Director of University Library in Palo Alto, California at Palo Alto University

Palo Alto University (PAU) is a private, nonprofit university located in the heart of Silicon Valley with a singular focus on mental and behavioral health education. For five decades, PAU has been dedicated to addressing pressing and emerging challenges affecting individuals, organizations, and communities, preparing practitioners and scholars to meet the evolving needs of contemporary society. With an enrollment of approximately 1,200 graduate students and a small cohort of undergraduate students, the University offers a comprehensive portfolio of bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional programs delivered through innovative online, hybrid, and residential modalities.

PAU is distinguished by faculty who are nationally and internationally recognized for their contributions to research, teaching, and clinical practice. Through rigorous academic preparation, applied research, and extensive hands-on clinical training, PAU equips students with the knowledge, skills, and professional judgment required for meaningful impact in the behavioral health fields. Together, these elements define PAU’s mission-driven approach to education and its legacy of preparing confident, competent, and compassionate professionals who make a difference in the communities they serve.

Job Title: Director of University Library

Department: Library, Academic Affairs

Supervisor: Christie Chung, Provost

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Director of University Library serves as a change agent and collegial leader with a strong service orientation and demonstrates a culture of transparency. Under stewardship of the University Librarian, the incumbent is responsible for overall strategy, administration, human resource management, and budget for Palo Alto University’s Omar Seddiqui Research Library. As University Librarian, the incumbent will serve as the primary driver of the Library’s mission and values, working in tandem with academic stakeholders to ensure its strategic direction actively supports and enhances PAU’s mission.

Integral to this role is the leadership and development of a team of professional librarians to uphold the academic ecosystem of Palo Alto University. Through coordination and deep-rooted partnerships, the incumbent translates the needs of the scholastic community into effective policy that supports collection development, research, teaching, and outreach.

Strategic Leadership

• Facilitate the continuing transformation of the University into a knowledge commons that integrates diverse resources, seek new opportunities, engage with the community, collaborate with other University units and with faculty across all programs, and help to develop and sustain a vibrant research and learning community that uses technology wisely and effectively.

• Create an environment that facilitates teaching and learning, research, and scholarly activity with an understanding and use of innovative and traditional methods of information dissemination, teaching and learning, and research.

• Participate in a shared vision and shared governance throughout the University to promote the University’s and the University Library’s missions.

• Maintain awareness of advances in digital learning and library best practices.

• Implement a clear and concise strategic plan to advance that vision and those missions.

• Support a culture of collegial shared governance.

• Foster an organizational and educational climate that promotes and celebrates diversity.

• Communicate internally and externally regarding the University Library.

• Serve on the Provost’s Council and on various committees, councils, and task forces as needed.

• Develop strong relationships with Department Chairs, Directors, and Managers of other units, as well as with the Provost, President, and other University Administrators.

• Develop and maintain relationships of service to and collaboration with students, faculty, staff, and community.

• Promote and advocate for library programs and resources that address the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the community.

Operational Leadership

• Work with library and other university department heads, as well as external sources, to identify, evaluate, and implement programs that improve services and facilities, enhance the quality of resources, and increase operational efficiency within the library and across all areas of academic technology.

• Function as chief fiscal officer of the Library and provide clear communication regarding the budget.

• Delegate authority to others for specific administrative tasks.

• Recruit, develop, motivate, and evaluate a library workforce in alignment with job expectations, professional roles, and the University mission.

• Serve as a mentor for faculty librarians, and promote professional development and scholarship among all Library employees.

• Act as an advocate for the Library and their staff.

• Foster professionalism, diversity, and a positive work and learning environment in the University Library.

• Recommend personnel and annual salary increase actions.

• Enforce policies and regulations adopted by the Board of Trustees, the offices of the President and University Provost, the Faculty Senate, and the University Library.

Artificial Intelligence in Research & Teaching

• Provide guidance on responsible AI use, including transparency, attribution, bias, copyright, and academic integrity.

• Stay current with emerging AI technologies relevant to libraries, scholarship, and pedagogy, and evaluate their applicability.

External Representation and Professional Engagement

• Cultivate external relations and fundraising opportunities with public and private sectors in support of the University Library’s programs.

• Represent and promote the University Library, formally and informally, to the University, community, and the world.

• Participate actively in local, state, and national library organizations and vendor advisory groups.

• Participate in professional development and continuing professional education activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Masters of Library Science degree from an ALA-accredited program at time of appointment.

• Minimum of seven years of work experience in academic libraries.

• Minimum of five years of library administrative and/or supervisory work experience, with a record of increasing responsibility.

• Evidence of strong customer/user service orientation, with experience in library or related customer service work.

• Evidence of excellent interpersonal, managerial, presentation, and communication skills.

• Thorough knowledge of emerging trends and technological applications in academic libraries.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with regional accreditation requirements.

• Prior experience providing research and/or research support, in either an academic or corporate setting.

• Experience working with electronic resources tools such as OpenURL resolvers, proxy systems, and electronic resources management systems.

• Experience reading, managing, and negotiating information license agreements.

No Discrimination: The University is an equal opportunity employer and is firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and other employment practices and in the application of its personnel policies. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists, employment decisions will be made irrespective of the staff member's backgrounds of race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except for minors), sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic condition), disability and/or any another status protected by law.

As provided by law, and when it is requested to do so, the University will offer reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities, if the individual is otherwise qualified to safely and to the University's standards of quality of work, perform all essential functions of the position and if it will be done without undue hardship to the University.

PAU has a high-quality work environment that attracts and welcomes a diversity of backgrounds of its employees. In your application or in a cover letter, please include information on how your background and experience has prepared you to work at a high level of quality of work with co-workers from a variety of different backgrounds.