Position Available

Executive Director

Digital Library Federation

Position title: Executive Director, Digital Library Federation

Appointment date: NLT 1 January 2007

Salary range: Competitive, commensurate with experience; excellent benefits package.

General responsibilities:

The Digital Library Federation (DLF), an international consortium of libraries and related agencies, seeks leadership to further its mission of enabling new research and scholarship. DLF leverages shared actions, resources, and infrastructures to extend, secure and preserve the scholarly and cultural record in digital form. Reporting to the DLF Board of Trustees, the executive director will play a critical role in the definition and implementation of DLF’s collaborative programs.

Specific responsibilities:

• The executive director will be responsible for articulating the shared vision of DLF in a way that signifies and fosters its values. Such articulation will provide both form and direction for DLF.

• The executive director identifies and develops strategic partnerships to further the goals and programs of DLF.

• The executive director will lead and manage ongoing DLF programs and, in conjunction with the Board, will formulate and implement new programs.

• The executive director will identify member expertise or engage external consultants to address issues critical to DLF projects.

• The executive director will facilitate and coordinate specific projects undertaken within DLF.

• The executive director will have overall responsibility for program and project evaluation in DLF.

• The executive director, with Board direction, will seek external funds for DLF projects, as appropriate.

• The executive director, in accordance with Board guidelines, will provide stewardship of DLF resources.

• The executive director will provide oversight for contractual relationships established by DLF.

• The executive director will manage the staff, budget, and assets of DLF to accomplish the programs and projects of the organization.

• The executive director will communicate and coordinate as necessary with relevant organizations

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of existing and emergent standards and practices regarding digital library and other scholarly information resources and their Internet distribution. Experience with digital library applications in research libraries, higher education institutions, or technology organizations preferred.
• Knowledge of the technical context and dimensions of distributed digital materials sufficient to coordinate projects effectively and to contribute to program and project results.
• Master’s degree, at a minimum, from an accredited institution of higher learning.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Must be both assertive and sensitive in complex environments. Must be able to explain, understand, and reconcile diverse institutional perspectives and needs.
• Significant managerial experience in research libraries, higher education institutions, or technology organizations.
• Demonstrated success in project or program leadership and management.
• Experience with regional, national, or international multi-institutional cooperation among research libraries, higher education institutions, or technology organizations.
• Deep understanding of electronic scholarly communication.

The Digital Library Federation was established in 1995 and was incorporated in 2005. Thirty-four institutions and five allied organizations are current members. For more information about DLF, see http://www.diglib.org/.

The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) provides an administrative home and support for DLF. CLIR is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. For more information, please consult the website: http://www.clir.org.

Nominations and applications should be sent to:

Search Committee, DLF Executive Director

Dr. Charles Henry

chhenry@rice.edu