and supervision_ - Facilitates operational excellence for the
Design & Discovery unit, including resource management, staff management,
mentoring and training, and general supervision
_Design and development _- Takes part in high level design and development of
applications, methodologies, and services in cooperation with a spectrum of
stakeholders within LIT and across the library
_Research, teaching, and publication_ - Participates actively in the larger
professional community by actively exploring relevant topics, and works to
share knowledge through regular presentations, publications, and teaching
**Required Qualifications***
* An ALA-accredited master's degree or advanced degree in a related field such as Interaction Design, Experience Design, Information Architecture, Knowledge Management, or IT Management and five or more years relevant experience or equivalent combination of a relevant advanced degree and experience.
* At least three years staff management experience
* Demonstrated understanding of the role and potential of technology for achieving excellence in the design and delivery of information resources and services
* Demonstrated experience with user-centered service development and process improvement within the context of information discovery and digital content services
* Record of developing team effectiveness and excellence, including skills, capacities, methods and work flow, professional development, and diversity
* Record of increasing professional contributions or notable accomplishments at the local or national level in one or more areas of expertise related to information technology and information systems
* Demonstrated experience participating in or managing technical projects that require complex coordination, high levels of integration, and/or diverse stakeholders and users
* Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills
* Excellent written and verbal communication
* Understands and values diversity and the importance of inclusion as demonstrated through a commitment to apply and incorporate the differences, complexities, and opportunities that diversity brings to an organization.
**Desired Qualifications***
* Demonstrated ability to apply and incorporate the differences, complexities, and opportunities that diversity brings to an organization
* 8 or more years experience relevant to job duties and one or more of the following:
* Experience with design, implementation, or management of user-facing application development
* Experience in any or all of the following user experience areas: usability, content, information architecture, design standards, and universal design
* Experience with the design and management of search, discovery, indexing, and retrieval systems
* Experience with processes and tools for managing large project portfolios
* Experience with data analytics, data science, or data-driven improvement of services and systems
**Additional Information**
_Benefits, rank, salary_
Appointment is anticipated as a senior associate librarian or librarian.
Salary and rank dependent on the candidate's qualifications and experience.
Librarian appointments carry with them increased expectations regarding
professional development, professional engagement, research, and service, in
keeping with the library's process for librarian promotion and advancement.
The University of Michigan offers excellent benefits and wellness
opportunities.
This position receives 24 days of vacation a year, and 15 days of sick leave a
year with provisions for extended benefits, as well as opportunities for
professional development and travel. TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments
retirement options available.
**Application Deadline**
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar
days. This job may be removed from posting boards and
filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received.
**U-M EEO/AA Statement**
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer.
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