Mandate
Reporting to the Director of the Kula: Library Futures Academy, the Manager of Partnerships provides leadership and critical capacity for developing, coordinating, operationalizing, and sustaining external relationships and networks. The incumbent cultivates strategic relationships with institutions, research organizations, professional associations, community organizations, international partners, fellows, researchers, and other collaborators that are grounded in reciprocity, mutual benefit, ethical engagement, and long-term sustainability. The Manager of Partnerships advances Kula’s programs, priorities and areas or inquiry by connecting external relationships and networks to the expertise and professional interests of librarians, archivists, and staff. This includes facilitating professional exchange, collaborative research, knowledge mobilization, engagement with collections and infrastructure, and librarian-to-librarian and institutional collaboration.
Objectives
- Expand and manage a complex and extensive range of approved external partnerships to further the strategic and operational mandate of the Kula: Library Futures Academy and University Libraries
- Develop meaningful engagement activities to strengthen and deepen partnerships and connect external partners, fellows, researchers, and collaborators with relevant librarian expertise, collections, research, and professional networks
- Identify, analyze, and disseminate the measured impact of partnerships on librarian engagement, professional networks, collaborative opportunities, and the intellectual and strategic work of the Libraries
This position will require some out-of-town travel (including international) to perform the full range of responsibilities.
Requirements
This position requires a level of education, training and experience equivalent to a master’s degree with a minimum of 10 years of related post-secondary experience working in academic and/or research libraries and maintaining diverse partnerships and collaborations across a variety of portfolios. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
- Demonstrated capacity to recognize and initiate or respond to partnership opportunities locally, nationally, or internationally
- Exceptional interpersonal skills and strong emotional intelligence for consensus building within a team-based environment
- Excellent and consistent written and verbal communication and presentation skills in cross-cultural environments
- Ability to effectively problem solve, prioritize, and manage projects in a complex organization
- Attention to detail and strong analytical skills to gather, collate, and analyze data
- Exceptional ability to network and establish contacts with appropriate internal, external, local, and international parties
- Ability to plan, organize, and effectively manage a considerable workload with multiple priorities and demands and produce results within restrictive timelines
- Ability to delegate responsibility and authority as appropriate
- Ability to remain calm, friendly, and articulate in the face of adversity
- Demonstrated ability to exercise tact and patience in managing confidential or sensitive matters
- Exhibits a high level of integrity, credibility, sound judgment, resourcefulness, and confidence
- Ability to foster and maintain effective working relationships within the UVic Libraries & Art Collections team, University stakeholders, and external contacts
- Ability to exhibit an agile, entrepreneurial approach to conducting business remaining mindful of University regulations and constraints
- Knowledge of and experience with the international academic library environment, including professional organizations
- Superior insight into best practices in the library field related to cross-institutional collaborations, partnerships, and agreements
- Commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive and respectful working and learning environment
- Proficiency in navigating and effectively using a range of standard office software including Microsoft Office, Access, Outlook, and other specialized systems as required
