The recent transition of the North East Research Library Consortium (NERL) from Yale University to the Center for Research Libraries creates a strategic partnership designed to provide research libraries greater leverage and return on their investments in the acquisition and licensing of electronic resources. It also creates a career opportunity for a licensing professional to contribute to the rapidly expanding field of electronic resource acquisition and licensing as the NERL Program Director at CRL.
The NERL Progam Director will be responsible for meeting the ambitious goals and objectives of the NERL program at CRL. Initially, the hiree will work with the current NERL director at Yale to ensure the orderly transfer of the program to CRL. In collaboration with the NERL Program Council and under the general guidance of CRL leadership, the new progam director will negotiate the most beneficial terms of use and advantageous pricing for current e-journals, e-books, and databases in STM, the social sciences, and the humanities.
Duties include: promoting and supporting member and affiliate participation in the NERL program; vendor negotiations and communications; monitoring of program payables and receivables; and planning and coordinating the activities of the NERL team. The program director may take on other activities such as advocacy or collection development projects to leverage program results.
A Masters' Degree in library science or equivalent from and ALA-accredited program is strongly preferred and the following skills and experience are required:
- Minimum of five years professional level library and/or electronic publishing experience that includes no fewer than two years of supervisory experience with responsibility for extensive internal and external communications
- Knowledge of current and emerging information technologies and electronic publishing formats, authentication methods, and platforms
- Thorough understanding of a broad range of electronic delivery tools and solutions
- Knowledge of commercial publishing practices, business models and licensing provisions
- Familiarity with laws and federal regulations as they pertain to intellectual property and copyright in an academic setting
- Strong negotiation and facilitation skills and an ability to articulate NERL positions on database licensing and purchases
- Superior oral and written communication skills, and the ability to effectively engage, motivate and coordinate external constituencies
- Demonstrated ability to communicate complex legal and policy concepts
- Demonstrated capacity for building and leading teams
- Familiarity with web content management systems and authoring tools such as Drupal.
In addition to a challenging professional opportunity to contribute to a new and promising strategic initiative, CRL offers a competitive salary and exceptional benefits package. Respond with the title of the position in the subject line to: resumes@crl.edu. You may also fax or forward your resume indicating that you are applying for “NERL Program Director” to:
Human Resources
Center for Research Libraries
6050 S. Kenwood Ave.
Chicago Illinois 60637
Fax: 773-955-4339
