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Executive Director, Triangle Research Libraries Network, Chapel Hill, NC

Posted April 21, 2015

Position: Executive Director for Triangle Research Libraries Network

Available: May 1, 2015

The Triangle Research Libraries Network (TRLN), a consortial organization of Duke University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, seeks a creative, dynamic, and committed leader to marshal the financial, human, and information resources of its member libraries. The focus of TRLN is to build cooperative efforts to create a rich information environment that furthers the universities’ teaching, learning, research, and service missions.

Founded in 1977 and based on cooperation among academic research libraries of the Research Triangle dating back to 1933, TRLN is a resource-sharing consortium consisting of Duke University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The libraries of the four institutions encompass collections of professional schools in business, law, and health sciences, in addition to the major research resources in the humanities, social science, engineering, sciences, and technology. The member libraries have combined holdings of fifteen million volumes, employ over a thousand staff, and have budgets totaling in excess of sixty million dollars. TRLN offices are located in Wilson Library on the UNC Chapel Hill campus.

The Executive Director:

  • Leads the development of innovative programs supporting scholarly communication and research, teaching, learning, and service that promote the interests of the member institutions;
  • Provides leadership and vision to a full range of collaborative programs;
  • Supports the work of the consortial governing bodies;
  • Works with program officers and governing bodies to set a strategic direction for the consortium;
  • Manages the budget and leads the effort to seek external funding; and
  • Promotes the network at the national, regional, and local levels.

Required Qualifications

  • ALA-accredited master’s degree in library or information science or an advanced degree in a relevant subject area
  • Knowledge of academic and research library trends and of the issues confronting higher education in today’s rapidly changing environment
  • Leadership skills confirmed by prior success in research libraries, library networks, or consortia
  • Ability to articulate a vision for collaborative resources and services to member libraries, funding agencies, and to the academic community
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, as well as oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to communicate and work effectively with institutional senior administrators, library directors, faculty, staff, and other professionals
  • Ability to manage time, budget, and personnel, set priorities, manage projects, and work under pressure
  • Creative problem solving skills, strong analytical skills, diplomacy and the ability to negotiate solutions with diverse groups
  • A proven service orientation

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience working in a collaborative library setting
  • Progressively responsible management and supervisory experience

Triangle Research Libraries Network

TRLN’s main activities build upon a long history of cooperation by facilitating cooperative collection development, resource sharing, joint licensing of electronic resources, cooperative preservation, and joint staff development programs. The four major programmatic areas are collections, human resources, services and technology, and four corresponding standing councils bring together staff from the member libraries to develop and implement key initiatives. TRLN also creates new library and information services, develops and pursues strategic partnerships, and seeks to enhance the members’ abilities to deliver information and services in a technologically advanced environment. In addition, unique consortial activities are made possible by the close proximity of the four institutions. Such activities include events for professional development and training, opportunities for the exchange of technical information, and programs for sharing best practices. External funding, in addition to well-established member support, provides financial resources to sustain TRLN activities.

TRLN has a vision of breaking down any remaining barriers to a long-standing goal of one research collection, serving one user community across four distinct institutions. Our current initiatives are centered on TRLN United: One Research Collection for One User Community. Our vision for the future is unlimited resource sharing within the consortium. We will share materials across our institutions as we do within our institutions — removing barriers to access and providing easy and rapid delivery services. We will share materials regardless of their format and with as little mediation as possible.

TRLN Governance

  • A nine-member Governing Board consists of the Provosts of the member institutions, the University Librarian from each member institution, and the TRLN Executive Director.
  • A five-member Executive Committee consists of the University Librarian from each member institution, and the Executive Director.
  • An Advisory Council consists of four representatives from each member institution including the Directors of the member libraries, the Executive Director, and the Council chairs.

TRLN Administration and Management

  • The Executive Director reports to the TRLN Governing Board and to the Executive Committee.
  • The Executive Director receives minimal routine direction and is expected to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position with vision, initiative, and self-sufficiency.
  • The Executive Director makes decisions and takes action within the scope of the position and the framework of TRLN. The TRLN Governing Board and Executive Committee approve significant policy directions and decisions, and the Executive Director is responsible for assuring that the objectives, strategies, and public face presented by TRLN are in alignment with them.
  • The Executive Director manages a staff of one administrative assistant and two Program Officers who direct and support the work of the programmatic committees.

The Region and the University

The Triangle region is one of the most desirable places to live and work in North America and offers its residents a wide array of recreational, cultural, and intellectual activities. The mountains and seashore are each less than a half-day’s drive from Chapel Hill.

UNC is an equal opportunity employer and is strongly committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff.

Salary and Benefits

This is an At Will Appointment. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Standard state benefits of annual leave, sick leave, and State or optional retirement plan.

Deadline for Application

Review of applications will begin on March 15, 2015. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but preference will be given to applications received by the begin review date.

To Apply

Please visit http://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/68009 and complete the online application. Please include a letter of application, a resume and the name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number of three professional references, one of which must be a current supervisor. Additionally, please indicate in your cover letter where you first learned of this position.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes all to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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