Head, User Services & Engagement

This position is part of the

BUFA (Employee Group)

Post End Date:

Note to all candidates: This posting will close at 12:01 am on the date listed .

June 7, 2026

Brock University Library invites applications for the full-time, permanent position of Head, User Services & Engagement. This position belongs to the Brock University Faculty Association (BUFA) employee group.

About Brock University

Brock University is located on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, many of whom continue to live and work here today. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is within the land protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement. 

Established in 1964 and located in the historic Niagara Region, Brock University stands as a vital cultural, academic, and recreational hub for its community. The University boasts outstanding facilities, a testament to the visionaries from the Allanburg Women’s Institute, who laid its foundation decades ago. Situated about a one-hour drive to Toronto and a 20-minute drive to the US border, the Niagara Region offers the awe-inspiring Niagara Falls, a rich Canadian history, as well as a variety of wineries and entertainment attractions.

Brock is committed to building the Niagara community and to fostering an environment that serves its students and their neighbours. With a student population of over 19,000, approximately 1,500 faculty and staff members, and a network of over 100,000 accomplished alumni, Brock University has forged a reputation as a modern and innovative comprehensive institution. Brock has six teaching Faculties offering a wide range of programs at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Brock is committed to fostering excellence in academic programs, research, creativity, and community-engaged teaching, learning, and scholarship in a welcoming and inclusive environment. The university, including the library, has a number of concrete initiatives that are aimed at improving equity and inclusion for all members of the Brock community. Once such example is the President’s Committee on Human Rights, Equity, and Decolonization. 

More information on Brock University can be found on the University’s website at https://www.brocku.ca/.  
 

About Brock University Library

Brock University Library includes the James A. Gibson Library; Archives & Special Collections; as well as the Makerspace within the Brock LINC facility and Brock University Library, Burlington Campus. With six departments, a staff of 54 including 20 professional librarians, and an annual budget of over $11 million, the Library provides services and resources to support over a growing faculty and student population.  

Our progressive and talented community of librarians and staff are committed to student success, collegiality, and collaboration. Our values of innovation, integrity, inspiration and inclusivity guide all that we do. The Brock Library strategic plan contains four strategic pillars: highlighting student success; the research lifecycle; community engagement; and strengthening capacity.

The Library is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Recent anti-racism initiatives in the Library include anti-racism professional learning for all Library staff, ‘The Canadian Library’ project to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and establishing an Indigenous Reading Collection. The Library is an active partner with other units on campus including Human Rights & Equity, Student Accessibility Services, and Hadiyaˀdagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre. The Library regularly highlights EDI-related topics and resources via featured collections. Recent examples include highlighting Pride Week, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and Black History Month/African Heritage Month.

For further details about the Library, visit https://www.brocku.ca/library . 

About the Opportunity

Brock University Library invites applications for the full-time, permanent position of Head, User Services & Engagement.

The successful candidate will provide leadership and direction for the operations of Brock Library’s User Services and Engagement (US&E) department, working closely with the Manager, User Services, to ensure the delivery and development of core library services including: circulation, course readings, resource sharing, research help, maintenance of the Library’s physical collections, and support for user-facing spaces. The successful candidate will participate in library-wide planning and implementation of strategic initiatives and supports the library’s efforts in engagement, which may include library events, promotional activities, co-curricular workshops, and other similar work. 

The successful candidate:

• Provides leadership for the US&E Department (1 direct report, 12 FTE staff) in the development, implementation, and assessment of departmental goals, projects, programs and services, including outreach and engagement initiatives
• In collaboration with the Manager, User Services & Engagement, provides supervision of library staff in the US&E Department, ensuring departmental policies and procedures are updated and effective
• Promotes US&E and Library services, working in consultation with library departments and library leadership. Coordinates work with other library units as appropriate
• Contributes to collaborative partnerships and projects as appropriate (e.g., initiatives of the Ontario Council of University Libraries)
• Works with the AUL, Student Success to assess use of space and ensure the James A. Gibson Library’s user-facing spaces are safe, well-maintained, modern, and meets users' needs
• Provides departmental leadership for resolving problems related to matters such as security infractions, fines, and referrals to appropriate campus authorities, as necessary
• Supports the Library’s strategic goals through active membership on working groups and project teams
• Participates in the Library Management and Strategy Team, to help inform library-wide strategy, policies, procedures, and services
• Engages in professional development, scholarly and service activities under the terms of the Collective Agreement

Qualified candidates will possess the following:

• A Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library program or equivalent
• Leadership and supervisory abilities, including knowledge of human resources practices and unionized environments
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues
• Ability to effectively manage change and support colleagues in a dynamic environment
• Knowledge and experience in the following areas:
  • Research help
  • Circulation policies and procedures
• Knowledge of:
  • Resource sharing
  • Course readings/reserves
  • Library engagement and outreach activities
• Experience using Library Management Systems
• Demonstrated user-centered service philosophy and client focus
• Awareness of the importance of inclusivity, accessibility, reconciliation, and decolonization in academic libraries
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Effective analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills

Qualifications Considered an Asset:

We want to emphasize that these qualifications are considered an asset. They are not required, and we are committed to helping our future colleague develop these skills.

• Master’s level education in an academic discipline

• Experience with Ex Libris’ Alma, Primo, and Leganto software

• Experience using data and statistics to evaluate work and inform decision-making

• Knowledge of the application of Canadian copyright law in the library context, and in particular, fair dealing

This position is available as of June 1, 2026.

Compensation:

Brock University offers a competitive salary and an attractive benefits package. It is anticipated that this appointment will be made at the rank of Librarian II or III. Salary and rank will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. The position is included in the Brock University Faculty Association (BUFA) and is governed by the BUFA Collective Agreement.

The target hiring range for this position is $100,000- $150,000. The final salary will be determined based on relevant experience, internal equity and budget considerations.

This ad is for an existing position in the Brock University Faculty Association (BUFA) bargaining unit. This position is subject to final budgetary approval. 

Application Instructions:

Applicants are invited to apply by submitting a curriculum vitae and a cover letter through the online application system no later than June 7, 2026 at 12:01am EST. The final full business day to apply is June 6, 2026. We appreciate all applications received; however, we will contact only those candidates selected for an interview. Interviews will be one day in length and consist of a public presentation on a given topic as well as meetings with relevant stakeholders.

Our Commitment

Brock University is actively committed to diversity and the principles of employment equity and invites applications from all qualified candidates. Women, Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) peoples, Black people, people with disabilities, members of visible minorities/racialized groups, and Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and additional sexually and gender diverse (2SLGBTQI+) persons are encouraged to apply and to voluntarily self-identify as a member of a designated group as part of their application. Candidates who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups should fill out the Self-Identification Form and include the completed form with their application.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

We will accommodate the needs of the applicants and the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the selection process, as outlined in the Employment Accommodation Policy https://brocku.ca/policies/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/Employment-Accommodation-Policy.pdf. Please advise: talent@brocku.ca  to ensure your accessibility needs are accommodated through this process. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

We appreciate all applications received; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.  

Learn more about Brock University by visiting www.brocku.ca