Business Librarian

Job Description

Under the general supervision of the Associate Dean for Academic Services, the Business Librarian serves as a strategic partner to align instructional support, research services, and collection decisions with Cal Poly’s "Learn by Doing" philosophy. A central responsibility of the position is sustained engagement as the primary liaison to the Orfalea College of Business (OCOB), where they support undergraduate and graduate programs across the San Luis Obispo, Solano, and community college 2+2 degree contexts. Additionally, the Business Librarian plays a lead liaison role for Agribusiness in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES), supporting hands-on, interdisciplinary programs that integrate quantitative analysis and industry engagement. In this capacity, the position will also support the growing portfolio of innovation and entrepreneurship at Cal Poly, ensuring strategic library alignment with campus-wide initiatives.

Because business-related research and instruction are highly interdisciplinary at Cal Poly, the role extends to several academic units including Marine Transportation, Wine and Viticulture, Industrial Manufacturing and Engineering, Graphic Communication, and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. To meet evolving curricular priorities and accreditation requirements, the Business Librarian actively collaborates with library colleagues, students, faculty, and administrators. This work is executed through a strategic blend of shared services, internal capacity building, and leadership in research consultation and outreach to ensure a vibrant learning experience across all business-related disciplines at Cal Poly.

In addition to discipline-specific liaison responsibilities, the Business Librarian contributes to library-wide initiatives that advance institutional goals and learning outcomes. These include general reference, campus engagement, and service activities that strengthen the library’s role as an integrated academic partner.

Tenure-track librarians hold full faculty status and are expected to be prepared to meet the requirements for tenure and promotion. This includes supporting their practice through an active program of scholarship or creative work; participating in shared governance; and contributing service at the library, campus, and professional levels in alignment with the goals of the University Library, Cal Poly, and the California State University system.

Kennedy Library recognizes that candidates may have acquired relevant experience in a variety of ways. We expect candidates to be stronger in some required qualifications than others. We are committed to helping future colleagues expand their skills as well as learning from their areas of strength.

Preferred and Required Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• ALA-accredited Master’s Degree in Library and Information Sciences, or comparable experience with a relevant advanced degree, at the time of appointment.
• Three years of relevant experience.
• Skill in using business information resources, including economic, financial, legal, management, competitive intelligence, and marketing data sources.
• Familiarity with content, licensing, and functionality considerations for core academic and/or commercial business information products.
• Awareness of equity-related issues in business and economics, such as sustainability, inclusive entrepreneurship, and structural dynamics affecting leadership, education, and labor.
• Experience providing instruction and/or reference support for entrepreneurship, company/industry research, labor relations, operations and supply chain management, or intellectual property information needs.
• Ability to design and deliver effective, accessible learning experiences in in-person, virtual, and asynchronous environments.
• Experience or demonstrated ability communicating and promoting library services to varied audiences.
• Experience participating in collections planning, assessment, or prioritization.
• Ability to work at both tactical and strategic levels, translating disciplinary needs into sustainable research support and collections approaches.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, with and in support of culturally diverse faculty, students, and staff.
• Excellent oral and written communication, collaboration, and project management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree, or substantial subject experience, in business, economics, marketing, or a related field.
• Ability to articulate trade-offs, advocate for resources in consortial decision-making, and incorporate diverse economic perspectives, global contexts, and nontraditional research outputs.
• Familiarity with evidence synthesis practices and their implications for research support and collection strategy.
• Familiarity or expertise with quantitative, statistical, or spatial analysis tools (e.g., SPSS, ArcGIS, or programming languages/environments such as R).
• Skill in using instructional software and multimedia tools (such as Camtasia, Articulate, Powtoon, etc.), to create engaging learning experiences.
• General public services experience in an academic or special library.
• Professional competency in Spanish.

Application Details (to apply use the Apply Now button below.)

Please visit https://jobs.calpoly.edu/en-us/job/554594/business-librarian

Attach to your electronic application the following materials:

1. Cover letter
2. Current curriculum vita
3. Universal Student Success Statement - Cal Poly is a public, student-centered university that serves the diverse constituents of the state of California and has a strong emphasis on the teacher-scholar model. Please detail your approach to teaching and learning at the collegiate level, including evidence of experience with inclusive, accessible, and intentional teaching, to a wide variety of students and a description of how you will continue to develop this expertise at Cal Poly. Service or scholarship related to skills developed in these areas might also be included here. For librarian applicants, evidence of inclusive and intentional teaching may encompass support for information literacy , the provision of accessible tools for learning or discovery, or of research services that empower a diverse student body in their academic pursuits, etc.
4. Unofficial transcripts showing highest degree earned. Official sealed transcript showing highest degree earned will be required prior to appointment.

Please be prepared to provide three professional references with names and email addresses when completing the application. Cal Poly will directly solicit letters from the individuals listed by applicants.

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