University Librarian

Sonoran University of Health Sciences seeks a University Librarian to lead the university library as a central resource for research, learning, and collaboration. The Librarian provides strategic and operational leadership for library services, overseeing staff, collections, and daily operations while ensuring the library effectively supports the academic and research needs of the university community. The library serves both on-campus and remote learners across Sonoran’s health sciences programs, including clinical nutrition, naturopathic medicine, and clinical mental health counseling.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Program Innovation, the University Librarian partners closely with faculty, students, clinicians, and university leadership to strengthen the library’s role in supporting knowledge discovery, digital scholarship, and community engagement. The Librarian will lead initiatives that enhance research support and expand the reach and effectiveness of library services, including guiding faculty and students in the use of emerging research technologies and responsible applications of artificial intelligence for literature discovery, evidence synthesis, and scholarly productivity. This role also identifies opportunities to leverage emerging technologies, including AI, that improve operational efficiency and enhance service delivery.

This position offers a unique opportunity for a collaborative, forward-thinking professional to help guide the continued evolution of Sonoran’s library as an innovative learning and community resource. We seek a University Librarian who is energized to advance emerging roles for academic health sciences libraries, including digital scholarship, AI-supported research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community programming. This leader will ensure the library serves not only as a hub for academic inquiry, but also as a welcoming space that connects the university with the broader community through programming, partnerships, and shared learning opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

Library Operations and Personnel Management

· Provide leadership and oversight for the university library operations, including staff supervision, daily service delivery, and overall management of the facility.

· Recruit, hire, train, and supervise library staff and student workers and volunteers, while fostering a professional, collaborative, and service-oriented work environment. Provide coaching and performance feedback to support staff growth and effectiveness.

· Manage library collections, resources, and services to ensure alignment with the academic and research needs of faculty and students.

· Develop, implement, and maintain library policies, procedures, and best practices that support effective library operations.

· Support institutional and programmatic accreditation by ensuring library resources, services, and documentation meet relevant standards.

· Maintain a professional, welcoming, and well-organized library environment.

· Evaluate emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence tools, that may enhance research support, streamline library workflows, and improve operational efficiency.

Research Support and Academic Engagement

• Support faculty and student research through literature searching, evidence-based practice, and scholarly resource discovery.
• Provide guidance on the effective use of research databases, information resources, and emerging research technologies.
• Assist faculty and students in utilizing tools that support literature discovery, evidence synthesis, and scholarly productivity.
• Collaborate with faculty and academic programs to support information literacy instruction and research skills development.

Innovation and Technology Integration

· Explore and implement emerging technologies that enhance library services, research support, and user engagement.

· Support responsible and effective uses of artificial intelligence and other digital research tools.

· Assess new digital resources and technologies that expand access to information and support evolving academic needs.

· Contribute to institutional discussions about the future of academic libraries, digital scholarship, and research support services.

Community Engagement and Programming

• Position the library as a collaborative learning environment that connects students, faculty, and the broader community.
• Develop programs, workshops, and events that support research skills, lifelong learning, and community engagement.
• Foster partnerships with academic departments, student services, and external organizations to expand the impact of library programming.
• Promote the library as a welcoming hub for intellectual exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community dialogue.

Resource and Fiscal Stewardship

• Develop and manage the library budget in alignment with institutional priorities.
• Explore funding opportunities, partnerships, and grants that strengthen library services and infrastructure.
• Monitor trends in academic libraries and higher education to inform library planning and service development.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLS, MLIS, or equivalent) from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited institution.

· Minimum five years of experience in an academic, research, or health sciences library environment.

· Demonstrated experience supervising staff, and student workers, or library operations.

· Experience managing library budgets, collections, or resource allocation.

· Experience supporting faculty and student research, including literature searching and use of scholarly databases.

· Proficiency with academic research databases and discovery platforms (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, ProQuest, or similar).

· Experience using integrated library systems (ILS) such as EOS.Web from SirsidynixAlma, Sierra, Koha, or other similar platforms.

· Experience providing research consultations, library instruction, or information literacy training.

· Proficiency with common productivity tools, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) or equivalent software.

· Strong communication, organizational, and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively with faculty, students, and university leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a health sciences environment.
• Experience supporting institutional or programmatic accreditation reviews, including preparation of documentation related to library resources and research support
• Experience supporting systematic reviews, evidence synthesis, or evidence-based practice research.
• Familiarity with systematic review or evidence synthesis tools (e.g., Covidence, Rayyan).
• Experience using reference management and citation tools such as EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley.
• Experience supporting digital scholarship initiatives, scholarly communication, or institutional repositories.
• Interest in evaluating emerging technologies and responsible applications of artificial intelligence to enhance research support, library operations, and user experience.

About Sonoran University

Sonoran University of Health Sciences shapes a healthier future by supporting students as they train to excel as healthcare professionals, by enhancing the health and wellbeing of our patients and communities, and by discovering effective treatments for humanity grounded in the healing power of nature. Our vision is a world that embraces the healing power of nature. With campuses in Tempe, Arizona and online, the overall environment is vibrant and dynamic, with passionate students, staff, and faculty.

As a private institution, Sonoran University is dedicated to fostering a supportive, inclusive community for all. Sonoran community members embody and promote inclusive excellence. This includes a commitment to respecting diverse perspectives and continually advancing your understanding and practices around equity, belonging, and support for all students, employees, patients, and our greater community. You will contribute to a campus culture that embraces our core values.

Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person