Job Description

The Head of Dissertation and Copyright Services leads the Dissertation Office and serves as the library’s primary expert on copyright. The position will oversee dissertation submission, dissemination and preservation, mentor office staff, and serve as a resource for faculty and staff on copyright, licensing, and fair use. The position also develops and implements strategic programs in support of open scholarship and information literacy.

Responsibilities

Dissertation Office Leadership

• Supervise and Mentor: Oversee the Dissertation Specialist and student assistants.
• Process Management: Develop, implement, and continuously improve procedures supporting dissertation submission, preservation, and dissemination.
• User Support: Advise doctoral candidates on copyright, embargoes, publishing, library policies, and answer questions via chat and email.
• Documentation Oversight: Ensure clarity and accuracy in public-facing documentation.

Copyright and Scholarly Communications

• Campus Expert: Serve as key staff and faculty advisor on copyright, fair use, permissions, and licensing of research outputs.
• Education and Outreach: Develop and deliver workshops on copyright, IP, scholarly communication, and open scholarship for doctoral candidates, library staff, and campus partners.
• Policy Development: Collaborate with the Office of Legal Counsel and university administration to update policies.

Strategic Collaboration and Service

• Interdepartmental Liaison: Build relationships and collaborate with UChicagoGRAD, Registrar, Deans, Data Management Services, and other campus units.
• Library Initiatives: Support strategic activities in digital scholarship, information literacy, AI, and digitization workflows.
• Representation: Attend conferences (e.g. USETDA) and interdepartmental meetings as Office/Library representative.

Professional Development and Innovation

• Continuous Learning: Stay current on trends in scholarly communication, copyright law, and digital scholarship.
• Service Development: Contribute to service, policy, and workflow improvements.

Qualifications

Required

• ALA-accredited MLS degree or equivalent academic library experience.
• Knowledge of scholarly publishing and electronic dissertation practices.
• A minimum experience of 3 years working with copyright in a library setting.
• Strong user-service orientation.
• Experience teaching or training on legal and scholarly communication topics.
• Ability to translate complex information for different audiences; excellent verbal and written skills.

Preferred

• Experience in academic library leadership, strategic service development, and personnel management.
• Commitment to innovation and open scholarship.

Application Instructions

To Apply: Submit cover letter, curriculum vitae, and reference contact information online through the University of Chicago's Academic Recruiting website: https://apply.interfolio.com/182060 Review of applications will begin after March 29, 2026. Screening of applications will continue until the position is filled or the search is closed.

Salary and Benefits: $75,000 - $85,000 annually. The position is Benefits-eligible and also includes a relocation allowance for qualifying expenses.

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook

Questions: Contact the University Library Human Resources department at libraryhr@uchicago.edu

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-834-3988 or email equalopportunity@uchicago.edu with their request.