The University of Colorado Colorado Springs will not sponsor work visas or permanent resident applications for this position

Innovation & Design Librarian

Elevate Your Career at UCCS: Innovate, Inspire, and Impact in the Rockies!

Who We Are

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is a premier educational institution that prides itself on academic excellence, research, and community engagement and is actively seeking an Innovation & Design Librarian to join our team! UCCS is committed to academic excellence, professional development, and fostering an environment that supports innovation and student success.

At the base of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is captivated by its stunning landscapes, making it a paradise for nature lovers. This city is more than its scenery - a mosaic of history, arts, and a vibrant tech scene. We invite you to join a community that cherishes outdoor adventure as much as forward-thinking growth, an exceptional setting for both career and lifestyle.

Salary/Pay Range: $65,000 - $75,000 annually. Additional opportunities for additional compensation are available through secondary appointment as Associate Portfolio Manager for candidates with applicable project management experience. Compensation will be commensurate upon experience and qualifications. This position is Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime provisions.

Benefits at a Glance

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs offers excellent benefits, some of which include:

• Medical insurance, with the lowest cost option being $0 to the employee
• Dental, Vision, Life and Disability insurance
• Generous paid vacation and sick time accruals (14.67 hours of vacation and 10 hours of sick accrued per month)
• Mandatory retirement plans. Employees contribute 5% of their annual compensation. CU doubles that and contributes 10%
• Tuition Assistant Benefit available to you or a dependent
• Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of employment
• Faculty Housing Assistance Program

Summary

As a member of the KFL Office of the Dean, the Innovation and Design Librarian will lead the library's efforts in design thinking, systems thinking, experience design, and innovation programming. This role will focus on fostering creativity and problem-solving through interdisciplinary collaboration with students, faculty, and industry partners. The Innovation and Design Librarian will play a key role in shaping the library and C3 Innovation as a hub of creative innovation, driving forward UCCS's mission to cultivate a cutting-edge innovation ecosystem.

This is a 12-month tenure-track faculty appointment that requires scholarly activities such as research projects and publications in addition to providing service to the library, campus or profession.

Essential Functions

The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

Teaching/Librarianship:

• Develop and implement interdisciplinary innovation and design thinking programming and workshops, working with relevant academic departments, faculty and students, industry partners, and community stakeholders.

• Coordinating programming with KFL and C3 Innovation, Faculty Fellows, the design lab, and other future innovation programming and staffing.

• Provide one-on-one consultations on applying innovative design and research strategies to UCCS campus community.

• Collaborate with library and disciplinary faculty to integrate innovation principles and design thinking into courses, research, and campus-wide initiatives.

• Serve as the primary liaison for the Bachelor of Innovation (BI) program, Entrepreneurship, Computer Science, the Technical Communication and Information Design (TCID), and C3 Innovation.

• Provide in-person and remote research services at the Library Assistance Desk.

Research, Service and Other Responsibilities:

• Participate in library governance and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, and strategic initiatives aimed at driving innovation. This would include serving on the library leadership team.

• Serve on relevant university committees and undertake special projects as assigned by the Dean.

• Develops professionally as a member of the academic community through such scholarly activities as research projects, publications, continuing education, attendance at conferences, professional service, and university and library service.

The Kraemer Family Library operates on a project based management organizational system in order to remain lean and agile. Candidates with project management background may eligible for additional compensation via secondary appointment as an Associate Portfolio Manager.

Tentative Search Timeline

• Priority will be given to applications submitted by: May 18, 2025. However, this posting will remain open until filled.
• Potential interview dates with the search committee will be the week of May 26, 2025.
• Potential interview dates with the supervisor and appointing authority will be the week of June 16, 2025.
• Potential start date: August 1, 2025.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

• Master's degree from an ALA-accredited library school, Master of Design, Innovation focused MBA, or a Master's, or PhD, in a relevant field related to design thinking, foresight, innovation, user experience, or systems thinking is required.
• Applicants must have demonstrated experience or coursework with innovation methodologies like design thinking, user experience, information design, strategic foresight, human centered design, and systems thinking.
• Proven ability to foster collaboration with faculty, students, or community stakeholders is preferred.
• Highly qualified applicants have Excellent communication skills and a demonstrated commitment to creating a Culture of Care, serving students from all communities of Colorado.
• Demonstrated experience or coursework with design software tools and innovation technologies, such as AI, Apple Products, Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, or similar platforms is preferred.
• Project Management certification and experience preferred.