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Executive
Director
Association
of Research Libraries (ARL)
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) invites
nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director.
ARL seeks an innovative and collaborative leader who will nurture the
excellence of its current programs and advance ARL’s strategic agenda with
diplomacy and political acumen. ARL
is a private, nonprofit membership organization representing 123 libraries of
North American research institutions. Its
mission is to influence the changing environment of scholarly communication and
the public policies that affect research libraries and the diverse communities
they serve. ARL programs are
focused around three areas: scholarly communications; information and public
policy; and research, teaching, and learning.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive
Director serves as ARL’s chief executive and is responsible for the effective
administration of all ARL operations and programs. The Executive Director
is responsible for the recruitment and retention of talented staff, budget
development and oversight, and member relations. S/he also serves as the
Treasurer of the Association and works closely with two ARL affiliates, the Scholarly
Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) and the Coalition for Networked Information
(CNI). The Executive Director is a leader for the critical issues and
policy developments facing research libraries. In partnership with the
Board, s/he engages with the ARL membership and external partners to implement
ARL’s strategic agenda.
The
next Executive Director will join the leadership of ARL at a time when
innovations in methods of scholarship, learning, and research—and the
technology infrastructure that supports and advances those innovations—are
radically transforming the role of the research library and the research
librarian. The Executive Director must have the intellectual agility,
strategic vision, and leadership skills necessary to take advantage of this
dynamic moment on behalf of ARL member institutions. As an authority on
the ways in which universities and other research institutions integrate,
preserve, disseminate, and create knowledge, the Executive Director will serve
as an effective spokesperson for the complicated legal and policy issues facing
research libraries in the 21st century.
Qualifications: The successful candidate will have significant
experience leading complex organizations and a proven ability to recruit,
retain, and motivate talented staff. S/he must have extensive knowledge
and understanding of research libraries, their roles in higher education, and
the ways in which current and emerging digital technologies are changing the
roles of traditional research collections. Strong financial management
skills, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a creative
approach to problem solving are critical. An advanced degree in a relevant
discipline is preferred.
The
ARL Executive Director Search Committee has retained Auerbach Associates, Inc.,
to assist with this search. Applicants should provide a cover letter, a résumé
or curriculum vitae, and names and contact information for three references.
All nominations, applications, and inquiries should be sent, in confidence, to:
Auerbach
Associates
65
Franklin Street, Suite 400
Boston,
MA 02110
(617)
451-0095
Email:
sara@auerbach-assc.com