Head of Acquisitions Services, University Park | Penn State University Libraries

"The Pennsylvania State University Libraries invite applications and nominations for the position of Head of Acquisitions Services. This 12-month tenure-track faculty position reports to the Associate Dean for Research, Collections, and Scholarly Communications and will manage acquisitions activities throughout all libraries at Penn State University to ensure responsible and timely expenditure of a total University-wide collections budget of over $18 million. The successful candidate is expected to work in a highly collaborative organization to create and implement effective and efficient procedures in acquiring resources in all formats and be committed to innovation to enhance existing services, and willing to review long-term embedded practices. The University Libraries values diversity of thought, perspective, experience and people, and is actively committed to a culture of inclusion and respect. We encourage candidates to apply who thrive in a welcoming multicultural environment. More information on Penn State’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence, can be found by visiting http://equity.psu.edu/psu-diversity-statement. For additional information about the Libraries’ diversity efforts, please visit https://libraries.psu.edu/about/diversity.

Responsibilities and Duties

The Head of Acquisitions Services will provide leadership and management of the Acquisitions Services Department. The head will represent the concerns of and advocate for the department to University Libraries administration. Acquisitions Services has eighteen staff in three collaborative units: Electronic Resources, Monographs and Budgeting, and Serials. This position will collaborate closely with the Head of Cataloging and Metadata Services. Responsibilities include supervision of direct reports, oversight of all aspects of acquisitions, including ordering, claiming, receiving, and e-resource management. The selected candidate will work closely with subject liaisons on all Penn State campuses (24), Access Services, the Business Office, the Libraries Copyright Officer, the Collections Services and Strategies Librarian, Penn State Business Service's Purchasing Department, and the Office of Corporate Controller's Risk Management Division to manage the acquisitions budget, vendor relationships, licensing, and acquisitions-related consortia memberships in the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) and Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc. (PALCI). This position will serve on the Dean’s Library Council and the Joint Collections Group. As the primary representative for all acquisitions efforts, this individual will serve as the primary contact for all vendor and publisher relations."