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Call for Expressions of Interest – CARL Visiting Program Officer for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

January 18, 2023. – The Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) is the national voice of Canada’s twenty-nine largest university libraries and two federal institutions. A bilingual not-for-profit organization, CARL coordinates national initiatives across its member institutions and promotes their causes to achieve excellence in research and higher education.

CARL invites applications for a Visiting Program Officer (VPO) focused in the area of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). The position will entail working for CARL for the equivalent of one day per week for a period of at least one year. The deadline to apply is February 15th, 2023.

Visiting Program Officer positions are an arrangement between CARL and the individual’s home institution, normally for a minimum period of one year at a minimum of 20% of their time. There is no salary remuneration from CARL associated with this position; the home institution continues to pay the Visiting Program Officer’s salary. Benefits arising from this experience for the incumbent and the home institution include broadened experience and knowledge gained from working on national initiatives; while for CARL and its members, the position helps advance a common priority.

In the summer of 2019, CARL identified EDI as an important area for capacity building within its institutions. CARL hired a VPO for EDI and formed an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Working Group (EDIWG) which has supported the planning and delivery of initiatives in the following areas:

  • Recruitment: How can CARL support expanding the pool of individuals from diverse backgrounds entering the profession?
  • Retention: How can CARL libraries create welcoming environments to support ongoing retention of staff from diverse backgrounds?
  • Staff Learning: Can CARL facilitate educational opportunities to better prepare staff to support a diverse workforce and a diverse student population?
  • Services and Spaces: What are successful practices for creating welcoming and inclusive services and spaces in research libraries?

See work to date.

Responsibility

  • In collaboration with CARL’s EDIWG, the Chair of the working group, and CARL’s full-time Program Officer supporting the Strengthening Capacity Committee’s initiatives, the VPO will take a leading role in advancing CARL’s strategic goals by planning and delivering CARL’s evolving program of EDI initiatives.

Requirements

  • Must be based at a Canadian post-secondary institution;
  • Must have obtained library director’s agreement for the arrangement with CARL as described;
  • Possesses excellent communication skills, both verbal and written;
  • Has project management experience;
  • Has significant experience and expertise in the areas of EDI;
  • The ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing in French and English will be deemed an asset.

If there are multiple candidates who fulfill the criteria above, selection will be based on demonstrated leadership, prior involvement, and level of institutional support; and may involve an interview.

To apply, please send a copy of your CV, and an introductory letter outlining your suitability for this role and confirming your library director’s support for the nomination and the proposed arrangement to .