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  4. Head of Creative Technologies And Scholarship

Head, Creative Technologies and Scholarship

The Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Head, Creative Technologies and Scholarship to advance and sustain a suite of programs that elevate the VCU community’s engagement with media and maker technologies. The Head of Creative Technologies and Scholarship is responsible for The Workshop. Located in the James Branch Cabell Library in the center of the Monroe Park Campus of VCU, The Workshop is a gathering place for a community of creative makers and users who explore technologies and their application to learning and research. Last year, staff in The Workshop answered 5,996 questions, taught 424 instructional sessions, and handled more than 28,000 transactions for circulating equipment. Creative Technologies and Scholarship leads a robust instructional and outreach program that includes class integrated instruction, VCU Global Game Jam, VCU GIS Day, the Workshops at the Workshop series, and an annual Creative Inquiries lecture.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Scholarly Communications and Publishing, the Head is responsible for leading the Creative Technologies and Scholarship department, including The Workshop. The Creative Technologies and Scholarship department consists of the department head, a team of three accomplished professionals, and approximately twenty student/hourly staff members. The Workshop features two service points, equipment loans, reservable studios, dedicated computer stations for multimedia, XR, 3D, and GIS work, a makerspace, and a new data visualization wall.

The Head of Creative Technologies and Scholarship will

  • Lead the Creative Technologies and Scholarship department, overseeing personnel, services, facilities, budgets, technologies, communications, planning, assessment, and training.
  • Continually improve Creative Technologies and Scholarship policies, procedures, and initiatives to align with university and library values, goals, and capacities.
  • Cultivate existing library, university, and community relationships, and strategically forge new partnerships.
  • Proactively pursue and administer external grants and funding opportunities to expand departmental programs and resources.
  • Champion the responsible development and promotion of media and maker technologies to advance the department's mission in support of learning and scholarship.

This position is an essential member of the Scholarly Communications and Publishing division’s leadership team and is expected to play an integral role in the success of division-wide operations and collaborative ventures. As a member of VCU Libraries Department Head Council, the Head of Creative Technologies and Scholarship will work with colleagues to further the strategic initiatives of the libraries.

The Head, Creative Technologies and Scholarship is expected to be active professionally and to contribute to developments in the field. Faculty with VCU Libraries are evaluated, and promoted, on the basis of job performance, scholarship, and service.

Required Qualifications

  • ALA-accredited graduate degree or accredited graduate degree in another appropriate discipline.
  • Progressively responsible experience in the management of a program related to media and maker technologies.
  • Superior communication, active listening, and collaboration skills essential for leading staff and engaging with the university community.
  • Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Expertise in current and emerging trends, best practices, and instructional strategies for supporting and promoting media and maker technologies within a university or similar setting.
  • Experience supervising and empowering technology and information professionals.
  • Experience and/or vision providing students meaningful and transformative work experiences.
  • Experience developing, assessing, and evolving programs in media and maker technologies.
  • Experience working collaboratively within and across organizational and community boundaries in a diverse and evolving organization with a wide variety of users.
  • Experience with hardware and software planning, purchasing, and deployment.
  • Experience in grant application and administration.
  • Evidence of professional engagement, research, or scholarship in the field of digital scholarship, maker culture, academic librarianship, or related discipline.

Candidates need not meet preferred qualifications to be fully considered. We value individual and unique skills that would strengthen the VCU Libraries and our teams.

Salary

Salary commensurate with experience, not less than $85,000 annually. This is a full-time, non-tenured faculty position. 12-month faculty benefits apply, including 24 vacation days annually and choice of retirement and annuity plans. Librarians are provided a generous professional development allowance. For more information about benefits, see the Faculty Benefits page.

Interviews

Initial interviews will be conducted virtually. We anticipate inviting finalists to campus.

Learn about the position in an online information session

We are hosting information sessions for interested applicants in advance of the February 20, 2026 review date.

Please consider joining one of these sessions to learn more about the position, meet the supervisor (Jimmy Ghaphery), and get answers to your questions about the position.

Join one of our info sessions via Zoom:

      • Monday, January 26, 3pm EST
      • Thursday, January 29, 3pm EST

The attendee list for each Zoom session will be hidden and those asking questions may do so anonymously. Live captioning will be provided. To attend a session, please complete the confidential form to receive a Zoom link.

Questions? Please contact: Jimmy Ghaphery at jghapher@vcu.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University is an urban research institution with a richly diverse university community and commitment to multicultural opportunities. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, political affiliation or disability.