VALE Program Manager

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Position Summary 
The VALE Program Manager will serve as the principal point of contact between VALE and its member libraries. The Program Manager reports to the VALE Chair, works closely with VALE’s fiduciary agent and VALE Executive Committee members, and is responsible for the overall administrative operation and management of the VALE consortium. The ideal candidate must be able to coordinate and organize VALE’s activities with creativity, independent thinking, high energy, and the ability to communicate succinctly with a wide range of stakeholders, focusing on VALE’s member institutions. Ensuring ethical and legal compliance, this position has liaison, strategic, fiduciary, generative, and collaborative responsibilities to the VALE Executive Committee. The successful candidate must effectively manage time and deadlines, as well as balance demands and priorities. Typically works a remote 40-hour work week, with an expectation of in-person travel to member libraries or NJEdge office. Weekend or evening hours may occasionally be required.
Essential Duties:
General Administrative and Liaison Responsibilities (40%) 
  • Serves as the principal point of contact for VALE’s member institutions relating to VALE’s businesses and activities. 
  • Travels within New Jersey to meet with and assess VALE member libraries’ needs. Implements both short- and long-term strategic decisions of the VALE Executive Committee. 
  • Takes a leadership role in planning (including procuring vendor sponsorship), implementing, and evaluating the annual New Jersey Academic Libraries Conference. 
  • Liaises with chief library administrators at member institutions and local and regional professional organizations to keep abreast of trends and opportunities to enhance the consortium's activities.
  • Conducts environmental scans, project overviews, and activities updates of other comparable groups for consideration by VALE leadership to increase productivity and service effectiveness. 
  • Drafts, collects, and distributes Executive Committee meeting agendas and minutes, VALE’s annual reports, Edge-VALE reports, and other pertinent-related documents. 
  • Lead outreach activities, including creating press releases and other marketing and promotional materials. 
  • Manages information on the VALE website and coordinates changes with the CMS vendor and the Outreach Committee. 
  • Coordinates the collection, compilation, assembly, and analysis of data for reports and projects.
Content and Service Offerings Responsibilities (30%) 
  • Acts as the primary contact with all VALE vendors. 
  • Maintains and manages license agreements, contracts, and affirmative actions with all VALE vendors. 
  • Masters the Consortia Manager (CM) electronic resources management (ERM) platform.
  • Ensures current subscriptions and services are maintained, tracked, and updated on the CM platform for member libraries. 
  • Compiles terms of database licensing offers and presents them to the VALE Executive Committee and then to member libraries. 
  • Routinely evaluates vendors and emerging trends and recommends new offerings based on methods, including surveys and regular site visits to member libraries. 
Financial Responsibilities (30%) 
In coordination with the VALE Treasurer and VALE fiduciary agent, provides a full array of financial services: 
  • Oversees payment of VALE purchases and acquisitions. 
  • Generates and distributes regular financial reports to the VALE officers and Executive Committee members. 
  • Analyzes and tracks account receivables and payables; coordinates transfers; and resolves accounting variances and discrepancies. 
  • Creates spreadsheets, reports, and other summaries to communicate account status. 
  • Supports the Treasurer in preparing the annual budget and forecast scenarios. 
  • Maintains current and historical budget documents. 
  • Recommends and oversees the implementation of VALE policies related to financial operations.
  • Other Duties as assigned 
Required Qualifications: 
  • ALA-accredited Master of Library and Information Science or MLS degree. 
  • Five (5) years of progressive professional experience in libraries. 
  • Three (3) years of administrative experience. 
  • Experience with library purchasing, licensing, ordering, and billing practices. 
  • Experience with computer systems and productivity applications and tools. 
  • Experience with database searching and web applications.
  • Understanding of current academic library trends and needs. 
  • Ability to travel within New Jersey to visit member libraries. 
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills. 
  • Strong negotiation skills. 
  • Ability to build consensus among diverse groups. 
  • Experience with business process improvements. 
  • Knowledge of website accessibility standards, including Section 508 and WCAG. 
Preferred Qualifications: 
  • Knowledge of Electronic Resource Management (ERM). 
  • Experience in general accounting practices. 
  • Experience working in a library consortium. 
  • Experience with grant proposals and management. 
  • An additional advanced degree.
LOCATION: Newark, NJ and virtual
TYPE: Full time
SALARY: Between $80,000 - $88,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications
Please send cover letter, CV and references to Ms. Amy Hillman, NJEdge.net atamy.hillman [at] njedge.netclass="" style="color:rgb(149, 79, 114);".