Director of the Library

Department: NUQ Library Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) seeks an outstanding Director of the NU-Q Library. The Director of the NU-Q Library guides a team of library professionals with vision and purpose in support of NU-Q vision of excellence in teaching, research, and mediamaking. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Education, the Director of the NU-Q Library will provide collaborative leadership and strategic direction to the programs, services, initiatives, and collections of the NU-Q Library. The successful candidate will be a forward-thinking professional who is enthusiastic about advancing research, teaching, learning, and practice through access to NU-Q Library resources, and knowledgeable about the complex nature of building, supervising, managing, and mentoring a collaborative team. The Director of the NU-Q Library will facilitate partnerships in education and knowledge creation within Northwestern and beyond. Core Mission • Commitment to the core mission of NU-Q as a global community of evidence-based storytellers guided by the core values of excellence, collaboration, community, and sustainability • Leadership and Strategic Vision • Administration and Supervision • Campus Engagement • Professional and Ethical Practices and Innovation • Assessment and Continuous Improvement The NU-Q Library is a user-focused library and serves the research and educational needs of NU-Q faculty, staff, and students. The growing collection is made up of print, DVD/Blu-ray, and electronic resources purchased and provided to support the curricular needs of the Communication Program which offers Media Industries and Technology major, the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program which offers Journalism major, and the Liberal Arts Program. The NU-Q Library’s core mission is to coordinate and deliver robust reference services both in-person and online, supporting research and learning across disciplines. The Director of the NU-Q Library supports the university leadership and is responsible for the overall management and administration of the NU-Q library. The Director of the NU-Q Library oversees all aspects of NU-Q Library staffing-from recruitment and onboarding to performance evaluation and professional growth-while fostering a collaborative work environment. With a keen eye on strategic planning and strategic resource management, the Director of the NU-Q Library develops and administers departmental budgets to ensure operational excellence. As a passionate advocate for the NU-Q Library's core mission and services, the Director of the NU-Q Library builds strong relationships with campus leadership and stakeholders, championing the library's essential role in academic excellence and student success. Through thoughtful planning and continuous assessment, the Director of the NU-Q Library drives the development of innovative research support services and information resources. By partnering with faculty, academic departments, and student support teams, the Director of the NU-Q Library helps elevate community members’ learning outcomes and ensures the library remains a vital, evolving hub of intellectual engagement. The Director of the NU-Q Library fosters a culture of shared governance; advances the library culture of assessment through data collection; engages in evidence-based decision-making practices; and promotes a culture of accessibility, accountability, innovation, and ethical practices. There are also opportunities to collaborate with NU-Q’s Institute for Advanced Study of the Global South (IAS), Artificial Intelligence and Media Lab (AIM-Lab), and Media Majlis Museum (MMM). The IAS in the Global South at NU-Q (#IAS_NUQ) produces and promotes evidence-based storytelling focused on the histories, cultures, societies, and media of the Global South. The AIM-LAB at NU-Q produces and promotes data-based storytelling focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence and media. MMM at NU-Q is a museum dedicated to exploring journalism, communication, media and art. In the era of digital technologies and AI, libraries in media schools need to transition from a conventional resource center into an active catalyst for digital storytelling, research advancement, and ethical media innovation. They curate and provide access to multimedia collections, data journalism resources, AI-driven production tools, and cutting-edge media technologies. Beyond access, libraries in media schools are expected to cultivate advanced information literacy, AI literacy, critical understanding of algorithms, copyright compliance, academic integrity, and responsible AI integration in creative projects. They partner with faculty, staff, and students to confront misinformation, deepfakes, and data ethics challenges while upholding the highest standards of media research, media production, journalism practice, and creative scholarship. Preferred Qualifications • Ph.D. in a subject area relevant to the core mission of Northwestern University in Qatar (communication studies, media studies, media design, cinema studies, journalism studies, liberal arts, etc.) Required Qualifications • Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from an ALA-accredited program. • Minimum of 6 years of successful progressive leadership experience in university libraries (e.g., Assistant Director of Library and then Associate Director of Library required to support the Director of Library). • Proven experience in and strong record of supervising, training, mentoring, and evaluating librarian faculty and staff members, fostering professional growth, contribution, and collaboration • Proven experience in and strong record of developing and delivering library faculty/staff development programs • Proven experience in and strong record of annual assessment of library services and implementation of long-term strategies for the growth and innovation of library services • Proven experience in and strong record of data collection and data analytics to inform evidence-based decision-making and service improvements • Proven experience in and strong record of assessment of the effectiveness of library services, spaces, and collections in advancing student success and academic excellence • Proven experience in and strong record of adoption of emerging technologies and innovative practices to enhance access, discovery, and research support • Proven experience in and strong record of development and implementation of strategic initiatives that support institutional goals and accreditation requirements • Proven experience in and strong record of university teaching and instructional design for information literacy • Proven experience in and strong record of developing programs that showcase the role of university libraries in research, curricular use, and community engagement • Proven experience in strategic planning, assessment practices, and advocacy in higher education environments. • Proven experience in and strong record of building and maintaining effective partnerships and collaborations between the library, university leadership, academic departments, and the broader university community • Proven experience in and strong record of dedication to student success • Solid understanding of the organizational structure, organizational workflows, and approval chains in top-tier universities • Extensive knowledge of a broad range of issues and emerging trends in m

Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from an ALA-accredited program. Minimum of 6 years of successful progressive leadership experience in university libraries (e.g., Assistant Director of Library and then Associate Director of Library required to support the Director of Library). Proven experience in and strong record of supervising, training, mentoring, and evaluating librarian faculty and staff members, fostering professional growth, contribution, and collaboration. Proven experience in and strong record of developing and delivering library faculty/staff development programs. Proven experience in and strong record of annual assessment of library services and implementation of long-term strategies for the growth and innovation of library services. Proven experience in and strong record of data collection and data analytics to inform evidence-based decision-making and service improvements. Proven experience in and strong record of assessment of the effectiveness of library services, spaces, and collections in advancing student success and academic excellence. Proven experience in and strong record of adoption of emerging technologies and innovative practices to enhance access, discovery, and research support. Proven experience in and strong record of development and implementation of strategic initiatives that support institutional goals and accreditation requirements. Proven experience in and strong record of university teaching and instructional design for information literacy. Proven experience in and strong record of developing programs that showcase the role of university libraries in research, curricular use, and community engagement. Proven experience in strategic planning, assessment practices, and advocacy in higher education environments. Proven experience in and strong record of building and maintaining effective partnerships and collaborations between the library, university leadership, academic departments, and the broader university community. Proven experience in and strong record of dedication to student success. Solid understanding of the organizational structure, organizational workflows, and approval chains in top-tier universities. Extensive knowledge of a broad range of issues and emerging trends in library and information science.

Provide leadership and strategic vision for the NU-Q Library, overseeing all aspects of administration, staffing, budgeting, and ongoing program development; supervise and mentor librarian faculty and staff, support professional growth, and foster a collaborative work environment; develop and implement strategic initiatives aligned with institutional goals and accreditation requirements; lead assessment of library services, spaces, and collections and drive data-informed decision making; champion innovative approaches to access, discovery, and research support, including emerging technologies and AI-enabled resources; build and maintain strong partnerships with campus leadership, academic departments, and student support units; engage in planning, resource management, and advocacy to advance student success and academic excellence; collaborate with internal and external partners such as the IAS, AIM-Lab, and MMM to support the library’s evolving role in teaching, research, and mediamaking.