Head, Digital Initiatives - University of
Waterloo Library - Waterloo, ON
Posted: Monday, April 08, 2013
The University of Waterloo Library seeks a creative, dynamic and public service oriented
professional librarian to fill a leadership position as Head, Digital Initiatives. The position offers
an exciting opportunity for a visionary leader to build on past and present achievements and to
move the digital agenda forward for the University of Waterloo Library.
The Library has a long history of innovation around technology, from wireless technologies,
digital repositories for ETDs, to more recently RFID deployment and discovery systems. We
value entrepreneurism and creativity.
The Library is in the planning stages of migration of its web presence to a campus enterprise
Drupal instance, and the successful incumbent will lead the overall project, managing technical
teams as well as distributed content owners and editors across the University of Waterloo
Library, and working closely with the University’s Web Content Management System (WCMS)
Team, as an initial project in the position.
Additionally, the incumbent is responsible for the collaborative development of strategies,
planning, implementation, and support of projects to advance the creation, integration and use of
web based services, technical infrastructure, digital services, digital repository, digital
preservation and service integration for the Library.
Technical support and administration of key enterprise library applications are also managed
within the department, for the uWaterloo community as well as the other Tri-University Group
(TUG) member libraries at University of Guelph and Wilfrid Laurier University. As the
department serves broadly across the Library, the incumbent will work closely with all Library
departments on projects at some point or another. Key partners include the Library’s Web
Operations Group, Library Technology & Facilities Services, web content creators, and the
campus web content management leadership across campus, as well as technology leadership at
TUG member libraries, Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) and elsewhere.
The University of Waterloo Library is a member of the Canadian Association of Research
Libraries (CARL), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Coalition for Networked
Information (CNI), and the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL). The Library is a
member of the Tri-University Group (TUG), along with member libraries at the University of
Guelph and Wilfrid Laurier University. The TUG Libraries serve a combined student population
of over 76,000, combined holdings exceeding 5 million, and combined budgets exceeding $45
million. TUG manages shared technology and a remote storage facility, and enables
collaborative projects across the three library systems. The successful candidate will carry out
the responsibilities associated with this position in the Dana Porter Library, located on
Waterloo’s campus.
Responsibilities:
Within the context of a rapidly evolving print and digital environment, the incumbent leads the
creation and articulation of an evolving digital initiatives services and systems portfolio in
alignment with the Library mission and Library strategic directions with ongoing input from
throughout the Library and key stakeholders across campus. The Head, Digital Initiatives reports
to the Associate University Librarian, Research & Digital Discovery Services.
We welcome interested candidates to connect directly with Pascal Calarco, Associate University
Librarian, Research & Digital Discovery Services to learn more about this exciting position.
Pascal can be reached by phone at 519-888-4567 x38215 or by email at
pvcalarco@uwaterloo.ca.
Education:
• ALA-accredited MLS/MLIS degree, or equivalent
Qualifications:
• Demonstrated progressive responsibility and experience in leadership and management with a
proven track record of achievement and success within a higher education environment;
• Excellent organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead change, and identify and implement new technologies, services
and work methods; ability to learn and evaluate new technologies quickly
• Competencies include:
o strategic thinking
o project management
o metadata
o information technology
o human resources management
o interpersonal, organizational and communication skills
o instruction and training
• Technical skills include:
o Demonstrated ability to independently, as well as collaboratively, plan, coordinate,
and implement effective digital projects, including managing multiple and simultaneous
projects
o Knowledge and understanding of emergent and best practices, standards, current
programming languages and frameworks, issues and trends relating to web technologies
and digital initiatives in the library environment
o Knowledge of web information architecture and usability best practices
o Knowledge of the standards and technological framework for digital preservation
o Knowledge of data and metadata standards prevalent in libraries
o Demonstrated knowledge of current information technology standards and
developments in libraries and higher education
o Knowledge and understanding of library enterprise applications such as integrated
library systems, discovery systems, and electronic resource management systems
o Knowledge of research data management trends in academic libraries
Asset:
• Several years professional experience in managing web presence, digital services and/or
digital asset projects in an academic or large public institution
• Knowledge of business intelligence and analytics packages and their use in libraries
• Working knowledge of, and experience with, a wide variety of media including text, music,
still images, audio and video
This is a full-time permanent position. Librarians’ at the University of Waterloo are governed by
University policy as well as the Librarians’ Employment Handbook, available at:
http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/AboutLibrary/documents/LEH2010-June2010.pdf
This position is graded as a USG 13, in terms of salary. For uWaterloo salary scales, refer to:
https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat/sites/ca.secretariat/files/uploads/files/2012-2013_0.pdf
Deadline for applications: For assured consideration, applications should be received by
noon, Monday, May 6, 2013.
To apply and view the full job description:
Full job description: http://www.hr.uwaterloo.ca/.jd/00001260.html
Apply: Directly by emailing your resume and cover letter (as one document) to:
hrresume@uwaterloo.ca
Important note: To ensure that your application is successfully submitted, please put your cover
letter, resume, and any other information into ONE document and have an unique file name such
as yourname.doc. We will accept .doc, .docx, or .pdf files only. Please include: Job ID# 2039 –
Head, Digital Initiatives – Library in the subject line of e-mail submissions.
Employment Equity: The University respects, appreciates and encourages diversity. We invite
applications from all interested applicants. Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada will be
given priority.
* * *
In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada’s technology
hub, has become a leading comprehensive university with 34,000 full- and part-time students in
undergraduate and graduate programs.
Consistently ranked Canada’s most innovative university, Waterloo is home to advanced
research and teaching in science and engineering, health, environment, arts and social sciences.
From quantum computing and nanotechnology to clinical psychology and health sciences
research, Waterloo brings ideas and brilliant minds together, inspiring innovations with real
impact today and in the future.
As home to the world's largest post-secondary co-operative education program, Waterloo
embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning,
research, and commercialization. With campuses and education centres on four continents, and
academic partnerships spanning the globe, Waterloo is shaping the future of the planet.
For details, visit www.uwaterloo.ca
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