Associate Librarian, Department Head, Digital Scholarship

The Opportunity

The University of Central Florida (UCF) Libraries seeks a forward-thinking and curious full-time, non-tenure track, 12-month faculty librarian to serve as the Head of Digital Scholarship. This new position will report to the Associate Dean for Digital Strategies, Impact, & Visibility and will play a crucial role in developing, expanding, and implementing solutions to enhance the research enterprise at UCF. We will hire at the rank of Associate Librarian or University Librarian. Scholarship and professional service are expected. 

The Head of Digital Scholarship role is pivotal in fostering a collaborative environment that will manage and oversee a comprehensive suite of services that will serve and enhance the research needs of researchers across campus. This position will provide expertise and guidance on tools and methodologies that enhance discovery and inquiry, optimize research workflows, provide education on copyright and digital rights management, and increase engagement with collections and data. 

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Management: 

• Develop and implement a strategic vision for digital scholarship services and ensure the department aligns with the Libraries’ strategic directions and the University’s academic priorities. 

• Manage the Digital Initiatives unit which oversees complex projects involving all aspects of the digitization, accessibility, and access of cultural heritage materials and university research, and manages Showcase of Text, Archives, Research & Scholarship (STARS), UCF's institutional repository. 

• Manage a team of librarians and staff engaged in digital scholarship, copyright, publishing, research impact, digital rights management, and open access activities.  

• Manage a team that oversees the technologies within a digital lab (set to open in early 2026), which will include podcast and production studios and immersive spaces and tools for simulation, engagement, and collaboration. 

Collaboration and Outreach: 

• Cultivate collaborative, mutually beneficial relationships within the Libraries and across the university around digital scholarship practices. 

• Collaborate with faculty, researchers, and engagement librarians to identify and support digital scholarship needs across disciplines. 

• Design course-embedded digital scholarship projects. 

• Seek external funding opportunities and participate in grant writing to support digital scholarship projects. 

Research and Project Support: 

• Oversee and participate in projects supporting open scholarship, data management, text mining, project management, digital pedagogy, and other forms of scholarship. 

• Develop service including consultations, workshops, course-integrated instruction, and advocacy to help faculty, students, and staff grow skills in digital scholarship. 

Professional Development and Contributions: 

• Stay current with emerging trends and technologies in digital scholarship and the research lifecycle, assessing their potential application at UCF.

• Contribute to the profession through scholarship and participation in professional organizations.  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in library and/or information science from an accredited institution; or doctorate combined with academic library experience.

• Scholarship and professional service commensurate with holding the rank of Associate or University Librarian. 

• Supervisory experience or successful experience managing a team. 

• Proficiency in digital scholarship methodologies, tools, and technologies, with the ability to learn, apply, and teach new methodologies in academic contexts.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience managing digital libraries or institutional repositories.

• Familiarity with data management, visualization, and text-mining practices, tools, and approaches. 

• Knowledge of copyright, digital rights management, and open access initiatives. 

• Experience with project management, grant writing, web-publishing software, and leading digital scholarship projects.

• Proficiency in one or more programming languages relevant to digital scholarship. 

• Knowledge of universal design practices and accessibility laws and standards.

The UCF Libraries enhance student success and faculty excellence through a dynamic network of libraries and information professionals. Serving the diverse UCF community across multiple campuses, including the flagship John C. Hitt Library, we provide seamless support services, essential resources, and cutting-edge technology to optimize research and visibility. Our mission is to empower and collaborate with our community to promote academic success, research, creativity, and lifelong learning.  

Our forward-thinking organizational structure is designed to maximize impact:  

• Academic Engagement: Partnering with students, faculty, and the community.  

• Administrative Services: Offering comprehensive financial, physical, and talent support.  

• Collection Services & Resource Management: Curating and optimizing access to vital content.  

• Digital Strategies, Impact, & Visibility: Leveraging technology and elevating the research enterprise.  

At the UCF Libraries, you will be part of a team dedicated to innovation, curiosity, and enhancing academic leadership and student achievement. Ready to make your mark in our modern and innovative environment? Discover more at http://library.ucf.edu 

Additional Application Materials Required:

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/.  In addition to the online application, candidates should upload a cover letter, a current curriculum vitae, and a list with contact information for three (3) professional references.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

Questions regarding this search should be directed to:  Lauren Kehoe, Search Chair, at lauren.kehoe@ucf.edu.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

Salary for Digital Scholarship Department Head at Associate rank starts at $90,000

Application review begins on 1/2/2025

Job Close Date:

Open until filled.

Note to applicants: Please keep in mind that a job posted as ‘Open until filled’ may close at any time without notice. As such, we encourage you to submit your application and all required documentation as quickly as possible to ensure consideration for the posted position.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program. 

• Paid time off, including annual (12-month faculty) and sick time off and paid holidays.

• Retirement savings options. 

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions. 

• Education assistance.

• Flexible work environment. 

• And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide click here.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions:

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, post-doctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

Department

Work Schedule

Type of Appointment

Expected Salary

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Central Florida is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer including Disabled/Vets.  Click on UCF's Equal Opportunity Statement to view the President’s Statement.

The UCF affirmative action plans for qualified individuals with disabilities and protected Veterans are available for inspection in the Office of Institutional Equity, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., upon request.

As a Florida public university, UCF makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request. 

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.