Digital Initiatives Librarian

Position Summary

The Digital Initiatives Librarian reports to the Associate Dean for Scholarly Communication & Collections Services and leads an innovative Library Technology Services Department that develops and maintains a suite of flagship software, liaises with the University’s Information Technology Division (IT@DU), coordinates support for vendor-provided core applications, and works with IT support specialists to coordinate desktop support.

Supervising two full-time developers and additional hourly staff, and working alongside a Digital User Experience Librarian, this position also helps build, maintain, and enhance Special Collections @ DU (built with , Elasticsearch and JavaScript), a Drupal-based website, two internal databases (one for instruction assessment, another for donor-management), and several other applications.

The Digital Initiatives Librarian provides strategic vision and direction for this department and for Libraries-wide technology decisions, such as whether vendor-hosted, open-source, or home-grown applications are most appropriate.

This position manages projects related to these technologies, its priorities being to meet user needs, build service models, and maintain a sustainable and accessible technology portfolio for the department and the Libraries.

Working closely with the Digital User Experience Librarian and stakeholders across the university, as well as external partners such as the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries, the Digital Initiatives Librarian continues a strong and proud DU tradition of technical innovation reaching back to the earliest days of library automation.

All library faculty are members of the Professorial Series in University Libraries and are required to go through contract renewal and promotion according to the Library Faculty Guidelines.

All faculty are evaluated based on their librarianship / curatorship, scholarship, and service. Further information and guidelines will be provided during the hiring process.

In your application, please include a one-page statement with examples of how you have engaged with or incorporated the perspectives of diverse, under-represented, or differently-abled populations in your previous work.

Examples could include job experiences, internships, coursework, etc.

Essential Functions

• Provide strategic leadership and vision for the Library Technology Services Department.
• Supervise two full-time staff members with application development responsibilities and additional hourly support staff.
• Works closely with Digital User Experience Librarian to incorporate user needs into technology decisions.
• Manage software development and enhancement projects, including in-house, ensuring they meet user requirements, accessibility needs, and technical specifications.
• Manage software products, coordinating software releases and upgrades.
• Work with IT@DU and vendors to coordinate the maintenance of vendor-hosted solutions, including hardware and authentication.
• Collaborate with colleagues across technical services departments on projects as appropriate.
• Provide collaborative leadership for Libraries decisions related to technology.
• Work collaboratively to ensure Libraries technologies are compliant with Section 508 and WCAG requirements.
• Create and manage workflow documentation related to IT projects.
• Work to build highly functioning teams across several departments in the Libraries.
• Serve on library and campus committees and fully participate as an active member of a highly collaborative, team-based organization.
• Work in accordance with the promotion guidelines, engage in scholarly activities through research and publication, and participate in national and regional professional organizations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate clearly and knowledgeably, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices, issues, and trends in library information technology.
• Knowledge of best practices in software development and application maintenance.
• Familiarity with IT project management best practices.
• Familiarity with programming languages, such as JavaScript, Ruby or Python.
• Familiarity with web content management systems ( Drupal).
• Familiarity with Section 508 and WCAG requirements.
• Ability to prioritize work of developers as well as technological needs for University Libraries.
• Ability to troubleshoot integrations between different systems, such as our library services platform and digital repository.
• Ability to use knowledge, experience, awareness, and skills to advance DU’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and to engage effectively with a broad spectrum of culturally diverse groups.
• Analytical skills for decision making.

Required Qualifications

• An accredited graduate degree in Library Science, Computer Science, Information Technology, or other related fields.
• Experience working in software development and / or IT project management.
• One year of experience in a position or positions that includes successful management, supervision, training, or oversight of employees (this can include oversight of volunteers, interns, or a lead role on a team, in a department, or on a project).
• Demonstrated knowledge, ability, or potential to engage effectively with diverse communities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous IT experience in libraries or cultural heritage organizations.
• Experience with library and archival software ( ArchivesSpace, Alma, Millennium, ILLiad).
• Experience managing technology projects using established best-practices, including software version upgrades.
• Evidence of or potential for scholarly engagement through publications or presentations.
• Evidence of or potential for contribution to the profession through service in regional and national professional organizations.

Working Environment

The work environment is an academic library, which is culturally diverse. The department is highly automated with attention paid to ergonomics and safety, using workstations equipped with easy access to needed resources and access to the Internet.

The unit is one of several working collaboratively and cooperatively in a team-based organization.

This position necessitates substantial in-person engagement during the majority of working hours. The University of Denver and University Libraries offer a progressive flexible work policy that permits remote work, which can be negotiated between the employee and their supervisor.

• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office / campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.

Work Schedule

While the University’s administrative offices are open Monday Friday, 8 : 00 am 4 : 30 pm, faculty schedules vary from term to term and are based on courses taught, service commitments, and research agendas.

The University’s academic calendars are posted on the registrar’s website : the law school is on a semester system and has a different academic calendar here : ).

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4 : 00 (MST) August 4, 2024.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number :

The salary grade for the position is UC.

Salary Range :

The salary range for this position is $80,000 - $85,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting.

The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits :

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass.

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