Director, Collection Management

Department: University Libraries

Classification: Professional Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible, up to 2 days of telework

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary is commensurate with professional experience and academic qualifications. Salary at appointment is dependent upon rank (12-month professional faculty appointment with rank):

• Librarian I (not less than $65,000)
• Librarian II (not less than $70,000)
• Librarian III (not less than $75,000)
• Librarian IV (not less than $80,000)

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The University Libraries fosters innovation, creativity, and imagination by facilitating and preserving access to scholarship and information, providing expert consultation in the research process, and actively teaching the effective and critical use of information. The Access & Resource Management (ARM) Division works across the Libraries to support the University’s strategic goals and plan by acquiring, managing, and providing access to scholarly resources that enhance curricular and research needs. The Division manages the lifecycle of the University Libraries’ scholarly collection from budget development to point of ordering to provision of access and all associated maintenance and assessment. The Division is comprised of three departments: Collection Management, Discovery Services, and Access Services. Within ARM, the Collection Management Department brings together the units of Resource Acquisition, Collection Assessment & Licensing, and Resource Sharing to provide holistic management of the Libraries’ research collections.

About the Position:

The Director, Collection Management provides leadership and management for the functions of Collection Assessment & Licensing, Resource Acquisition, and Resource Sharing. The Director coordinates the Libraries’ overall collections strategy as it relates to the Libraries’ research collections, whether owned, subscribed to, shared, opened, accessed, or otherwise made available to the George Mason University scholarly community; manages the overall Research Materials Budget for the Libraries' collections in close coordination with the Associate University Librarian, Access & Resource Management (AUL of ARM); and provides direction for the resource sharing strategy of the Libraries that allows the George Mason community to borrow and obtain materials from other libraries and cultural institutions. The Director reports to the AUL of ARM. The Director participates in committees and/or workgroups as required to share knowledge, develop best practices, and implement and advance the work of the Libraries.

Responsibilities:

Collection Strategy:

• In consultation with the AUL of ARM and the Dean of Libraries, provides leadership, administrative oversight, and coordination for the Libraries’ overall content and content strategy for research collections;
• Researches, develops, and coordinates new approaches and models for building, providing access to, and delivering research content to our users, in close concert with the managers within the Access & Resource Management, Learning, Research & Engagement, and Digital Strategies & Systems divisions, as well as the Director of the Special Collections Research Center;
• Facilitates the Collection Management Council, working with stakeholders to develop collection-related policies and strategic collection decisions;
• Fosters an environment encouraging exploration, innovation, and implementation of new approaches to both developing and deploying libraries’ research materials collections and overall content strategy for the George Mason University research and learning community;
• Develops policies, procedures, and guidelines for lifecycle management of resources in all formats; and
• Represents the University Libraries in consortial discussions, system-wide committees, and national and regional networks regarding collections issues. 

Budget Management and Acquisition:

• Models leads in the Libraries’ annual Research Materials Budget preparation, and monitors the overall expenditure of funds by subject librarians and other selectors;
• Works collaboratively with colleagues in the ARM Division for the fulfillment of these duties;
• Negotiates pricing and content with publishers and vendors with a focus on new and complex agreements, using data-driven assessments to maximize impact and cost-effectiveness;
• Negotiates sustainable publishing models and open access initiatives that align with university research and curricula; and
• Works with the Head, Collection Assessment & Licensing to ensure our license agreements are in compliance with all university and state guidelines, and afford our community the best possible terms of use.

Electronic Resource Change Management:

• In collaboration with the Director, Discovery Services, evaluates emergent best practices and technologies for content management, access, and discovery that would improve the Libraries' efficiency and effectiveness in managing its electronic resources; and
• In collaboration with managers throughout the ARM Division, ensures the implementation of relevant electronic resource management changes, including adjusting workflows, applying new systems and approaches, and outsourcing services as needed. 

Supervision:

• Sets clear performance goals that align with the Libraries’ mission and strategic plan;
• Effectively communicates expectations to team members, 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; and
• Champions compliance by upholding university policies, legal standards, and ethical practices, and takes decisive action when necessary to address performance and/or behavioral issues. 

Service and Scholarship:

• Engages in university and professional service, and in research and creative work as outlined in the George Mason University Librarians’ Handbook and University Libraries Librarians’ Council Bylaws. 

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library or Information Science, or an equivalent certified foreign degree;
• Significant experience working in collection development/management, content strategy, or related area;
• Considerable experience with electronic resource management, including knowledge of emerging trends and technologies;
• Experience managing research materials budgets;
• Demonstrated effective supervisory experience;
• Demonstrates strong communication skills to convey complex ideas with clarity and impact to a variety of audiences;
• Ability to skillfully navigate sensitive or challenging conversations with professionalism and diplomacy, ensuring alignment and mutual understanding;
• In-depth knowledge of academic electronic and print publishing;
• Strong analytical and organizational skills, with a record of data-informed decision-making;
• Ability to manage budgets and develop sustainable resource allocation strategies; and
• Familiarity with collection assessment methodologies, tools, and evaluation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience managing and/or developing research materials with budgets of $5 million or more; and
• Experience with the Alma library management system.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Director, Collection Management at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume review.

Posting Open Date:  January 7, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  February 1, 2026

Open Until Filled:  Yes