Digital Media Commons and Makerspace Department Manager

Carolina for social mobility by The Wall Street Journal — helping first-generation and lower-income students find paths to prosperity. Designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, UNCG is a community-engaged research institution with a portfolio of more than $67M in research and creative activity. The University’s 2,600 staff help create an annual economic impact for the Piedmont Triad region in excess of $1B.

Primary Purpose of the Organizational Unit

The Digital Media Commons and Makerspace supports the learning and curriculum goals of UNC Greensboro and the success of UNCG students, faculty, and staff by providing opportunities for experiential learning through the provision of dynamic spaces, access to equipment, hands-on training, and project consultations. The DMC staff helps patrons identify and locate the right information, materials, images, and other resources needed to create digital and multimedia projects and provides and maintains equipment, spaces, and services to support photography, videography, podcasting, audio recording, sewing, 3D printing, and more. The department consists of 4 full-time SHRA employees and approximately 12 student employees, each dedicated to providing quality services in a safe and inviting environment.

Position Summary

The Digital Media Commons and Makerspace Department Manager provides strategic leadership for the vision, development, and operations of the department by guiding the growth of programs, services, facilities, technologies, and training in collaboration with DMC staff, library leadership, and campus partners. The Manager oversees all aspects of departmental operations; develops and implements departmental policies and procedures in collaboration with DMC staff and library leadership; and supervises full-time and temporary department personnel, ensuring the successful implementation of departmental policies and procedures and high-quality administration of programs and services. The hours for this position are Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm, with occasional night and weekend hours based on departmental need.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and one year of experience in the area of assignment, of which at least one is supervisory or in a lead-worker capacity; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three years of experience working in an academic or public library.
• Significant and relevant experience providing public/customer service.
• Ability to meet high service standards in all interactions (in-person, by telephone, via e-mail or online).
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills including the ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships and to describe relatively complex technical concepts to a non-technical audience.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Experience with instructional design and/or creating workshops.
• Experience using, implementing, maintaining, and troubleshooting advanced or makerspace technologies and equipment.
• Interest in applying technology in creative ways to facilitate research and learning.
• Experience in program development, management, assessment, and evaluation.
• Ability to work collaboratively across a variety of disciplines, with a variety of user groups.
• Demonstrated attention to detail; strong organizational, project, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience creating training materials, procedures, documentation, and team communications.

Recruitment Range: $51,285 – $64,000

Org #-Department: University Libraries - 11601

Job Open Date: 07/13/2026

For Best Consideration Date: 08/10/2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

FTE: 1.000

Type of Appointment: Permanent

Number of Months per Year: 12

FLSA: Exempt

Key Responsibility: Departmental Management (45%)

Coordinates and directs activities related to Digital Media Commons and Makerspace operations in a manner that ensures that library service standards are met. Oversees activities related to programs, services, technologies, and spaces provided by the department, participates in service provision at the department’s multifaceted public service point and makerspaces, provides consultations on multimedia creation and technologies offered in the department. Serves on the Library Leadership Council, participating in library-wide planning. In collaboration with library leadership, leads and directs department-level planning and policy making, development and implementation of departmental goals and objectives, and department budgeting planning and management. Leads departmental-level implementation of library-wide strategic goals and vision and mission statements. Maintains and uses comprehensive knowledge of program policies, procedures, technologies, and best practices to provide and supervise multi-faceted activities on multiple fronts simultaneously. Establishes procedures to support the university community in an effective and accountable manner. Advises and collaborates with patrons, groups, and colleagues inside and outside of the unit to ensure that issues are resolved effectively with alternative solutions investigated and offered. Documents and shares agreed upon actions with involved parties. Conveys sensitive information and decisions to patrons. Identifies service barriers, interprets and applies a variety of interrelated policies, procedures, and programs to address patrons’ non-routine needs and issues. Creates detailed and technical program information, guidelines, etc., to share with employees and patrons regarding programs and services. Gathers, compiles, and assesses operational and statistical information regarding unit activities. Recommends and implements improvements or changes to policies, procedures, and programs to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the unit. Develops and initiates new programs, services, processes, and procedures. Maintains all records, electronic and print, in a manner that ensures confidentially of records and in accordance with retention guidelines. Works with other DMC staff to coordinate offsite equipment repair and replacement. Works with other DMC staff to assess technology needs and order/reorder equipment. Works with Day Manager to ensure desk is covered during open hours, including filling gaps when needed. Oversees and approves all supply and equipment orders. Oversees the department’s Tech Equipment Lending program. Gathers statistics and other assessment data to determine purchase and replacement needs. Works with DMC staff and student workers to develop training for employees and patrons on the use of equipment. Follows guidelines and procedures to oversee cataloging and circulation of equipment. Explains and interprets student account information stored in the library’s integrated library system as well as policies, programs, and procedures in the absence of the Day Manager. Serves as backup to Day Manager in working collaboratively with the Libraries’ Billing Manager to resolve issues related to the billing of overdue fines and lost and damaged fees.

