Digital Initiatives Librarian Job at University of Colorado in Denver

Position Details

University of Colorado Denver | Denver

Faculty Level/Title: Instructor

Working Title: Digital Initiatives Librarian

FTE: Full-time 1.0 FTE | Hybrid

Salary Range: $60,000 – $65,000

Position #00001655 – Requisition #38107

Join the University of Colorado Denver

About the University of Colorado - Denver

Millions of moments start at CU Denver, a place where innovation, research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city. We’re the state’s premier public urban research university with more than 100 in‑demand, top ranked bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. We partner with diverse learners—at any stage of their life and career—for transformative educational experiences. Across seven schools and colleges, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges and produce impactful creative work. As part of the state’s largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $800 million.

Job Description

The Digital Initiatives Librarian implements the strategic vision of the Auraria Library’s digitization initiatives and institutional repository. By partnering with faculty, researchers, and students, they advance open scholarship and provide the guidance needed to successfully engage with the changing landscape of digital publishing and academic dissemination. This includes selecting and managing digitization projects, creating digital collections in the digital library software, ingesting new content and maintaining the institutional repository, defining and creating metadata workflows to enhance discoverability, managing the software for storing and displaying digital objects, and supervising the library’s digitization lab.

As a library faculty member, the Digital Initiatives Librarian participates on Library and campus‑wide committees and in CU Denver faculty governance.

Responsibilities

• The creation of digital objects from items selected to be added to the digital collection.
• Communication with stakeholders about the solicitation of new content and the creation of access to local digital collections.
• Management of the hardware and software used to create, provide access to, and preserve digital objects.
• Management of the library’s institutional repository and the preservation of the institution’s scholarly and student work.
• Serve as a trusted resource and collaborator on copyright issues around local library digital collections and the institutional repository, applying knowledge on current and emerging practices in the creation of digital objects.
• Coordinate the access and storage of electronic theses and dissertations.
• Perform the preservation of digital objects.
• Create the digital infrastructure to provide access to local open‑access journals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library and/or information science from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited or equivalent accrediting body program at time of hire.
• Experience working with/in the digital collections of archives, special collections, museum, cultural heritage organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• One (1) or more years of experience in a library, archive, museum, or cultural heritage institution.
• Familiarity with digital asset management systems and tools for creating, preserving, and accessing digital content.
• Experience working with audiovisual materials and related technologies.
• Skills in photo or document editing software.
• Knowledge of metadata, data organization, and spreadsheet tools.
• Understanding of open access, copyright and intellectual property issues related to digital scholarship.
• Experience with institutional repository workflows.
• Awareness of digital preservation practices.
• Familiarity with critical archival theory or pedagogy.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to organize workflows and manage projects aligned with strategic goals.
• Ability to supervise staff or peers in digital collections work.
• Strong project and time management skills; able to meet multiple deadlines.
• Ability to engage with external stakeholders, including donors.
• Familiarity with technologies supporting digital library initiatives.
• Knowledge of software/hardware integration for library departmental systems.
• Excellent communication skills, in written and oral communication.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Awareness of trends in academic libraries and higher education.
• Ability to write, interpret, and apply policies and procedures effectively.
• Commitment to innovative, inclusive service for a diverse patron base.
• Ability to work with individuals from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Conditions of Employment

• Occasional work during the evening and/or weekends may be required.
• This position follows a hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely or from the office, as needed, based on demands of specific tasks or personal work preferences. Working from the office is encouraged when working on tasks that require a high degree of collaboration.

Mental, Physical, and Environmental Requirements

• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Prolonged periods of computer use and desk work.
• Manual dexterity for operating office and digitization equipment.
• Occasional lifting or moving of materials up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to navigate library spaces, including storage and lab areas.
• Visual acuity for reviewing digital and printed materials.
• Attention to detail and capacity to learn new technologies and systems.
• Work is primarily performed in a climate‑controlled office or library setting.
• Occasional exposure to dust or older materials during digitization or archival work.
• May require occasional travel between campus departments or to external meetings/events.
• Use of specialized equipment (e.g., scanners, audiovisual digitization tools) in designated lab spaces.
• Regular use of computers and digital systems in a shared workspace or open office environment.

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.

The University will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at workplaceengagement@ucdenver.edu.

Employment Sponsorship: This position is not eligible now or in the future for visa sponsorship.

Compensation and Benefits: Salary range $60,000 – $65,000. Benefits include generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions.

Application Deadline: Approximately until finalists are identified and interviews begin. Preference given to applications received by Dec 1, 2025, 11:59 PM. Those who do not apply by this date may or may not be considered.

Required Application Materials: A letter of interest, curriculum vitae/resume, and three professional references.