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Lead, Sciences and Technology Team and Mercer Library - George Mason University

Location: USA - VA - Fairfax

Lead, Sciences and Technology Team and Mercer Library

The George Mason University Libraries is seeking an experienced, enthusiastic, skillful, enterprising, and collaborative manager for the position of Lead, Sciences and Technology Team and Mercer Library.

George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment.

About the Position:

In conjunction with the other subject disciplinary and functional team leads and under the direction of the Associate University Librarian for Learning, Research and Engagement (LRE), this position is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of innovative library services in the areas of reference, research, instruction, and in support of faculty and students in the fields of earth sciences, physical sciences, health sciences, life sciences, biomedical sciences, engineering, and computing, as well as overall management of the Mercer Library at the Science & Technology campus. The incumbent leads a team of library faculty integrated into STEM-H, educational and research programs while fostering an environment that promotes development of new approaches to evolving academic library services. The Team Lead supervises and evaluates team members; works with Collections Strategy staff to ensure development of STEM-H collections; oversees collection development for reference resources; assumes direct liaison responsibilities for academic departments/programs as needed; and coordinates and implements reference, research, and instructional activities (including contributing to policy development therein) in collaboration with other LRE and Libraries’ leadership.

Responsibilities:

  • Incumbent plans, implements, manages, and evaluates reference/research consultation, outreach, and instructional services and programs designed for students and faculty in the broad range of STEM-H disciplines;
  • Responsible for the creation, maintenance, and assessment of library service programs appropriate for faculty and students in STEM-H programs;
  • Responsible for the operations of the Mercer Library, including supervision of its on-site staff-level manager, at the university’s Science and Technology campus;
  • Provides research consultation/reference service to users;
  • Teaches and creates instructional materials in any directly assigned subject area(s);
  • Contributes to collection development activities including assessment of existing collections and maintenance of holdings to research levels, possessing deep subject knowledge of assigned collection development areas, and spending allocated funds to build depth and breadth any in assigned discipline(s);
  • Responsible for coordination of instruction, reference and research services, collections services, and outreach to programs supported on the Fairfax and Science and Technology campuses, including, but not limited to, the College of Science, College of Engineering and Computing, College of Health and Human Services, the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (Front Royal, VA), the Governor’s School at Innovation Park, and associated research institutes and centers;
  • Collaborates and coordinates with the Lead, Social Sciences Team and Mason Square Library for School of Computing programs and activities at the Mason Square campus (Arlington, VA), including support for the university’s Institute for Digital InnovAtion at that campus;
  • Directly supervises and evaluates six (6) subject librarians in their reference/research/instruction/outreach roles; supervises and evaluates two (2) additional library staff members who (a) support the Science and Technology Team and (b) contribute to the daily management of the Mercer Library. In conjunction with the Libraries’ Administration unit, manages recruitment, hiring, onboarding, mentoring, training, and performance assessment of librarians and staff of the Science and Technology Team and Mercer Library;
  • Works with the Teaching & Learning Team for distance education, and instructional assessment to provide formative and evaluative feedback to department’s librarians and staff;
  • Coordinates with Access Services to assure consistent access services quality and hours of delivery at the Mercer Library;
  • Under the auspices of the Collections Strategy department, facilitates collection development and management activities for reference, instructional, and research resources purchased in relevant fields;
  • Partners with Digital Technologies and Services to effectively address IT requirements of the unit;
  • Works closely with staff in the Digital Scholarship Center to develop digital data proficiency in the Science and Technology Team members;
  • Contributes to planning, policy development, resource management, and decision-making within LRE and, as a member of the Libraries’ leadership team, appropriately to the university library system as a whole;
  • Seeks, considers and communicates diverse perspectives and ideas;
  • Participates on committees, task forces, projects, etc. within the Mason University Libraries, the campus, the university, and, as appropriate, the community; and
  • Performs other duties, as requested, which fall within the scope of a member of the University Libraries’ faculty including engaging in university and professional service, and scholarship endeavors.

Required Qualifications:

Applicants should bring the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to this position:

  • ALA-accredited graduate degree OR an equivalent certified foreign degree;
  • Progressively responsible management level professional experience (generally 3+ years) with demonstrated capability in providing responsive quality reference, instruction, and collaborative library research services and support to undergraduate and graduate students and faculty in STEM-H fields;
  • Knowledge of and versatile understanding of the changing educational and research needs of STEM-H students and faculty;
  • Demonstrated skill in effective oral and written communication;
  • Ability to build collaborative and mutually beneficial working relationships with people of varying backgrounds; and
  • Demonstrated commitment to professional development and growth.


Preferred Qualifications:

The following education and/or skill sets are preferred:

  • Graduate degree in a STEM-H discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
  • Demonstrated leadership potential; and
  • Experience in an academic research library environment involving multiple libraries and campuses.

Appointment/Benefits/Salary:

12-month Professional Faculty appointment; health plan options and paid life insurance; several retirement plans, including TIAA-CREF; 24 vacation days and 12 paid holidays; tuition waiver for self. Base salary is commensurate with professional experience and academic qualifications; salary at appointment dependent on rank: Librarian II ($67,500 – $72,500); Librarian III ($72,500 – $77,500); Librarian IV ($77, 500+). Additionally, this position carries an annual administrative stipend.

The George Mason University library system, comprised of a large central library and three other distinctive libraries, is located on three campuses in the Northern Virginia-metropolitan Washington, D.C., region. Serving an R1 university, the Mason Libraries pursues an ambitious programmatic agenda in all areas that are key to a contemporary academic research library – innovative technologies and services, expert library faculty and skilled staff members, growing collections, digital scholarship, publishing, modern facilities, and transformational partnerships. For more information, visit us at https://library.gmu.edu.

Special Instructions to Applicants

All applications for this position (FA457z) MUST be submitted online at George Mason’s employment page (https://jobs.gmu.edu/). Applicants must submit application, cover letter, resume, and the names, addresses (including e-mail) and phone numbers of three current references.

Questions should be directed to Diana Tippett ([email protected]) or Della Patrick ([email protected]), Office of the Dean of Libraries.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

Application instructions:

Special Instructions to Applicants

All applications for this position (FA457z) MUST be submitted online at George Mason’s employment page (https://jobs.gmu.edu/). Applicants must submit application, cover letter, resume, and the names, addresses (including e-mail) and phone numbers of three current references.

Questions should be directed to Diana Tippett ([email protected]) or Della Patrick ([email protected]), Office of the Dean of Libraries.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.