Key Responsibility: Employee Management (30%)

Manages 1 FTE University Library Specialist – Journey, 1 FTE University Program Manager – Journey and 1 Tech Support Technician – Journey employees. Recruits and hires permanent and temporary employees when needed. Makes work assignments and coordinates work among department staff. Develops and maintains effective and positive working relationships with and among all department employees. Ensures that employees are providing high-quality, efficient services in a manner that ensures that policies are followed and that deadlines and the needs of the department are met. Creates regular and exception period work schedules for staff employees. Involves employees in strategic planning and implementation and in the development of policies and procedures. Trains and supervises staff employees on program and operational policies and procedures. Writes, edits, and updates procedural manuals. Creates multimedia training programs and instructions. Coordinates training for new and temporary staff employees. Serves as secondary supervisor for ~12 student employees and participates in their recruitment and hiring training, and evaluation. Oversees departmental student wage budgets. Recommends and implements changes to staffing levels. Coaches and facilitates the enhancement of employee competencies. Keeps abreast of policies and procedures as determined by Human Resources, the Student Employment Office, Financial Aid Office, Payroll, and the Library Administration as well as university, state, and federal employment regulations and ensures that they and unit policies are followed. Works collegially with staff in these offices.

Key Responsibility: Programming (10%)

Collaborates with library and key campus personnel to create and maintain programming and services. Develops and coordinates a DMC and Makerspace related series of workshops. Coordinates instruction, scheduling, resources, and assessment and may provide instruction for these workshops.

Key Responsibility: Safety, Security, and Facility Management (5%)

Oversees departmental activities related to the identification, reporting and management of safety, security, and facility issues in a manner that allows the library to provide a safe and inviting environment for productive research, study and collaboration for all users. Stays abreast of facility and safety practices according to OSHA, State, University, and Library standards. Adheres to and enforces Library and University policies and procedures. Develops training and trains employees to recognize, report and manage safety, security, and facility issues. Identifies and reports safety and facility issues to appropriate personnel and follows up on any outstanding issues reported by employees and patrons. Manages departmental evacuations and handles emergency and patron conduct situations according to library policies and procedures. Resolves issues that deviate from standard operating procedures. Offers alternative solutions and resolves problems within appropriate guidelines.

Key Responsibility: Internal Communication (5%)

Works with Library Development Officer to provide information, tours, documentation, and/or analytics as needed to support DMC and Makerspace fundraising activities when needed. Communicates major and/or complex situations and actions both internal to the organization. Ensures that program policies, procedures, rules and regulations are interpreted correctly both internal and external to the organization. Markets DMC services and spaces to the campus community in collaboration with DMC staff and library colleagues.

Key Responsibility: Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

Other Duties as Assigned.

Physical Effort

Hand Movement-Repetitive Motions - F, Hand Movement-Grasping - O, Reading - F, Writing - F, Hearing - F, Talking - F, Standing - O, Sitting - F, Walking - O, Lifting-0-30 lbs. - O, Bending - O, Squatting - O, Reaching - O

Work Environment

Inside - C