Assistant Director of Data Visualization (Faculty)

Organizational Unit:

The University of South Florida Libraries accelerate learning and knowledge production through distinctive collections, information service innovation, and thought leadership. We are one library serving three diverse campus communities in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee. As the heart of an AAU member University, the USF Libraries contribute to student success, faculty excellence, and lifelong learning for our community.

The USF Libraries provide access to over 3.3 million print & eBooks, 190,000 eJournal subscriptions, and 24 million digital images. We offer specialized workshops, research assistance, and instruction support to students and faculty as well as access to unique primary research materials in Florida studies, Florida environment and natural history, children’s and young adult literature, LGBTQ+ studies, and university archives. Assistance is available from research and reference librarians either by appointment, on-line via our website, by phone, or in a classroom setting. We are research-active, grant-active and have strong local, national, and international research partnerships.

Position Summary:

The USF Libraries seek a creative, strategic, and ambitious professional for the role of Assistant Director of Data Visualization. As a member of the Integrated Research & Impact Services (IRIS) Department, the Assistant Director of Data Visualization will lead in the development, coordination, and delivery of data visualization, digital scholarship, and creative technologies services and contribute to the unit’s role to amplify and enhance the visibility, accessibility, and influence of scholarship at USF. The Assistant Director will collaborate closely with faculty, students, librarians, technologists, and campus partners to facilitate and coordinate data-driven inquiry, visual communication and storytelling, and emerging modes of scholarship. The Assistant Director will also play a key role in advancing the Libraries’ strategic use of artificial intelligence to enhance research, teaching, creative practice, and operational effectiveness.

The successful candidate will be a collaborative, forward-thinking professional who combines technical expertise with a strong service orientation and a commitment to faculty excellence, student success, and community engagement. A desire to learn, experiment, and grow with evolving tools and methodologies is highly valued. Professional development and training are actively supported.

This position, located on the USF St. Petersburg campus, reports to the Director, Integrated Research & Impact Services (IRIS) with a dotted line to the Campus Dean of the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library.

• Provide leadership for data visualization, digital scholarship, and creative technologies offerings within the USF Libraries.
• Contribute to the strategic planning, assessment, and continuous improvement of visualization, digital scholarship, and creative technologies initiatives.
• Actively engage with faculty, researchers, and students to build collaboration and promote the Libraries’ data visualization, digital scholarship, and creative technologies library offerings.
• Collaborate with USF Libraries colleagues across the three USF campuses on programming, outreach, and support for faculty and student research.
• Monitor emerging trends in data visualization, creative technologies, and digital scholarship to inform service development.
• Provide oversight for the USF St. Petersburg Student Technology Center (STC) and Makerspace and assist with STC education, programming, and events.
• Provide individual and small group consultations, workshops, and instruction in information, resource, and software use, and support and collaborate with those who seek to share data in visually compelling ways and to communicate using data.
• Actively participate and demonstrate leadership in professional responsibilities that serve the USF Libraries, University, profession, and community.
• Develop a focused program of high-quality research and/or creative accomplishments required for promotion
• Directly supervise the Coordinator, Library Operations for the Student Technology Center and the Digital Scholarship Librarian.

Minimum Education:

An ALA-accredited master’s degree in library and information science earned by the appointment date OR terminal degree (MFA, PhD, EdD, or similar) in a relevant discipline

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated proficiency with one or more data visualization tools/programming languages (e.g., Excel, Tableau, Illustrator, R, Python, D3.js)
• Demonstrated facility and experience in at least one of the following areas:
• GIS, geospatial visualization, or alternative or collaborative mapping
• The transformation of datasets into charts, dashboards, infographics, and interactive visualizations
• Engagement with media and maker technologies to support the physicalization of data

• 2–3 years of relevant experience in academic libraries, research environments, or related settings
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience providing data visualization and/or digital scholarship workshops and instruction
• Familiarity with data management and curation practices
• Knowledge of accessibility principles for visual design
• Experience supervising and empowering technology and information professionals
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across disciplines and organizational units

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu .

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws :

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.