Personnel Librarian

Position: Personnel Librarian
Reports to: Associate University Librarian for Administrative Services

Position Summary: Under the direction of the Associate University Librarian for Administrative Services (AULAS), the Personnel Librarian manages the library personnel office, which supports the staff of the Northwestern University Library and the University Press. This responsibility includes direct supervision of 1 FTE support staff; oversight of the student hiring process, advising all levels of staff on library and university policies and procedures, benefits and payroll issues, and general personnel questions; and working closely with staff of the human resources department of the university. The Personnel Librarian directly manages non-exempt and non-librarian exempt staff recruitment processes; leads the library's staff development program; participates in the management of employee relations issues, and contributes to all aspects of personnel services planning and management. The library and press together employ approximately 60 librarians, 50 non-librarian exempt staff, 120 non exempt staff, and 250 hourly employees. Northwestern University has a strong commitment to the development of its staff and to the recruitment of a strong and diverse workforce.

Specific Responsibilities:

Manages library personnel office operations. This responsibility includes direct supervision of 1 FTE support staff; oversight of student staff hiring, management, and record-keeping; oversight of all staff records maintenance activities; responding to or referring issues and questions about staffing, compensation, benefits, payroll, and other personnel matters; working with the Northwestern University Human Resources Department (NUHR) to ensure compliance with university procedures and policies in all personnel-related activity; developing, maintaining, and disseminating policy and procedure documentation; ensuring that the personnel office web site contains appropriate, accurate, and up-to-date information.

Manages the non-exempt and non-librarian exempt staff recruitment process for the library and press. Activities include working with NUHR staff on recruiting options; training managers in hiring and recruitment processes for the library, ensuring that the library personnel office complies with federal, state and university guidelines in the recruitment of staff; working with managers and department heads on staffing needs; advising on job restructuring, reallocation, job audit and reclassifications; maintaining and tracking retention and recruitment statistics.


Serves as liaison to NUHR in matters of non-librarian recruitment, management, and retention. Works with the library's human resources consultant, the library's NUHR recruiter, and staff in the payroll and benefits offices.

Assists the AULAS with employee relations issues and librarian recruiting; participates in all aspects of human resources planning and management.

Leads the library staff development program. Specific activities include working with the library's staff development committee; assisting in the planning and implementation of staff training and development events and initiatives; facilitating, monitoring, and tracking registration and attendance by staff in workshops offered by the university as well as non-university programs; tracks budget for the library staff development program.

Serves as a member of the library management council and of the NUHR school administrators group.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required: ALA accredited master's degree in library or information science or the equivalent combination of education and relevant library experience; minimum of four years of human resources experience or library experience with evidence of increasing responsibility in human resources. Demonstrated ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with diverse groups; excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills; a strong commitment to service and teamwork; excellent judgment, organizational, and analytical skills. Knowledge of and experience administering human resources policies, regulations, and practices; experience in the interpretation of policy; experience in supervision and management; training and/or experience in negotiation and mediation; commitment to the principles of staff training and development with the demonstrated ability to plan, implement, and evaluate staff development programs.

Preferred: Previous personnel work experience in a research library setting and previous successful experience as an instructor or trainer.

ENVIRONMENT

Northwestern University is a major private university with campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois and in Doha, Qatar. One of the leading private research libraries in the United States, Northwestern University Library serves the educational and information needs of the NU community as well as scholars around the world. Its collection contains more than 4.6 million volumes and a full array of digital resources. University Library's portfolio of distinguished special collections includes the internationally recognized Africana, Music, and Transportation Libraries. University Library is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and participates in programs of the Committee for Institutional Cooperation (CIC). Northwestern University Press publishes important works of scholarship in a wide variety of disciplines, as well as quality works of fiction, nonfiction, and literary criticism. One of its current publishing strategies is the alignment of the press with NU's strengths and priorities. The Personnel Librarian position is based in the Main Library on the Evanston campus.

TO APPLY: Send letter of application, resume or vita, and names of three references to the attention of Roxanne Sellberg, Associate University Librarian for Administrative Services, by mail to Northwestern University Library, 1970 Campus Drive, Evanston IL 60208-2300 or electronically to library-personnel@northwestern.edu. Applications received by January 30, 2011 will receive first consideration. Northwestern University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Employment eligibility verification required upon hire.