University of Houston
Description:
The University of Houston (UH) Libraries seeks a collaborative, forward-thinking leader to serve as the Head of the Health Sciences Services (HSS) department. The Head of HSS provides vision, leadership, and strategy for health science services across two Libraries locations, the Health Sciences Library and the Medical Library. The position offers exciting opportunities to enhance library services during a time of growth and expansion, as the university seeks to become a designated Health Science Center, double health-related research expenditures, and grow health programs and partnerships.
Reporting to the Associate Dean for Research and Student Engagement (RASE), the Head of HSS collaboratively establishes departmental priorities in alignment with the Libraries’ strategic plan and in support of research and student success in the health sciences. This position leads the delivery of specialized services in the areas of medicine, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, social work, and other health professional programs. The Head of HSS collaborates with other Libraries units to offer research support, information literacy instruction, and relevant collections across the health sciences disciplines. They also oversee onsite services at both HSS library locations and ensure alignment with workflows across departments. The Head of HSS is responsible for managing department personnel, including providing coaching and support for effective goal setting and professional development.
The Head of Health Sciences Services is a promotion-eligible librarian position. Librarians hold academic rank pursuant to the University of Houston Libraries’ Bylaws Document. They are expected to develop a record of service, scholarship, and professional involvement. UH Libraries supports the ongoing professional development of librarians, and our goal is to recruit librarians committed to continuous learning.
Required Qualifications:
Master’s degree from an American Library Association (ALA)-accredited program
Professional experience in a health sciences library, academic library, or relevant healthcare setting
Demonstrated knowledge of best practices, current issues, and trends for health sciences and medical library services
Demonstrated ability to provide vision and leadership for a library department
Ability to work strategically and collaboratively in a complex, changing environment
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience managing research and/or information literacy services
Professional experience with budget management and reporting
Salary: Salary is dependent on qualifications and rank. Department head salary ranges are $90,000-$92,000 for Assistant Librarians and $97,000-$99,000 for Associate Librarians. Comprehensive benefits package; choice of retirement programs, including TIAA; tax-deferred annuity program available; release time to take a class up to 3 hours/week; no state or local income tax.
Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications should be submitted at https://careers.uh.edu/jobs/head-of-health-sciences-services-librarian-houston-texas-united-states. Visit the UH Libraries Employment page for more information: https://libraries.uh.edu/about/employment/. Potential applicants seeking further information should contact Santi Thompson, Interim Associate Dean for Organizational Development, Learning, and Talent, at 713-743-9685 or sathompson3@uh.edu.
As part of their application, candidates should include contact information for three (3) professional references and an unofficial transcript of their ALA-accredited library/information science degree.
Library Information: UH Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Greater Western Library Alliance, HathiTrust, the Council on Library and Information Resources, the Digital Library Federation, the Texas Digital Library, Associate of Academic Health Sciences Libraries, and the South Central Academic Medical Libraires Consortium. The campus libraries provide access to over 3.1 million volumes. The University Libraries’ total staff is 160 FTE, including 62 professionals. Additional information about UH Libraries is available at https://libraries.uh.edu. UH Libraries’ 2021-2027 strategic plan (https://libraries.uh.edu/strategic-plan) is in alignment with the University’s ambitious strategic plan (https://uh.edu/strategic-plan/).
General Information: The University of Houston, a dynamic research institution founded in 1927, stands as a vibrant hub of academic excellence and cultural diversity in Texas. With over 46,000 students, it offers a comprehensive range of programs across 15 colleges, fostering innovation in fields such as energy, health, hospitality, business, education, law, STEM, and the humanities. Boasting top-tier faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, student success initiatives, and a strong commitment to community engagement, UH prepares students to thrive in a globally interconnected world.
The University’s prime location in America’s fourth-largest city supports extensive industry partnerships and experiential learning opportunities. Renowned for its energy industry and NASA’s Space Center, Houston is home to a vibrant cultural scene with world-class museums, theaters, and restaurants. The University of Houston is an institutional member of the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world. Houston thrives as a hub for innovation, education, and arts, fostering a unique blend of community charm and modern progress.
The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.
To apply for this job please visit libraries.uh.edu.