The Library Director of the Arthur Neef Law Library reports to the Dean of University Libraries and is responsible to the Dean of the Law School for supporting its students, faculty, and programs.  The Law School offers J.D. and LL.M. degree programs in addition to a new Master of Science in Law (M.S.L.) program for human resources professionals and as vibrant undergraduate Major and Minor-in-Law programs.  Currently, there are 386 full-time and 21 part-time J.D. students, as well as almost 100 graduate (MSL and LL.M.) students, and approximately 350 undergraduate students. The Law School is home to the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights and the Carl M. Levin Center for Legislative Oversight and Democracy. The Law School’s 7 clinics and numerous externship programs offer an abundance of experiential learning opportunities for Wayne Law students.

Wayne State is a Carnegie Research University I with a strong commitment to our urban mission.  Our student body is 30,000 strong and the most diverse among Michigan’s public universities.  Our 13 schools and colleges offer more than 400 academic programs with 35% of students enrolled in graduate and professional schools. We are immersed in the University Cultural Center in the heart of Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood with its world-class museums, theaters, libraries, concert halls and professional sports venues, including the original Detroit Public Library, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History, the Detroit Historical Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, and the Max M. Fisher Music Center. 

Essential Job Functions:

With Library System and Law School colleagues, articulate a shared vision for promoting the Law Library’s value in this rapidly changing age of information management.

Support the professional development of a highly talented Law Library staff by building trust, managing effectively, empowering, inspiring, and leading by example.

Use sound judgment and financial acumen to maximize resources provided for staffing, collections, and services.

Complement and enhance the work of the Wayne State University Libraries by building strong partnerships across campus and within the greater Detroit metropolitan community.

Provide creative library services and excellent resources to inspire student success and faculty scholarship.

Develop and implement programs to support the University’s urban mission and commitment to strengthening our diverse and inclusive culture.

J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school.

Minimum of 5 years of academic law library experience in increasingly responsible positions.

Experience in law library administration/leadership sufficient to support the essential functions of this position.

Demonstrated knowledge of legal bibliography, trends and developments in legal literature, scholarly communication, and integrated library systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

A record of professional activity and contributions to the law librarianship or legal professions.

Excellent analytical, communication, and collaborative skills.

An understanding and appreciation of organizational development and culture.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:  Bachelor’s degree

Experience:   Five years progressively responsible experience providing administrative and operational support, preferably for executives. Previous supervisory experience. Higher education experience preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and professionally both orally and in writing. Strong interpersonal skills are required.

PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION: Ability to manage several projects simultaneously, prioritize and plan work activities while meeting respective deadlines. Strong organizational and time-management skills.

ANALYTICAL AND PRESENTATION SKILLS: Ability to evaluate, interpret, and present complex information effectively in professionally prepared documents or presentation. Must possess a demonstrated attention to detail in order to achieve a high degree of accuracy.

TECHNICAL SKILLS: Proficient in the use of complex administrative systems, preferably in the higher educational environment. Proficient with Microsoft Office suite.

ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS: Ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines. Ability to prioritize office workload and resolve operational problems. Strong time-management skills. Ability to multi-task and function effectively in a fast-paced environment.

PROFESSIONALISM: Must demonstrate and possess a high level of professional integrity, ethics and confidentiality. Ability to work with minimal supervision.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: Skilled at working with internal and external customers and providing high levels of customer service. Ability to answer and respond to telephone and walk-in informational inquiries and requests. Ability to work independently and in a team environment.

LEARNING AGILITY: Independent and innovative self-starter who displays an ability to learn quickly and easily adapts to changing situations. Experience researching topics to gain knowledge and understanding when information gaps exist.

TEAMWORK: Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues within the Law School and other units to gain full understanding of the project and desired outcome; ability to produce high quality and consistent results with assistance of team members; provide support to teammates when tackling complex projects.