About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Information Services Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of our Reading Room and drive the collaborative planning and implementation of a distributed eLibrary ecosystem. As a core member of the library management team, you will bridge traditional library services with innovative digital strategies, ensuring seamless access to information resources across physical and virtual environments. This role demands a strategic leader who can optimize service delivery, manage cross-functional initiatives, and elevate the user experience for diverse academic and research communities.
Core Responsibilities
- Reading Room Operations: Oversee daily operations, staffing, and service standards for the physical Reading Room, ensuring high-quality user support and resource accessibility.
- Distributed eLibrary Strategy: Lead the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of a distributed electronic library platform, integrating digital collections, repositories, and discovery tools.
- Collection Development & Management: Collaborate with subject liaisons and stakeholders to curate, acquire, and maintain digital and print collections aligned with institutional research and learning objectives.
- Technology Integration: Manage the integration of library systems (ILS, ERM, discovery layers, DAMS) and evaluate emerging technologies to enhance digital service delivery.
- User Experience & Accessibility: Champion user-centered design principles, conduct usability testing, and ensure compliance with accessibility standards (WCAG) across all digital interfaces.
- Team Leadership & Development: Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of information professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
- Strategic Partnerships: Build and maintain partnerships with IT, academic departments, consortia, and vendors to advance shared digital infrastructure and resource sharing initiatives.
- Assessment & Reporting: Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs), generate analytics reports, and use data-driven insights to inform decision-making and demonstrate impact.
- Policy & Compliance: Develop and enforce policies for digital rights management, copyright, licensing, and data privacy in alignment with institutional and legal requirements.
- Project Management: Lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects from conception through deployment, ensuring timely delivery within scope and budget.
Required Qualifications
- Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS/MLS) or equivalent from an ALA-accredited program.
- Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in academic or research library settings, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or management capacity.
- Proven expertise in managing digital collections, electronic resources, and library technology systems (e.g., Alma, Primo, Koha, DSpace, Fedora).
- Strong understanding of metadata standards (MARC, Dublin Core, MODS, METS), linked data, and semantic web technologies.
- Demonstrated success in leading digital transformation projects and implementing distributed library services.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across organizational boundaries.
- Fluent in English; Arabic language proficiency is highly desirable.
Preferred Skills
- Experience with open-source repository platforms (DSpace, Fedora, Samvera) and digital preservation strategies.
- Knowledge of scholarly communication trends, open access publishing, and research data management.
- Familiarity with agile project management methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and DevOps practices in library technology.
- Background in user experience (UX) research, service design, or human-centered design.
- Active participation in professional organizations (e.g., ALA, IFLA, SLA, CNI) and contributions to the library community.
- Experience working in multicultural, international environments, particularly within the Gulf region.
What Makes This Opportunity Stand Out
This role offers a unique platform to shape the future of library services at a leading institution in Qatar. You will spearhead a cutting-edge distributed eLibrary initiative that redefines how knowledge is accessed, shared, and preserved across a global network. The position provides significant autonomy to innovate, a collaborative leadership culture, and the chance to work with diverse, world-class collections and technologies. Located in Doha, you will be part of a vibrant, multicultural community with access to exceptional professional development resources and a commitment to advancing the library profession regionally and internationally.