August 19, 2024 – 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 Visiting Program Officer (VPO) to support CARL’s work in public policy advocacy and related projects. 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 September 9, 2024.
Visiting Program Officer positions are an arrangement between CARL and the individual’s home institution, normally for a minimum period of one year at 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.
CARL has been an active voice in copyright and related topics on behalf of post-secondary users and the academic library community for several decades. VPOs bring practitioner knowledge and informed strategic thinking to strengthen CARL’s capacity in these challenging areas (See work to date).
Responsibility
In collaboration with the current policy team (Rowena Johnson, Katherine McColgan, and Temple Scott Associates), the VPO will take a leading or contributing role in the development of CARL statements, briefs, and communications related to federal advocacy related to copyright as well as issues such as licensing, controlled digital lending, privacy, accessibility, digital access, access to information, artificial intelligence, and/or other arising federal policy issues that potentially impact CARL libraries or the communities they serve.
The VPO for Copyright and Other Public Policy Matters is invited to attend the CARL Policy and Advocacy Committee meetings and works in collaboration with the policy team under the direction of CARL’s Executive Director.
Requirements
- Must be based at a Canadian post-secondary institution;
- Must have obtained the library director’s agreement for the arrangement with CARL as described;
- Possesses excellent communication skills, both verbal and written;
- Has significant experience and expertise in the area of copyright or other areas of public policy listed above;
- Has the ability to ensure diverse experiences and perspectives are treated respectfully;
- The ability to communicate effectively in both 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 in national initiatives, and the level of institutional support; and may involve an interview.
To apply, please send a copy of your CV, an introductory letter outlining your suitability for this role, and a confirmation from your library director of support for the nomination and the proposed arrangement to opportunities-opportunites [At] carl-abrc [Dot] ca.
