Assistant Dean of Libraries for Community Experience & Engagement

Job Details

Position Details

Position Information

Posting date
05/05/2026

Closing date
Open Until Filled
Yes

Position Number
0017900

Position Title
Assistant Dean of Libraries for Community Experience & Engagement

Hiring Range Minimum
Please inquire.

Hiring Range Maximum
Please Inquire.

Union Type
Not a Union Position

SEIU Level
Not an SEIU Position

FLSA Status
Exempt

Employment Category
Regular Full Time

Scheduled Months per Year
12

Scheduled Hours per Week
40

Location of Position
Hanover, NH 03755
Baker Room 115
Baker Berry Library

Remote Work Eligibility?
Onsite only

Is this a term position?
No

Is this a grant funded position?
No

Position Purpose

The Assistant Dean of Libraries for Community Experience & Engagement provides inspiring and motivated leadership to advance an integrated approach to spaces, services, and programs that elevate the Dartmouth community’s experience and engagement with Dartmouth Libraries. Reporting to the Dean of Libraries, this role focuses on the centrally located Baker-Berry Library and leads service and engagement teams; placemaking and facilities planning; and outreach and user experience. The Assistant Dean of Libraries shapes and applies a strategic vision to meet the ever-evolving needs of the Dartmouth academic community and to maintain the Libraries’ centrality in Dartmouth’s academic and residential community life. This position emphasizes strong leadership, effective collaboration with colleagues and key stakeholders, expert management of multiple high-impact projects, and data-informed strategic decision-making.

As a member of the Libraries Leadership Team, the Assistant Dean of Libraries will actively contribute to library-wide strategic and financial planning, organizational adaptability, and policy formation.

Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp

Masters or equivalent combination of education and experience

Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science ( MLS / MLIS ) or position-specific degree and experience
• Minimum 7+ years of progressive experience in libraries or other institutions with significant public services, with demonstrated leadership responsibilities
• Significant experience in the following areas: frontline or public services; facilities, placemaking, or space planning; community outreach and engagement
• Demonstrated management experience and success leading, mentoring, and developing diverse teams
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in library services and spaces
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Experience with assessment frameworks and data-driven planning and implementation
• Ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously and work collaboratively across institutional boundaries

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in an academic or research library
• Experience managing facilities renovation or capital construction projects
• Familiarity with integrated library systems ( ILS ) and service point technology
• Familiarity with sustainable building practices, accessibility standards, and universal design principles

Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries

DSG | Storbeck

Department Contact for Cover Letter and Title

Susanne Mehrer, Dean of Libraries

Key Accountabilities

Strategy & Innovation

• Develops and implements a holistic vision for integrating programs, spaces, and services into a coherent, inclusive and welcoming experience for the Dartmouth community
• Fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, and inclusive excellence within Dartmouth Libraries
• Stays current with national and international trends in placemaking and experiential design to ensure the Libraries deliver meaningful and engaging experiences
• Leads, develops, and mentors teams to participate in and contribute to shaping future services and environments that enhance Dartmouth’s academic mission

Percentage Of Time
35%

Library Services & Operations

• Provides vision and strategic direction to ensure seamless service delivery and an excellent user experience across the Dartmouth community
• Develops, implements, and assesses policies and procedures governing public services
• Monitors and assesses service desk staffing models, resources and service hours, making data-informed, strategic decisions to ensure responsiveness to demand and evolving user needs
• Leverages data and user feedback to continuously evaluate and improve the user experience across Dartmouth Libraries in response to ever-evolving community needs

Percentage Of Time
20%

Facilities & Space Management

• Provides vision and strategic direction for continuously adapting the Libraries’ facilities to complement the ever-evolving needs of the Dartmouth academic community and to maintain the Libraries’ centrality in the academic and residential life of the university
• Leads space planning, renovation, and capital project initiatives in collaboration with the Libraries’ head of facilities, campus facilities management, project managers, and architects
• Collaborates with the Libraries’ digital infrastructure teams and Dartmouth partners to ensure our physical and digital spaces are accessible, easy to navigate, and user-friendly

Percentage Of Time
25%

Community Engagement & Programming

• Provides vision and planning for an evolving and comprehensive outreach and engagement strategy that connects students, faculty, staff, and the local community to the Libraries and enhances the Libraries’ participation in the intellectual and social life of the Dartmouth community
• Collaborates with the Libraries Communications Manager to amplify the Libraries’ visibility and impact; develops and implements assessment strategies to measure, evaluate, and communicate the effectiveness of community outreach and engagement efforts
• In collaboration with expert staff, guides integration of programming, outreach and curricular support
• Builds and sustains partnerships with key stakeholders across the Libraries, Dartmouth, and the local community to support Dartmouth’s academic mission and the Libraries strategic goals
• Prepares compelling written and visual reports, presentations, and communications for internal and external audiences
• Guides and supports programming that celebrates Dartmouth scholarship, diverse voices, histories, and perspectives, including events, exhibits, displays, lectures, and other initiatives

Percentage Of Time
20%