Head of Scholarly Communications - University of Chicago

Head of Scholarly Communications - University of Chicago

Submitted by mjhuls on Tue, 09/22/2026 - 11:03am

The Head of Scholarly Communications shapes how the University of Chicago shares, preserves, and elevates its research. They will guide a growing portfolio of open scholarship and repository services, lead strategy in a rapidly shifting publishing environment, and serve as a campus-wide voice for sustainable, equitable scholarly communication.

This position reports to the Director of Digital Scholarship and works closely with colleagues across the Library and the university. The ideal candidate will bring expertise in open scholarship, copyright, persistent identifiers, and compliance with funder mandates. They will also oversee the institutional repository, UChicago Knowledge, and provide leadership for the staff who run it day to day.

Responsibilities:

  • Partner with the Director to set direction for scholarly communication services, ensuring they’re forward-looking, realistic, and aligned with broader Library priorities.
  • Design and deliver inclusive, sustainable services that support open scholarship, long-term preservation, research information management needs, and wide dissemination of University research outputs.
  • Supervise and mentor the Repository Services Manager. Guide policy, development, and operations for UChicago Knowledge.
  • Work directly with faculty, students, and staff to help them manage and share their work, including copyright, PIDs, funder requirements, and more.
  • Provide copyright and scholarly communication expertise across the Library. Collaborate with librarians to create strong outreach, training, and campus engagement.
  • Partner with campus IT and research computing units to evaluate, pilot, and implement technologies that strengthen scholarly communication infrastructure.
  • Participate in national conversations on standards, best practices, and research lifecycle management.
  • Play an active role in Library committees, strategic initiatives, and diversity efforts.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required:

  • Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited MLS/MLIS or an advanced degree in a relevant field.
  • At least three years of experience supporting scholarly communication in an academic environment.
  • Experience supervising staff and leading teams through change.
  • Ability to collaborate across disciplines, functions, and diverse communities.

Preferred:

  • Experience managing or contributing to institutional repository services, including workflows, metadata practices, or platform administration.
  • Experience supervising staff and leading teams through change.
  • A track record of using technology to evolve services or improve workflows.
  • Evidence of productive, trust-based work with faculty and students.
  • Engagement in professional communities related to scholarly communication.
  • A user-centered mindset, paired with a commitment to continuous improvement and experimentation. 

Required Documents

  • C.V.
  • Cover Letter
  • Contact Reference

Application Instructions

Submit cover letter, curriculum vitae, and reference contact information online through the University of Chicago's Academic Recruiting website: apply.interfolio.com/194068. Review of applications will begin after October 21, 2026. Screening of applications will continue until the position is filled or the search is closed.

Salary and Benefits: 

$72,250- $85,000. The position also includes a relocation allowance for qualifying expenses. 

This position is benefits-eligible. 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 Library Human Resources at

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 with their request.