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Associate Dean for Library Operations

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota

Application Deadline

Apply By May 4th, 2026

Wages

$134,000.00 per Year   Calculate

Location

Brookings, SD

Hours

Not Specified

MLS

Required

Minimum Education

Master's Degree

Library Experience

Required

Supervisory Experience

Required

Type of Library

Academic

This job is more than 3 weeks old or the application deadline has passed.
Job Description
South Dakota State University's Hilton M. Briggs Library seeks an Associate Dean for Library Operations. This new position will serve as the Dean of the Library's primary administrative partner, assuming leadership in the Dean's absence. The successful candidate will be responsible for the management of day-to-day operations in concert with library division heads ensuring organizational effectiveness. The Associate Dean position is designed to provide leadership, coordination, and support for library services, planning, and assessment while fostering an environment of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The Library supports SDSU's pursuit of R1 status by leading innovative and effective library operations that strengthen the university's research capacity. Library personnel include faculty, paraprofessional, staff, and student employees. This successful candidate will be considered for Associate Librarian or Librarian rank depending on qualifications.

This position is a 12-month, full-time, benefits-eligible position located in Brookings, SD.
 
Must be authorized to work in the U.S. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Facilitate coordination of services across divisions
  • Supervise, mentor, and coach division heads
  • Provide financial oversight for the library collections budget
  • Manage building and facility needs
  • Champion assessment efforts
  • Engage in long-range and annual planning
  • Support employee professional development
  • Encourage the adoption of innovative practices
  • Manage cross-functional initiatives
  • Develop and maintain relationships with university partners
  • Collaborate with statewide and regional partners
  • Represent the dean at university and system meetings as needed
QUALIFICATIONS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
  • ALA accredited Master's degree in Library & Information Science or equivalent
  • Second advanced degree (master's or higher) by date of hire
  • At least ten years of professional academic library experience for associate librarian rank or at least fifteen years of professional academic library experience for librarian rank
  • Broad understanding of core library functions

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Evidence of administrative and supervisory experience
  • Evidence of financial management experience
  • Evidence of excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Evidence of fostering innovation and managing organizational change.
  • Evidence of successful collaboration experience
  • Evidence of facilities management and/or renovation experience
  • Evidence of strategic planning and/or project leadership experience
  • Evidence of assessment experience
  • Evidence of successful change management experience
 
Benefits & Additional Compensation Info

SDState offers a wide range of excellent benefits including medical, dental, and flexible benefits, retirement plans, compensation packages, paid holidays, and vacation leave. We offer a generous retirement plan that includes 6% matching, 10 hours of annual leave each month, 9.34 hours of sick leave each month, and eleven paid holidays. Employees also have access to internal and state-sponsored training as well as reduced tuition for state-supported courses at all State of South Dakota academic institutions. Relocation benefits are available per university's guidelines.

Additional Info & Requirements

Work hours: Typically 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. but some evenings and weekends may be required. 

Salary: The minimum salary for this position is $134,000 annually at the Associate Librarian rank. Both salary and rank are contingent upon qualifications and experience.

The Community

The Hilton M. Briggs Library fosters academic excellence, collaborative endeavor, creative scholarship, student engagement, and lifelong curiosity. The library serves all SDSU academic disciplines and holds approximately 775,000 bound volumes and 600,000 government documents and provides access to over 100,000 electronic journals as well as e-books and streaming videos. The library building offers a variety of collaborative and individual workspaces. The university has prioritized the Briggs Library building for renovations.

SDState is the state's largest, most comprehensive university with over $94 million annual research expenditures, more than 200 academic programs and an enrollment of approximately 12,000 students. The university is part of a dynamic community for families, students, young professionals, and retirees, which offers an abundance of attractions and activities.

Links

External Job Ad
https://yourfuture.sdbor.edu/postings/47715

HR Info

For questions on the position, contact Kristi Tornquist at (605) 688-5106 or [email protected].

Required Documents

  1. Cover Letter
  2. Curriculum Vitae
  3. Reference List
SDState accepts applications through an on-line employment site. To apply, visit: https://yourfuture.sdbor.edu, search by the position title, view the job announcement, and click on “apply for this job.” This system will guide you through the electronic application form. This employment site will also require the attachment of a cover letter, which should specifically address how the candidate meets the qualifications as outlined in the advertisement, resume, and a reference page with the contact information for three professional references. Email applications will not be accepted. Please contact SDState Human Resources at (605) 688-4128 if you require assistance with this process.
 
Any offer of employment is contingent on the university's verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or university policies, including but not limited to, successful completion of a criminal background check.
 
SDState is a tobacco free environment. It is the policy of the University to maintain a drug-free environment and to thereby establish, promote, and maintain a safe and healthy working and learning environment for employees and students. This position is subject to South Dakota State University's Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy 4:14.

Posted Apr 10, 2026