University Library Director

Kansas City University • Kansas City, KS

3d

About The Position

The University Library Director provides visionary leadership and strategic oversight for all KCU library operations across campuses. This role ensures that library services, collections, technologies, and learning environments align with and advance KCU’s mission, academic programs, research priorities, and clinical enterprise. The Director guides the library’s continued evolution as a modern medical and health sciences information center—balancing stewardship of traditional resources with innovation in digital scholarship, data literacy, evidence-based practice, AI-supported research tools, and user-centered services. The Director is responsible for strategic planning, budgeting, program and service development, staff leadership, assessment, marketing and outreach, and ensuring excellent support for students, faculty, clinicians, researchers, and community partners.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Library Science, Information Science, or related field from an ALA-accredited program.
• 5–7 years of progressive responsibility in an academic or health sciences library, including supervisory and administrative experience.
• Expertise in collection development, digital resource management, information discovery, instructional services, and library technologies.
• Demonstrated understanding of medical education, faculty needs, student learning, clinical practice, and the information services that support them.
• Strong leadership, communication, consensus-building, and project management skills.
• Knowledge of current and emerging technologies, library systems, and digital scholarship tools.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment while maintaining professionalism and a positive, solutions-focused approach.

Nice To Haves

• Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP) certification, additional master’s degree (biological sciences preferred), or doctoral degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Planning: Develop, implement, and regularly assess a multi‑year library strategic plan aligned with KCU’s mission, academic goals, and institutional strategic initiatives. Lead the library in adopting emerging trends in medical librarianship, instructional technology, AI‑enhanced search and discovery, digital collections, data services, and clinical information systems. Use data-driven assessment to improve services, inform decision-making, and demonstrate library impact.
• Operations, Administration & Budget: Oversee day-to-day library operations, ensuring effective, inclusive, and user-focused services across campuses. Prepare, justify, and manage the annual operating budget, ensuring responsible fiscal stewardship and alignment with institutional priorities. Oversee collection development for print, electronic, archival, and multimedia resources, including licensing, vendor relations, and evidence-based acquisitions. Ensure compliance with accreditation standards related to library services and learning resources.
• Staff Leadership & Development: Recruit, supervise, mentor, and evaluate library faculty and staff; foster a collaborative, growth-oriented workplace culture. Support ongoing professional development, encouraging engagement with emerging technologies, evidence-based practice, and trends in health sciences librarianship.
• Teaching, Research & Academic Support: Lead the development of programs and policies supporting information literacy, scholarly communication, research support, and data management. Partner with faculty to integrate library instruction, evidence-based medicine (EBM) skills, and information literacy across the curriculum. Support student, faculty, and clinical research by ensuring access to high-quality information resources and expert librarian guidance.
• User Engagement, Outreach & Communication: Promote library services through effective communication, marketing strategies, and relationship-building across departments and campuses. Serve as a visible and trusted representative of the library within KCU and across professional networks. Ensure an inclusive, welcoming environment for all users.
• Other Responsibilities: Participate in institutional committees, university planning efforts, and cross-unit collaborations. Perform other duties as assigned to support institutional priorities and continuous improvement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager