Dean of Libraries (University Librarian), Memorial University

Dean of Libraries (University Librarian), Memorial University

St. John’s, NL

Memorial University invites accomplished libraries and information science leaders to help shape transformational, inclusive, and innovative scholarship while boldly leading a complex library environment at Newfoundland and Labrador’s only university.

The Organization

Memorial University respectfully acknowledges that the lands on which our campuses are situated are in the traditional territories of diverse Indigenous groups, and we acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and cultures of the Beothuk, Mi’kmaq, Innu and Inuit of this province. Memorial University is deeply committed to truth and reconciliation and to building relationships based on mutual understanding and respect.

Memorial plays a unique and vital role in Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded in 1925 as a living memorial to those who lost their lives in the First World War, Memorial is home to over 17,000 students and over 3,500 faculty and staff across multiple campuses in St. John’s, Corner Brook, and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. With a deep commitment to advancing award winning research, creative scholarship and entrepreneurialism that reflects the evolving needs of communities, the university has grown into a comprehensive institution with global impact and local relevance.

Rooted in the province’s resilient spirit, Memorial is an institution with a powerful sense of place, belonging, and purpose. The university has begun an exciting new journey with a clear focus on academic excellence, financial sustainability, reconciliation, and the experience of Memorial students.

The Role

Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), the Dean of Libraries (University Librarian) provides visionary leadership for one of Atlantic Canada's most significant academic library systems. They oversee a complex network of libraries, archives, collections, and services that span multiple campuses and regions, supporting Memorial University's mission in teaching, learning, research, public engagement, and service.

As a member of Memorial's senior leadership team, the Dean of Libraries (University Librarian) champions the strategic role of libraries in advancing student success, research excellence, open scholarship, knowledge mobilization, digital transformation, and community engagement. They foster collaboration across the University and with external partners, ensuring Memorial Libraries remain responsive to the evolving needs of the province, its communities, and the global scholarly landscape.

Memorial is advancing institutional transformation focused on long-term financial sustainability and student success. The Dean will play a key role in helping the Libraries navigate evolving funding models, changing user expectations, technological evolution, and opportunities for renewal across the institution.

Key Areas of Leadership and Oversight

• Strategic Leadership and Institutional Impact - Provide visionary leadership for Memorial University Libraries, ensuring the library system advances the University's academic mission and strategic priorities. As Newfoundland and Labrador's only university library system, the Libraries play a vital role in contributing to teaching, learning, research, and public engagement across the province.
• Library System Stewardship and Service Excellence - Lead a complex, multi-campus library network, overseeing collections, archives, services, spaces, and digital infrastructure. Ensure the Libraries deliver responsive, innovative, and high-quality services that meet the evolving needs of students, faculty, researchers, staff, and public users.
• Research, Scholarship, and Knowledge Access - Champion equitable access to knowledge and strengthen the Libraries' role in fostering research excellence, scholarly communications, open scholarship, digital initiatives, and student success. Position the Libraries as a strategic partner in the creation, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge.
• People, Culture, and Organizational Effectiveness - Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing culture across the Libraries. Lead, mentor, and support a diverse team while promoting accountability, professional growth, well-being, and service excellence within a unionized environment.
• Partnerships, Community Engagement, and Provincial Leadership - Build strong relationships across the University and with Indigenous communities, government, cultural organizations, library networks, and research partners. Advance Memorial's unique role in connecting communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, including rural, remote, and northern regions.
• Heritage, Reconciliation, and Inclusive Access - Champion the stewardship of Newfoundland and Labrador's documentary and cultural heritage through archives, special collections, and preservation initiatives. Embed principles of reconciliation, accessibility, equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism throughout library strategy, services, and operations.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a collaborative and strategic leader who understands the transformative role libraries play in universities and society. They will bring experience navigating complexities of, building partnerships with, and leading change within a large, academic library system. They will demonstrate a commitment to reconciliation, accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion, and will appreciate the unique role Memorial University plays in advancing learning and knowledge generation in communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

They will be an advocate for open and equitable access to knowledge, a champion of innovation and scholarly communication, and a thoughtful steward of both institutional resources and the province's documentary heritage.

Qualifications and Experience

While the Search Committee recognizes that no one candidate is likely to meet all qualifications in equal measure, those listed below are desirable and will be used to compare candidates.

• An ALA accredited Masters degree in Library and Information Science, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated leadership progression as a librarian or archivist, including staff management.
• Strong leadership and supervisory abilities including knowledge of human resources practices and unionized environments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a significant budget, build profile for the library, and act as a champion for its resource needs.
• Strong understanding of core library operations and emerging trends in areas such as information services, open education, instruction, cataloguing, collections, digital scholarship, scholarly communications, research data management, research visibility, BIBFRAME, & linked data, and archives.
• Demonstrated commitment to Indigenization; equity, diversity and inclusion; accessibility; and sustainability in libraries.
• A strong record of professional practice, scholarship, research, and/or service.
• Knowledge of national and provincial consortia (e.g. CRKN, OCUL), library and archival institutional partnerships, and understanding of consortial licensing terms/issues in a networked environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of patron-centred library assessment.
• Ability to secure funding from a variety of sources.

Skills and Attributes

• Strategic and visionary leadership with a strong people-first orientation.
• Proven ability to support people through change while fostering innovation and continuous improvement.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to be persuasive while speaking to different audiences.
• A consultative leadership style, able to lead through complex situations with authenticity and transparency.
• The ability to work collegially and effectively within a unionized environment, building trusting relationships both internally and externally.
• The ability to balance and prioritize the needs and interests of diverse library patron groups.

Memorial University is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences. We will provide support and accommodations to applicants with disabilities, upon request. If you need accommodation in order to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact Voir email sur clickmatrix.dev or communicate your needs to the recruitment professional named in the job description.