Dean, Library Services

Job Summary

The dean will serve on the Provost’s Academic Affairs leadership team, collaborating with campus and external partners to strengthen library resources, services, and infrastructure while leading initiatives that advance equity and accessibility. The university seeks an innovative, forward-thinking administrator with a strong record in collaboration, resource management, and advocacy for the evolving role of academic libraries. The dean will play a key role in supporting Cal Poly’s vision to be the nation’s premier comprehensive polytechnic university preparing whole system thinkers to address California’s needs and global challenges.

Department Summary

Cal Poly’s Library Services is a comprehensive academic library system that advances the university’s mission in teaching, learning, research, and creative activity. Serving as a hub for knowledge creation, digital scholarship, open access, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the library is a vital partner to all academic colleges and supports the university’s “Learn by Doing” philosophy and commitment to student success. The unit encompasses three locations-the Kennedy Library in San Luis Obispo, the Maritime Library in Vallejo, and the library aboard the training ship-providing diverse, innovative resources and services to the Cal Poly community.

Key Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience as a collaborative, consultative, empathetic leader who recruits, strongly supports, and retains outstanding faculty and staff and fosters student success.
• A sound grasp of current issues and trends in academic libraries with the ability to serve effectively as an advocate and spokesperson for the library’s educational mission.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic plans with a clear vision of the evolving role of the academic library in the digital environment and the integration of digital resources into the curriculum to advance knowledge management.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of the university and community.
• Demonstrated excellent skills in staff evaluation and supervision, resource allocation, and budget/fiscal management.

Education and Experience

Required

• Demonstrated experience as a collaborative, consultative, empathetic leader who recruits, strongly supports, and retains outstanding faculty and staff and fosters student success.
• A sound grasp of current issues and trends in academic libraries with the ability to serve effectively as an advocate and spokesperson for the library’s educational mission.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of the university and community.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic plans with a clear vision of the evolving role of the academic library in the digital environment and the integration of digital resources into the curriculum to advance knowledge management.
• Demonstrated ability to build consensus and to make considered decisions with competing priorities, with both flexibility and follow-through.
• Demonstrated excellent skills in staff evaluation and supervision, resource allocation, and budget/fiscal management.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and community outreach.
• An understanding of the instructional and scholarly needs of students and faculty.
• A record of professional participation and scholarly contributions.

Preferred

• An additional advanced degree
• Previous experience as a library dean or director.
• Proven leadership ability, preferably at a university with 20,000 or more students.
• Demonstrated success in fostering university, state, regional and/or national cooperation in resource sharing, networking and collection development.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and experience in a collective bargaining environment and/or knowledge of California State University policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated skills in an institutional/educational environment utilizing a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude

Salary and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range for this role is $190,000- $231,000. Note that the offer is calculated based on the background and relevant years of experience of the individual selected.

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Anticipated Hiring Range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Classification Range may be broader than what the University anticipates paying for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information.

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally-ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu .

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. Cal Poly will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions. Applicants for staff and management positions must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

This position may be "Designated" under California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. This would require the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every 2 years thereafter.

Advertised: Dec 23 2025 Pacific Standard Time
Applications close:

• 

• California Polytechnic State University

• 805-756-2236

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