Head of Collection Maintenance & Retrieval

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Collection Management & Circulation Services (CM & CS) Librarian, the Head of Collection Maintenance & Retrieval plans and supervises collection maintenance and retrieval operations at the Joseph Regenstein Library and coordinates Library services for collections in offsite storage. Manages projects that require shifting and/or transfer of Library collections, including ongoing transfer of collections from the Joe and Rika Mansueto Library to offsite storage. Monitors growth and space constraints of physical library collections and recommends collection maintenance projects to the CM & CS Librarian. Oversees the shelving and retrieval operations for Regenstein’s physical collections. Provides and promotes excellent customer service to Library patrons and staff across all areas of responsibility. Provides leadership and oversight of a busy processing unit with extensive operating hours in the largest and most heavily used library buildings on campus.

Responsibilities

• Hires, trains, supervises, schedules, and evaluates 1.0 FTE supervisor, 5.0 FTE union clerical staff and up to 11.0 FTE student staff.
• Manages and oversees staff performing collection maintenance projects, including the ongoing transfer off-site and withdrawal and disposal of Mansueto and Regenstein library physical collections at scale (100K+ volumes annually) to accommodate current and future library needs. Collects and analyzes data on collection growth and shelf occupancy; plans and prioritizes shifting and other collection maintenance projects as needed.
• Coordinates internal resources and integrations with third-party vendors for the transfer and ongoing servicing of physical collections, including physical delivery and electronic scanning, by vendors. Serves as the primary Library contact with off-site storage vendors for daily operations; coordinates with vendors and the Library Budget Office to monitor and resolve invoicing issues.
• Manages and oversees staff performing the daily operations of the Regenstein Collection Maintenance & Retrieval unit, including check-in, routing, and shelving of Regenstein collections, as well as the retrieval and searching for Regenstein material in support of the Library’s Paging & Pickup service and staff needs. Oversees, distributes, and monitors work of staff and ensures routine tasks are completed in a timely manner.
• Collaborates with other Library units (including campus libraries), in particular with Regenstein Circulation & Building Resources, Mansueto Circulation & ASRS Operations, Document Delivery Services, and Library Facilities to ensure superior service to library patrons.
• Under the direction of the Collection Management & Circulation Services Librarian, engages in future planning, and sets achievable and measurable goals. Assesses progress toward goals and effectiveness of services. Establishes priorities, manages and tracks processes and projects to achieve goals and promote efficient work; provides ongoing reports and statistics on operations performed.
• In consultation with the Collection Management & Circulation Services Librarian, recommends new services, systems, or workflows to benefit Library users and promote efficient service.
• Maintains guidelines, policies, and procedures for the unit. Manages unit communications, which includes the unit's web site.
• Evaluates services and the effectiveness of policies and makes recommendations for service improvement.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Project management experience in library collection maintenance or related setting strongly preferred.
• Supervisory experience in a library setting strongly preferred.
• Experience in a higher education environment strongly preferred.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Knowledge of and experience using workstation applications, including Microsoft Office, email, the internet.
• Ability to learn a range of position-related software applications.
• Understanding and working knowledge of library management systems (e.g., FOLIO, Alma, Voyager, etc.) strongly preferred.
• Experience with scheduling software (e.g., When2Work, LibStaffer, etc.) strongly preferred.
• Experience with customer service ticketing systems strongly preferred.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills (utilizing appropriate resources to resolve issues).
• Strong customer service skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build high preforming team and drive team member engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and with influence, both in writing and orally.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize emotional intelligence to interact with users and staff professionally, respectfully, and empathetically.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively supervise and manage team members.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and coordinate the work of others.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, accuracy, and organizational skills.
• Commitment to creating a work environment that values and promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Working Conditions

• Ability to bend, crouch, or stoop.
• Ability to carry or lift loads up to 49 lbs.
• Ability to sit for 4 hours or more and use computers extensively for 4 hours or more.
• Ability to visually focus on print material and computer screens for long periods of time.

Pay Range

$60,000.00 - $68,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Reference List (3)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

To Apply

To apply for this position, external candidates must submit their profile and any other required materials through https://uchicago.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/Chicago-IL/Digital-Preservation-Specialist--UChicago-Node-_JR29041. Internal candidates must apply by logging into Workday using their CNet ID and password; for more information, please see How to Apply for a UChicago Job (Current Employee) QRG.

Resumes sent via mail, fax, or email will not be considered. For more information, please see https://www.uchicago.edu/jobs/.https://uchicago.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/Chicago-IL/Head-of-Collection-Maintenance---Retrieval_JR28733