POSITION: Director (Librarian III or IV)
DEPARTMENT: Gerstein Science Information Centre 
DATE REQUIRED: May 1, 2022 

Are you looking for challenging, meaningful work in a supportive and diverse environment? Are you looking for a career at one of Canada’s top employers? Work where the world comes to think, discover and learn. Consider a career at the University of Toronto. 

About the University of Toronto 

The University of Toronto has assembled one of the strongest research and teaching faculties in North America, presenting top students at all levels with an intellectual environment unmatched in breadth and depth on any other Canadian campus.  

U of T faculty co-author more research articles than their colleagues at any university in the US or Canada other than Harvard. As a measure of impact, U of T consistently ranks alongside the top five U.S. universities whose discoveries are most often cited by other researchers around the world. The U of T faculty are also widely recognized for their teaching strengths and commitment to graduate supervision.  

U of T attracts undergraduate, graduate and professional program students from across Canada and abroad. Students have unique opportunities to learn from top researchers. Off campus, they can enjoy the extraordinary amenities and attractions of the Toronto region, Canada’s pre eminent urban cluster. On campus, students are able to craft intimate learning communities within a unique undergraduate college system, participate in more than 1000 clubs and co curricular activities, and compete on a wide variety of intra-mural and inter-collegiate sports teams.  

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto today operates in downtown Toronto, Mississauga and Scarborough. It also works closely with its hospital partners across the Greater Toronto Area. 

About the University of Toronto Libraries  

The University of Toronto Libraries system is the largest academic library in Canada and is consistently ranked in the top five among academic research libraries in North America. The system consists of 40 libraries located on three university campuses: St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough. This array of college libraries, special collections, and specialized libraries and information centres supports the teaching and research requirements of over 300 graduate programs, more than 70 professional programs, and about 700 undergraduate degree programs. In addition to more than 12 million volumes in 341 languages, the library system currently provides access to millions of electronic resources in various forms and over 31,000 linear metres of archival material. More than 150,000 new print volumes are acquired each year. The Libraries’ data centre houses more than 500 servers with a storage capacity of 1.5 petabytes. 

About the Gerstein Science Information Centre 

The Gerstein Science Information Centre is the largest science library at UTL with an emphasis on the health sciences. It is the largest academic health sciences library in Canada. It has long standing relationships with the health science faculties and maintains a large undergraduate science (e.g. physics, biology, chemistry) and health science collection both online and in print. It has collaborative partnerships with the hospital library community through the Health Science Information Consortium of Toronto. Gerstein Library is a hub for science communication events, entrepreneurial innovation and 3-D instruction and printing. The staff complement includes 18 appointed staff. 

The Opportunity 

The University of Toronto Libraries invites applications for an innovative, experienced, and  knowledgeable library leader to serve in this key position. Reporting to the Associate Chief Librarian for Science Research & Information, the Director of Gerstein leads the services, resources and staff of the Gerstein Science Information Centre. The successful candidate will provide vision and strategic direction to the Library and offer leadership, support and mentorship to library employees. The Director will promote the Libraries’ culture of diversity and inclusion and support UTL’s Mission Statement and Values. As well, the Director will build relationships and proactively reach out to connect and advocate for the library with relevant faculty and other academic administrators. 

As an active member of the University of Toronto Libraries senior management team, the Director will participate in central library committees and work with UTL administrative colleagues to implement UTL’s strategic plan, develop strategic directions and assess service quality for the Gerstein Science Information Centre. Additionally, the Director works closely with the Health Science Information Consortium of Toronto (HSIC) and the HSIC Executive Director to help develop and maintain strong relationships between UTL and the hospital  libraries.  

The successful candidate will be a progressive, collaborative leader who is: 

• Responsive to evolving user needs and services in an academic library environment.

• Committed to the values of equity, inclusion, diversity and accessibility

• A mentor and leader to the staff and librarians.

• Committed to maintaining current awareness of emerging technology and trends in libraries and how they can be applied to services and spaces. 

• Flexible and acts with fairness and integrity. 

• Familiar with managing in a unionized environment. 

Required qualifications  

1. A degree from an accredited Masters level program in library and information studies. 

2. Relevant management experience. 

3. Demonstrated commitment to the values of equity, inclusivity, diversity, and  accessibility; proven ability to promote respect and inclusion by working successfully with a wide variety of people and encouraging their participation and involvement. 

4. Demonstrated planning, decision making and problem-solving skills. 

5. Demonstrated leadership abilities, particularly in team building, with proven experience creating a common vision and fostering a positive work environment. 

6. Outstanding interpersonal, intercultural, and communication skills.  

7. Demonstrated deep understanding of research, teaching, learning and collections priorities in the sciences, with particular emphasis on the health sciences. 

8. Record of effective collaboration involving diverse faculty, library staff, students and other campus stakeholders.  

9. Demonstrated commitment to mentorship and staff development and growth. Capacity to thrive in an environment of change, and to nurture that capacity in others.  

Preferred qualifications:  

1. Academic background in the sciences or health sciences or equivalent library professional or work experience in these subject areas. 

2. Relevant research experience and expertise. Publication, teaching or other significant contributions to the profession that demonstrates substantial subject mastery.

3. Significant experience in relevant professional associations. 

Salary and Terms of Appointment: Salary and appointment level are based on experience and  qualifications.  

This is a five-year renewable term position. It is also a permanent status stream position. 

Benefits: We offer generous benefits packages to all employees. Additional information is available at: https://people.utoronto.ca/careers/benefits/ 

Additional information 

Librarians at the University of Toronto are members of the University of Toronto Faculty Association.

How to Apply 

Application Materials Required: A cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references of which at least two have supervised your work. Please send a single electronic file (MS Word or pdf) with a file name convention of [Surname,FirstName.  DIRECTORGER] to Library Human Resources at utlhr@utoronto.ca; or to Room 1140, 130 St.  George Street, University of Toronto Libraries, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A5; by February 1, 2022. 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. 

Diversity Statements 

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. 

University of Toronto Libraries’ Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Statement: https://www.library.utoronto.ca/inclusion-diversity-and-equity-statement
University of Toronto Libraries’ Anti-Racism Statement:  
https://www.library.utoronto.ca/anti-racism-statement

Accessibility Statement 

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission. 

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.  

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact utlhr@utoronto.ca. 

The University of Toronto Libraries thanks all applicants but will only contact applicants selected for an interview.  

University of Toronto Library System: http://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/
University of Toronto: https://people.utoronto.ca/ 
Policies for librarians: https://people.utoronto.ca/policies/