Head, Collection Assessment and Licensing

Summary

About the Department: The Access & Resource Management (ARM) division works across the Libraries to support the University’s strategic goals and plan by acquiring, managing, and providing access to scholarly resources that enhance curricular and research needs. The division manages the lifecycle of the University Libraries’ scholarly collection from budget development to point of ordering to provision of access and all associated maintenance and assessment. The division is comprised of three departments: Collection Management, Discovery Services, and Access Services. The Collection Management department brings together the units of Resource Acquisition, Collection Assessment & Licensing, and Resource Sharing to provide holistic management of the Libraries’ research collections. The Collection Assessment & Licensing unit focuses on the assessment and analysis of the Libraries’ collections, the implementation of collection priorities, and the licensing of research content in alignment with those priorities. 

About the Position: Within the Collection Management department of the ARM division, the Head, Collection Assessment and Licensing coordinates the assessment of the Libraries’ research collections, whether owned, subscribed to, shared, open, accessed, or otherwise made available to the George Mason University scholarly community. This position negotiates new and complex license agreements for library electronic resources and serves as the expert on trends and issues in library electronic resource licensing. The Head, Collections Assessment and Licensing supports and participates in collection development for the Libraries and supports the Collection Assessment & Licensing unit. The position reports to the Director, Collection Management. Participates in committees, task forces, and/or workgroups as required to share knowledge, develop best practices, and implement and advance the work of the Libraries.

Description

Responsibilities:

Collection Assessment 

  • Oversees the evaluation of the Libraries' research collections to help ensure they effectively meet the needs of its users and align with the Libraries' goals;
  • Works with the unit's Specialists to prepare product and program analysis for the Collection Management Council's review and use.;
  • Works collaboratively with the Data Discoverability Unit in applying ever-developing and increasingly sophisticated methods for assessing all aspects of the Libraries’ collections and their use;
  • Assesses the intellectual component and usage of the Libraries’ approval plans and related models such as demand-driven or evidence-based purchasing of content; and
  • Maintains awareness of new developments in librarianship, information access, and assessment methodologies. 

Electronic Resource Licensing 

  • Coordinates the licensing of new and complex electronic resources, including reading licenses, suggesting licensing language, and reviewing existing licenses for comparison and needed updates, working in close partnership with Resource Acquisition personnel, who focus on licenses for product renewals;
  • Serves as the expert on trends and issues in library electronic resource licensing; develops and maintains expertise on current and emerging best practices for licensing, including for complex resources such as streaming media, data, and open access agreements;
  • Serves as the Libraries' primary contact for new and complex electronic resource licensing with the University's Office of General Counsel and Procurement; and
  • Helps create policies, documentation, a shared workflow, and a tracking system for the steps of electronic resources licensing. 

Collection Development 

  • Identifies collection gaps and areas where collections spending is misaligned with current curricula;
  • Supports and participates in collections planning and strategic decision-making for acquisition or cancellation using data; and
  • Negotiates product renewals in collaboration with the Director, Collection Management and Head, Resource Acquisition, as needed. 

Supervision 

  • Sets clear performance goals that align with the Libraries’ mission and strategic plan;
  • Effectively communicates expectations to team member(s), organizes workflows to optimize productivity, and ensures clarity around roles and responsibilities;
  • Drives employee engagement and development by monitoring performance, providing actionable feedback, fostering professional growth through coaching and training, and promoting a collaborative work environment; and
  • Champions compliance by upholding university policies, legal standards, and ethical practices, and takes decisive action when necessary to address performance and/or behavioral issues. 

Service and Scholarship 

  • Engages in university and professional service, and in research and creative work as outlined in the George Mason University Librarians’ Handbook and University Libraries Librarians’ Council Bylaws. 
Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

  • ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library or Information Science OR an equivalent certified foreign degree or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
  • Professional library experience involving collection assessment and/or collection development in an academic or research library setting;
  • Experience evaluating and assessing library collections;
  • Experience negotiating electronic resource licenses;
  • Supervisory or team lead experience;
  • Demonstrated knowledge of collection assessment methodologies, tools, and metrics used to evaluate academic library collections;
  • Knowledge of trends, standards, and best practices in electronic resource licensing, including copyright, intellectual property, and accessibility compliance;
  • Demonstrates strong communication and interpersonal skills to convey complex ideas with clarity and impact to a variety of audiences working collaboratively with colleagues, vendors, and stakeholders;
  • Strong analytical skills, with the ability to collect, interpret, and present data to support decision-making;
  • Ability to negotiate complex licensing agreements with vendors; and
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to evolving needs in a fast-paced academic environment.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience leading collection assessment projects in an academic or research library;
  • Considerable experience with data analysis tools or approaches;
  • Experience supervising professional staff in a collection assessment, licensing, or electronic resources environment;
  • Advanced knowledge of national licensing standards;
  • Skill in presenting complex data in accessible formats for diverse audiences, including administration and faculty;
  • Ability to develop policies, workflows, and best practices for collection assessment and licensing; and
  • Proficiency with integrated library systems, electronic resource management systems, and assessment tools.
About

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Head, Collection Assessment and Licensing at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: September 23, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  October 14, 2025