"University Chief Librarian"

The University of Toronto is actively seeking a visionary leader to serve as the next University Chief Librarian. This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the world’s leading universities and shape the future of Canada’s largest academic library system.

About the University of Toronto Libraries (UTL)

University of Toronto Libraries (UTL) is the largest academic library system in Canada and ranks among the top academic libraries in North America, comprising 40 libraries across three campuses. With an acquisition budget of $40 million that supports vast and diverse collections, UTL is a cornerstone of learning, teaching, and research at U of T. Guided by a strategic vision of “Barrier-free Access to All of the Right Information,” UTL provides inclusive spaces, innovative services, and collections of international prominence. UTL libraries are hubs for collaboration, community, and scholarly engagement, supporting the University’s mission through openness, accessibility, and excellence.

The Role

Reporting to the Vice-President and Provost, the University Chief Librarian (UCL) provides visionary leadership for a complex, decentralized tri-campus library system. The UCL is responsible for shaping the strategic direction, guiding vision, priorities, and operations, including overall administration, planning, budgeting, and resource stewardship, while fostering innovation and responsiveness to the evolving needs of faculty, students, and researchers.

As a member of the Provost’s leadership team, the UCL collaborates with academic and administrative leaders, student groups, and external partners to advance U of T’s mission of research excellence, transformative education, and community engagement. The UCL has a leadership role in provincial, national, and international library consortia and professional associations and plays a key role in fundraising and donor relations. Through stewardship of world-class collections, championing innovative services and spaces, and promoting equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, the UCL ensures UTL remains a vital hub for discovery, community, and innovation.

The Ideal Candidate

A collaborative, innovative leader with exceptional communication skills, strategic vision, and a passion for advancing libraries in research, education, and the student experience. Requires a degree from an accredited Masters level program in Library and Information Studies, plus senior leadership experience in a large, complex academic library system, preferably within a research-intensive university. Expertise in strategic planning, people leadership in a unionized environment, organizational effectiveness, and managing complex multi-million-dollar budgets, is essential, along with proven success in change management and fostering adaptability and innovation.

Candidates should demonstrate foundational knowledge of scholarly communication, open access, research data management, and copyright/licensing, as well as experience enhancing collections and teaching, as well as developing user-focused services. A strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, reconciliation and anti-racism, is required. Understanding the challenges and opportunities of leveraging emerging technologies, AI, for example, is critical. Demonstrated success in building strategic partnerships and cultivating collaborative relationships at consortial, provincial, national, and international levels is highly valued, as is the ability to securing fundraising support to advance library priorities.

If you are interested in this opportunity, including receiving a copy of the Executive Brief, please contact Katherine Frank at kfrank@kbrs.ca or Lauren Wright at lwright@kbrs.ca, or submit your application online at www.kbrs.ca/Career/17635604217550000008WQH