Assistant Director for Public Service & Academic Engagement

Job Summary:

The Assistant Director for Public Service and Academic Engagement provides senior-level operational and programmatic leadership for public services, instruction, campus engagement, and user experience at the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Robert W. Woodruff Library.

Reporting to the Associate Library Director, this position oversees programming, instructional services, embedded librarianship initiatives, customer service standards, and engagement activities across Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College.

The Assistant Director ensures that library services, librarians, and resources are strategically integrated into campus curricula, academic programs, and student success initiatives. The role also provides leadership oversight for engagement programming and labs within the Technology Design Studio, advancing innovative, technology-rich learning experiences aligned with institutional priorities.

Provide direct supervision for librarians and professional staff within Public Services and Academic Engagement, including those responsible for instruction, programming, engagement initiatives, and Technology Design Studio labs. Establish performance expectations, conduct evaluations, and support professional development. Lead departmental planning, goal setting, and service assessment efforts.

Foster a culture of service excellence, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. Serve as a member of the Library’s leadership team, contributing to strategic and operational decision-making.

Supervision Exercised: Student Success Team Lead, User Services Team Lead, Research and Reference Team Lead

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Public Services Leadership and Customer Experience

Oversee the coordination and assessment of public service operations, including research consultations, reference services, service desk operations, and user experience initiatives.
Establish and monitor customer service standards to ensure consistent, equitable, and high-quality patron interactions.
Analyze service data and user feedback to inform service design improvements and operational efficiencies.
Establish, monitor, and maintain measurable performance indicators for public services, instruction, engagement, and lab utilization.

2. Instruction and Academic Integration

Provide strategic oversight for the Library’s instructional program, ensuring alignment with the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education.
Promote scaffolded, curriculum-integrated information literacy instruction across disciplines.
Advance embedded librarianship models that integrate librarians into academic departments, first-year programs, general education curricula, and high-impact practices.
Partner with faculty to co-design assignments, research instruction modules, and course-embedded learning experiences.
Assess student learning outcomes related to information literacy and research competencies.

3. Programming and Engagement

Lead the development and implementation of programming that promotes research skills, digital literacy, scholarly communication, and academic success.
Design engagement initiatives that increase visibility and utilization of library services and collections.
Represent the Library in campus forums, academic councils, and cross-institutional initiatives.

4. Technology Design Studio and Learning Labs

Provide leadership oversight for engagement and instructional programming within the Technology Design Studio labs.
Support innovative, technology-enhanced learning experiences that advance digital scholarship, creative inquiry, and applied learning.
Ensure that lab programming aligns with instructional goals and complements academic curricula.

5. Campus Partnership and Embedded Services

Serve as a strategic liaison to academic departments, student success units, and campus leadership.
Advance systematic integration of librarians, services, and research resources into curricula and campus initiatives.
Develop sustainable partnership models that strengthen faculty engagement and student learning outcomes.

Minimum Qualifications

Educational/Training Requirements:

Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from an ALA-accredited institution.
Minimum of 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in an academic library.
Demonstrated supervisory experience, including oversight of librarians and/or professional staff.
Experience leading instruction programs aligned with the ACRL Framework.
Experience developing engagement programming and campus partnerships.
Demonstrated commitment to customer service excellence and user-centered service design.
Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience managing or supporting makerspaces, digital labs, or technology-rich learning environments.
Experience working within a consortium or multi-institutional academic environment.
Demonstrated success implementing embedded librarianship models.
Experience leading assessment initiatives tied to student learning outcomes.
Experience working in an HBCU or mission-driven academic environment.

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