Head of Library

Library

Short description of the position:

Reporting to Eurac Research Director, the Head of Library manages and coordinates the Research Library of Eurac Research, ensuring high-quality library and information services in support of research, innovation, and knowledge transfer activities.

The role ensures the integrated management of print and digital collections, the strategic development of the library with a strong digital perspective, and the coordination of institutional relations, particularly within the cooperation framework with the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano as part of the South Tyrol Scientific Library.

Tasks:

Strategic Development and Institutional Networking

• Definition of the Library’s development strategy.
• Management of the cooperation with the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano within the South Tyrol Scientific Library.
• Participation in technical coordination boards.
• Management of internal stakeholders (Executive Management, Group Leaders, researchers, ICT, Procurement, Communication) and external stakeholders.
• Ensuring quality and regulatory standards.

Library Management and Research Support

• Overall management of the Eurac Research Library.
• Collection development in collaboration with Institutes and Centers.
• Management of acquisitions, supplier negotiations, and budget allocation.
• Supervision of cataloguing, OPAC, reference services (information and advisory), lending and interlibrary loan services.
• Promotion of Information Literacy for Eurac Research staff.
• Presentation of Library services to new employees.
• Responsibility for the Library budget.
• Monitoring and coordination of bibliographic budgets of Institutes and Centers.

Research Information System and Digital Development

• Management and development of CRIS – Converis Publications.
• Validation and dissemination of scientific publications.
• Support to researchers in the use of the system.
• Promotion of digital resources and further development of the digital library vision.

Team Management

• Coordination and supervision of a team of 5 staff members through structured planning of activities, workload monitoring, and annual performance evaluations.
• Promotion of a service-oriented, accountable, and innovation-driven organizational culture.
• Active role as mentor and promoter of professional growth.
• Organization of service activities (front office, cataloguing, acquisitions, periodicals management, CRIS).

Requirements:

Essential Requirements

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, or equivalent (Humanistic subjects) and/or at least 10 years of qualified professional experience in scientific libraries or scientific information centers.
• In-depth knowledge of the three working languages of Eurac Research (English C1, Italian C1, German C1).
• Experience in team coordination.
• Strong orientation towards digital innovation in the library sector.

Technical Skills

• Knowledge of Library Management Systems (e.g., ILS, Alma – Clarivate – Ex Libris or equivalent) and electronic resource management platforms.
• Knowledge of major scientific databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, publisher databases, catalogues, and search engines).
• Experience in the use and management of CRIS systems.
• Familiarity with Open Access policies and electronic resource management.
• Budget management and monitoring skills.

Leadership and Soft Skills

• Strategic vision oriented towards digital transformation, with the ability to interpret developments in scientific libraries and translate future scenarios (open science, digital repositories, AI, data management) into concrete and sustainable actions.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, both internally and externally (UNIBZ, library networks, cultural institutions).
• Situational leadership, with the ability to adapt management style and delegation level according to team seniority, promoting ownership and accountability.
• Commitment to continuous learning for oneself and for team members.
• Strong user orientation and focus on service quality.
• Change management and organizational innovation mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

• Postgraduate specialization in library management or research support services.
• Experience in interinstitutional cooperation projects.
• Participation in local, national, or international library networks or projects.
• Certifications in project management or digital information management.

Selection Procedure:

The selection is open to both internal staff and external candidates whose profile matches the requirements.

Onboarding

A tailored onboarding plan will be prepared, coordinated by the Human Resources Area, to facilitate an effective transition into the role and a rapid alignment with the strategic objectives and organizational processes of Eurac Research.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit their application (CV, cover letter and further relevant documents) by .

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