Department Head, User and Learning Services

Job Title:  Department Head, User and Learning Services

Date Posted: 07/29/2025

Closing Date: 08/29/2025

Req ID: 44526

Job Category: Library Services

Faculty/Division: UofT Mississauga

Department: UTM: Library

Campus: University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)

Are you looking for challenging, meaningful work in a supportive and diverse environment? Are you looking for a career at one of Canada’s top employers? Work where the world comes to think, discover and learn. Consider a career at the University of Toronto.

About the University of Toronto Libraries

The University of Toronto Libraries system is the largest academic library in Canada and is consistently ranked in the top ten among academic research libraries in North America. The system consists of 40 libraries located on three university campuses: St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough. This array of college libraries, special collections, and specialized libraries and information centres supports the teaching and research requirements of over 300 graduate programs, more than 70 professional programs, and about 700 undergraduate degree programs. In addition to more than 12 million volumes in 341 languages, the library system currently provides access to millions of electronic resources in various forms and over 31,000 linear metres of archival material. More than 150,000 new print volumes are acquired each year. The Libraries' data centre houses more than 600 servers with a storage capacity of 1.5 petabytes.

The University of Toronto Mississauga Library

The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) is thirty-three kilometers west of the downtown St. George campus. Renowned for its natural beauty, the campus is situated next to the Credit River. The U of T Mississauga Library, located in the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre (HMALC), is a leading, world-class library committed to providing students with an open and collaborative environment – one that embeds rich information and technology resources, integrates expert services into a dynamic and imaginative experience, and inspires and facilitates learning.

The Library is a state-of-the-art teaching and learning centre that emphasizes people space. It includes a Learning Commons, two smart classrooms, an audio-video recording studio, a digitization studio, the Li Koon Chun Finance Learning Centre and a dedicated space for archives and special collections.

The Opportunity

The Head, User and Learning Services will work closely with library colleagues to develop academic library services that further the teaching, learning and library access needs of students, faculty, staff and librarians at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Reporting to the UTM Chief Librarian, the Head, User and Learning Services is a member of the UTM Library’s senior leadership team, a leader in the coordination of UTM Library teaching, learning, user, and outreach services, and a lead UTM representative in tri-campus teaching and learning initiatives.

With oversight responsibility for Public Services and Outreach, Reference and Research Services, Instruction Services, the Financial Learning Centre (FLC), and Instructional Technology Services at the UTM Library, the incumbent is responsible for developing departmental workplans that further the UTM Library’s strategic objectives and the UTM Strategic Framework.

The successful candidate will be a progressive, collaborative leader who will:

• Provide advice, analysis, policy interpretation, and recommendations for all teaching and learning programs and user services at the UTM Library.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and strategic direction to departmental librarians and staff.
• Directly supervise the work of librarians and USW full-time staff and indirectly supervise student casual employees.
• Monitor UTM’s academic priorities to develop services in support of teaching, learning, and research.
• Support budget and operational planning efforts within the Office of the Chief Librarian.
• Foster an environment of collaboration, creative thinking, and continuous improvement.
• Align projects and planning with the UTML Strategic Plan, UTM Strategic Framework, and UTL Strategic Plan.
• Be flexible and act with fairness and integrity.
• Be strongly committed to the values of inclusivity, diversity, anti-racism, equity, and accessibility in academic libraries.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library, archival or information science from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated commitment to the values of inclusivity, diversity, equity, accessibility, and anti-racism.
• Relevant administrative and supervisory experience.
• Strong organizational, planning, and project management skills.
• Proven skills and experience with different aspects of public access services.
• Demonstrated experience designing, delivering, and evaluating instruction tailored to the learning needs of library users; and offering specialized, in-depth research consultation and reference support.
• Demonstrated experience with student outreach and student support programs.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively as a member of a team, including building effective partnerships across libraries to achieve shared goals.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a culture of innovation and thrive in an environment of change.
• Knowledge of the teaching and learning landscape in higher education and trends related to the alignment of library services and programs.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with technology and emerging trends in machine learning and artificial intelligence applications within academic libraries.
• Active participation in professional organizations and continuous learning.

The successful candidate must qualify for permanent status on hire and for an appointment at a Librarian III rank. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Salary and Terms of Appointment

It is anticipated that this position will be filled at the Librarian III level, subject to review and experience. Minimum salary: LIB III; $108,234 (Salary is dependent on rank at hire and qualifications). This is a five-year renewable term position. It is also a permanent status stream position.

Benefits: We offer generous benefits packages to all employees. Additional information is available at: https://people.utoronto.ca/careers/benefits/

Additional information:

Librarians at the University of Toronto are members of the University of Toronto Faculty Association.

How to Apply:

Application Materials Required: A cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references of which at least two have supervised your work. Please attach a single electronic file into the “Resume” Field. (MS Word or pdf) with a file name convention of Surname, FirstName, 44526.

The University of Toronto Libraries thanks all applicants but will only contact applicants selected for an interview.

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

University of Toronto Library System: http://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/

University of Toronto: https://people.utoronto.ca/

Policies for librarians: https://people.utoronto.ca/policies/

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

University of Toronto Libraries’ Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Statement:  

https://www.library.utoronto.ca/inclusion-diversity-and-equity-statement

University of Toronto Libraries' Anti-Racism Statement:

https://www.library.utoronto.ca/anti-racism-statement