Chief Director: Library and Information Service at Stellenbosch University

Duties/Pligte        

The Chief Director: Library and Information Service assumes overarching responsibility for:

• Providing strategic leadership and direction for the University's Library and Information Service (LIS) portfolio, positioning the library as a key enabler of teaching, learning, research, innovation and engagement.
• Developing and implementing a future-focused LIS strategy aligned with institutional priorities and global developments in higher education, digital scholarship, and research support.
• Leading digital transformation initiatives within LIS, including the integration of emerging technologies, data analytics, open science platforms, and innovative service delivery models.
• Promoting scholarly communication, open access, research visibility, and collaborative knowledge creation across disciplines.
• Leading the development and implementation of policies, frameworks, and systems to support academic information services and ensuring alignment with institutional, national and international best practices.
• Providing strategic leadership in human resource management, including talent development, succession planning, performance management and the fostering of a high-performance and inclusive culture.
• Overseeing the operational and financial management of LIS, including budgeting, infrastructure, technology, facilities and resource optimisation.
• Ensuring sound governance, quality assurance, and compliance across all LIS operations through appropriate monitoring, evaluation and continuous improvement mechanisms.
• Building and maintaining strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including academic departments, students, researchers, alumni, library consortia and professional networks.
• Representing LIS in institutional governance structures and contributing to institutional strategy, planning and policy development.
• Engaging with community stakeholders and relevant partners regarding collections, archives and repositories that support African knowledge systems, teaching, learning and research.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes        

• A master's or doctoral degree in Library and Information Science or a relevant field.
• At least eight (8) years' senior management experience in academic or research libraries, or information science entities in the higher education sector.
• Proven experience in strategic planning, institutional leadership, budgeting, and people management.
• Demonstrated experience in leading digital transformation and innovation initiatives in a complex organisational environment.
• Strong understanding of scholarly communication, library technologies, open science, and higher education trends.
• Proven ability to lead large and diverse teams and foster a culture of collaboration, excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Sound financial and operational management skills, including experience managing large budgets and complex operations.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, relationship management, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of relevant higher education, governance, HR, and financial management frameworks and policies.

Recommendation/Aanbeveling        

• Membership of relevant national and/or international professional bodies (e.g. LIASA, IFLA).

Closing Date: 07-Aug-2026