Executive Director, ACRL

At a dynamic time in the trajectory of American higher education, the American Library Association (ALA) seeks an Executive Director to lead its Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) division, the leading and largest organization representing academic and research libraries, librarians, and library workers.

ACRL is an international convener for the academic and research library sector and, in support of its wide-ranging constituency, develops programs, products, and services to help members and stakeholders learn, innovate, and lead within the academic library and research communities. With more than 8,000 members-representing all types of academic and research libraries supporting 160 communities of practice, committees, and chapters-ACRL elevates the position, recognition, and impact of all academic and research libraries and librarians as catalysts for exceptional research and learning. Signature programs, services, and products include the division's biennial conference, Choice and College & Research Libraries publications, the ALA JobLIST job board, ACRL monographs, a robust e-learning program, and a range of other revenue-generating areas.

Significant strategic goal areas for ACRL's work include promoting the value of academic libraries, supporting student learning and information literacy, taking an advocacy role in the research and scholarly environment, exploring new roles and changing landscapes for academic librarianship. A fifth goal area - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - was added in 2022. This followed the 2018 strategic plan addition of the Core Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, which expresses ACRL's dedication to creating diverse and inclusive communities, acknowledging, and addressing historical racial inequities, challenging oppressive systems within academic libraries, and working to eliminate barriers to equitable services, spaces, resources, and scholarship. The new ACRL executive director will have an extraordinary opportunity to move each of these areas forward.

The ACRL Executive Director will serve as an international spokesperson and thought leader who can advocate for academic and research libraries and for ALA's broader priorities. This position also works closely with and reports to the ALA Executive Director as well as the elected ACRL Board of Directors. As a result, there is an extremely high premium placed on creativity, high energy, and the ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, effectively manage time and deadlines, as well as balance demands and priorities. In addition to division oversight, the ACRL Executive Director is expected to serve as a strategic and collaborative leader for the association.

ACRL's offices are located at ALA's headquarters in Chicago, a city known for its world-class arts, culture, and civic engagement opportunities, as well as its diverse and vibrant neighborhoods, celebrated cuisine, and genuine hospitality. A successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop their voice as a national library leader within an organization that offers and encourages work-life balance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Providing vision and leadership for advancing ACRL's core purpose, commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, goals, and strategic objectives defined by the ACRL Board of Directors in its strategic plan, the Plan for Excellence.
• Representing the interests of ACRL and academic and research librarians and library workers to the library and higher-education communities.
• Forging partnerships/alliances as appropriate to increase ACRL's visibility and impact.
• Providing long-range strategic and operational planning.
• Managing a high performing team, including six direct reports. Responsible for the hiring, supervision, and retention of strong team members.
• Overseeing and growing ACRL's $5 million budget.
• Facilitating the delivery of programs, services, research, and meetings (including a biennial conference) that advance the work of academic and research librarians and library workers.
• Providing oversight, review, and direction for ACRL's publishing and licensing activities, including its CHOICE publishing program and operation.
• Representing ACRL's work and leadership globally within the International Federation of Library Associations and other organizations.

This is a regular full-time position based in our Chicago office.

ALA staff are currently working on a hybrid schedule, based on individual manager's discretion and the nature of the position. Please note that although we have a telecommuting policy for our employees, we do not have any truly remote positions in states outside of our workplace sites. Relocation package available.

ALA currently requires that employees be fully vaccinated for COVID 19 as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Proof of vaccination will be required on or before start date.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check and proof of your eligibility to work in the United States.

COMPENSATION

Starting salary range negotiable from 120K; based on relevant experience. ALA has an excellent benefit package that includes flexible work schedules, medical, dental, generous paid vacation, retirement annuity and a 35-hour workweek. You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

Closing Date: Consideration of candidates will begin Aug 31, 2024 and continue until the position is filled.

FOR CONSIDERATION

In addition to your resume, please provide a cover letter reflecting upon past successes and experience outlining the key skills and values that you will bring to ALA and the ACRL division.

Apply online including cover letter and resume.

OR

Send your cover letter and resume to:

Lorelle Hopkins

Associate Executive Director

Human Resources & Organizational Operations

American Library Association

Ref: execdirACRL

Email: lswader@ala.org

The American Library Association is an equal opportunity employer: Disability/Veteran.

REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Relevant cumulative professional accomplishments and experience demonstrating managerial and leadership skills, as well as strategic decision-making, collaboration, and service-orientation.
• Awareness of "big picture" values, trends, and issues in higher education and academic/research libraries strongly preferred.
• Ability to balance competing demands and priorities in a challenging and complex organizational environment.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and a commitment to learning and continuous improvement.
• Ability to effectively manage resources including time, money, labor, and attention, in a fiscally challenging environment.
• Entrepreneurial aptitude and ability to generate earned as well as contributed income.
• Ability to simultaneously develop and maintain effective working relationships with the elected Board of Directors, ACRL members and volunteers, staff and colleagues, funders, vendors, and liaison organizations within the higher education community.
• Outstanding communication skills.
• Ability to assess opportunities and take calculated risks based on the opportunity for reward.
• A four-year college or university degree.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE:

• An MLIS or other graduate-level degree with relevance to the position.
• Minimum of seven years of management experience in an association or other member- or customer-driven environment is strongly preferred.
• Experience effectively managing and working with complex budgets and multiple revenue streams.
• Experience with grant, sponsorship, and individual donor cultivation.
• Experience supervising and managing strong staff teams.

About ALA

The American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest, largest, and most influential library association in the world. Founded on October 6, 1876 during the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the mission of ALA is "to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all." ALA is a membership association composed of nearly 50,000 librarians, information sector stakeholders, trustees, friends of libraries, and others.