About the position Within the Collection Management department of the ARM division, the Head, Collection Assessment and Research Impact coordinates assessment of the Libraries’ research collections, whether owned, subscribed to, shared, opened, accessed, or otherwise made available to the George Mason University scholarly community. This position develops and provides services related to research and scholarly impact and serves as the expert on trends and issues in research impact. The Head, Collection Assessment and Research Impact supports and participates in collection development for the Libraries and supports the Collection Assessment & Research Impact unit. The position reports to the Director, Collection Management. They participate in committees, task forces, and/or workgroups as required to share knowledge, develop best practices, and implement and advance the work of the Libraries.

Responsibilities

• Oversees evaluation of the Libraries' research collections to help ensure

they effectively meet the needs of its users and aligns with the Libraries' goals

• Works with the unit's Specialists to prepare product and program analysis for

the Collection Management Council's review and use

• Works collaboratively with the Data Discoverability Unit in applying

ever-developing and increasingly sophisticated methods for assessing all aspects of the Libraries’ collections and their use

• Assesses the intellectual component and usage of the Libraries’ approval

plans and related models such as demand-driven or evidence-based purchasing of content

• Maintains awareness of new developments in librarianship, information access,

and assessment methodologies.

• Builds and maintains knowledge of bibliometric approaches, citation analysis,

available data and resources in the field, and researcher profile development

• Provides resources and support for subject and liaison librarians to provide

consultation for faculty and students on their research, scholarly, and creative impact, providing direct consultations in collaboration with subject and liaison librarians as time allows

• Works with data from a variety of sources, such as citation counts, h-index,

journal impact factors, and altmetrics, to analyze institutional research impact

• Develops and maintains a deep understanding of scholarly communication models

and how these relate to the libraries' collections and institutional researchers in both quantitative and qualitative ways.

• Identifies collection gaps and areas where collections spending is misaligned

with current curricula

• Supports and participates in collections planning and strategic

decision-making for acquisition or cancellation using data

• Negotiates product renewals in collaboration with the Director, Collection

Management and Head, Resource Acquisition, as needed.

• Sets clear performance goals that align with the Libraries’ mission and

strategic plan

• Effectively communicates expectations to team member(s), organizes workflows

to optimize productivity, and ensures clarity around roles and responsibilities

• Drives employee engagement and development by monitoring performance,

providing actionable feedback, fostering professional growth through coaching and training, and promoting a collaborative work environment

• Champions compliance by upholding university policies, legal standards, and

ethical practices, and takes decisive action when necessary to address performance and/or behavioral issues.

• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and

experience

• Considerable experience involving collection assessment in an academic or

research library setting

• Experience with data analysis tools or approaches
• Supervisory or team lead experience
• Knowledge of trends, models, and best practices in scholarly communication
• Demonstrated knowledge of assessment methodologies, tools, and metrics used

to evaluate academic library collections

• Demonstrates strong communication and interpersonal skills to convey complex

ideas with clarity and impact to a variety of audiences working collaboratively with colleagues, vendors, and stakeholders

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to collect, interpret, and present

both quantitative and qualitative data to support decision-making

• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to evolving

needs in a fast-paced academic environment. Nice-to-haves

• ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library or Information Science, or an

equivalent certified foreign degree

• Experience leading collection assessment projects in an academic or research

library

• Experience evaluating research impact in a higher education setting
• Experience supervising professional staff in a collection assessment,

research impact, or electronic resource environment

• Proficiency with integrated library systems, electronic resource management

systems, and assessment tools

• Skill in presenting complex data in accessible formats for diverse audiences,

including administration and faculty

• Ability to develop policies, workflows, and best practices for collection

assessment and research impact.