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Organization: University of Iowa, Hardin Library for the Health Sciences
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Location: Iowa City, IO
Job Summary
The University of Iowa seeks an accomplished and mission-driven leader to serve as Assistant University Librarian, Director of the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. This is a pivotal opportunity for an experienced professional who is inspired by the challenge of strengthening access to health information and advancing education, research, and clinical excellence across the state of Iowa and beyond. The role is based in Iowa City, IA and relocation assistance is available. Iowa City was included in Livability’s “TOP 100 Best Places to Live 2025.” Learn more: https://livability.com/ia/iowa-city/
The Assistant University Librarian, Director of Hardin Library for the Health Sciences provides strategic leadership and vision to ensure that the Hardin Library is an indispensable partner in the university’s health sciences enterprise supporting innovation, discovery, and access to knowledge. The successful candidate will shape and execute a forward-looking plan that enhances services, deepens collaboration with the five health colleges and UI Health Care, and extends the library’s reach into the clinical and community settings that define Iowa’s health landscape.
This role is ideal for a seasoned health sciences librarian and leader who thrives on staff mentorship, building partnerships, modernizing services, and championing evidence-based practice in education and healthcare. The Assistant University Librarian, Director of Hardin Library for the Health Sciences will have a meaningful scope to influence outcomes, lead change through collaboration, and elevate the library’s profile as a catalyst for health improvement in the state.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s Degree or higher in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution, or equivalent.
- At least 8 years of leadership experience in an academic health sciences or medical library, with evidence of progressively increasing leadership, supervisory or managerial responsibility and a demonstrated record of leading large teams or organizations.
- Proven ability to navigate complex university structures, policies, and funding mechanisms and secure institutional resources.
- Experience overseeing major facilities, operational budgets, and strategic planning efforts.
- Strong background in developing and implementing strategic priorities that enhance organizational effectiveness.
- Demonstrated ability to build consensus across a variety of stakeholder groups and foster productive collaborations.
- National recognition in the field through professional society leadership (e.g., Medical Library Association) or other significant contributions.
- Demonstrate exceptional diplomacy and leadership in fostering collaboration across a variety of stakeholder groups.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading large-scale facilities management projects, including renovations, infrastructure planning, and space optimization.
- Track record of successfully securing and managing federal, foundation, or institutional grant funding.
- Experience delivering library and information services in a clinical setting, supporting research, education, and patient care.
- Demonstrated success in mentoring and developing high-performing teams, particularly in complex, evolving environments.
Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership to a team of 18 (with four direct reports) in the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, ensuring that its programs, services, and initiatives align with institutional priorities in teaching, research, and clinical care.
- Serve as an advocate and ambassador for the Hardin Library and its user community, representing its interests in partnership with the University Librarian and the Associate University Librarian for Teaching, Learning, and Research at institutional, state, and national levels.
- Oversee all aspects of library operations, including strategic planning, resource allocation, and policy development, with a focus on innovation, accountability, and measurable impact in consultation with the Associate University Librarian for Teaching, Learning, and Research.
- Cultivate and sustain strong partnerships with the five health colleges, UI Health Care, and other campus libraries, ensuring seamless access to information resources and integrated research support.
- Champion the integration of information and data literacy across health sciences curricula and clinical environments, advancing lifelong learning and evidence-based practice.
- Use data and assessment to inform decisions, demonstrate value, and drive continuous improvement, setting clear objectives, and regularly evaluating the outcomes of library services and programs.
- Mentor, empower, and support library staff, modeling effective communication and cultivating a collaborative, welcoming, and future-oriented workplace culture.
- Serve as Principal Investigator for the University of Iowa’s NNLM grant (contingent on continued funding), ensuring high-quality program delivery and alignment with national priorities.
- Represent the Hardin Library in professional and scholarly communities, engaging with regional and national organizations to advance the visibility and leadership of the University of Iowa in health sciences librarianship.
Ideal Candidate
The next Assistant University Librarian, Director of Hardin Library for the Health Sciences will be a strategic, relationship-centered leader who brings:
- Deep understanding of current and emerging trends in health sciences librarianship, information management, and emerging scholarly practices of relevance to the health sciences.
- Proven success in leading teams and guiding organizational change within complex academic, research, or clinical environments.
- Exceptional communication, partnership-building, and stakeholder engagement skills, with a record of fostering collaboration across disciplines and units.
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing health education, research, and evidence-based practice through innovative library services and programs.
- Established ability to design, implement, and adapt strategic and operational plans that align with institutional priorities and evolving organizational structures; and
- A forward-looking vision for how academic health sciences libraries can shape the next decade of health education, clinical care, and research.
How to Apply
The University of Iowa Libraries has exclusively retained Jack Farrell & Associates (www.jackfarrell.com) to find the successful candidate for this position. Interested candidates should provide a CV and cover letter by email to Amy Morse ([email protected]) by January 12, 2026, for priority consideration.
The cover letter should address the following questions in no more than 2 pages:
- Why are you interested in this position and why Iowa?
- Share your path (career trajectory) that led you to be ready for this role?
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
For additional questions, please contact Amy Morse at [email protected].
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