Tulane University Libraries (TUL) invites applications for an exceptional leadership opportunity: Director of Library Experience. This role offers the opportunity to shape how students, faculty, and visitors experience Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, a central hub of campus life at Tulane, while leading a proud, resilient team across the Uptown and Downtown campuses and the off-campus repository. 

Leading a Library at a Moment of Momentum 

Library use continues to rise, events are drawing attention, and new partnerships and press are raising the library's profile. The Director of Library Experience will join at just the right time, with a forward-looking vision already in motion. The libraries meet students, faculty, and patrons where they are, make its services and spaces flexible and accessible, and serve as a hub for the entire Tulane community.  

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Operations, the Director will serve on the Library Leadership Team with a direct hand in shaping the library's strategic direction. Tulane's culture is relational and collaborative, and the library is expected to take part in cross-campus conversations. The new Director will have a strong base and considerable room to shape what comes next. 

Creating One Seamless Experience 

The goal of this role is simple: users should be able to get help without needing to understand the library's org chart. The Director will align scholarly services and front-line building services so they operate as one team with one message to students and faculty. They will become the go-to person who gathers requests and routes them to the right colleague and unit, and will connect Uptown and Downtown services more closely so that every student's experience is guided with intention. 

The Director will also build a hospitality-centered, proactive culture. The team is known for speed and efficiency, and the next step is anticipating needs, especially for students who might never think to ask for help. Setting the tone from the front door onward, the Director will foster inclusion, belonging, and continuous improvement. 

A Multifaceted Leadership Role 

As an ambassador for the library, the Director will connect people to resources many don't know exist, from interlibrary loan to a laptop lending program that is checked out every day. This means reaching out to schools and departments, working with academic advisors to increase referrals, and partnering with student-facing units across campus, including a stronger relationship with Newcomb-Tulane College to reach first-year students early. 

The Director will also: 

• Reimagine the library's spaces. Working with the Building Manager, the Director will rethink how spaces support learning, wellness, community, and belonging, from clearer signage and wayfinding to a redesigned main entrance that would transform the first impression for every visitor.
• Lead facilities and operations across both campuses. The Director will oversee operations, space maintenance, and a budget of more than $500,000, including procurement and vendor relationships. The core of Howard-Tilton dates to 1968, and this historic building needs care. The Director will build on strong relationships with Facilities Services, custodial partners, Tulane Police, Allied security, and the University Registrar.
• Lead communications, signature events, and partnerships. With the Communications Manager, the Director will keep storytelling, social media, press opportunities, VIP partnerships, and major events on track and coordinated with Tulane's central communications office.
• Improve the experience across physical and digital channels. With Interlibrary Loan in the portfolio, the Director is well positioned to help library systems work together more smoothly, bringing creativity and comfort with technology and data.
• Build a practice of assessment. The Director will create ways to evaluate public-facing services and spaces and use data to guide investment of staff and resources. 

Building and Empowering a Strong Team 

One of the most rewarding aspects of this role is leading a committed team of Circulation and Interlibrary Loan staff, the Building Management, and the Marketing and Communications Team, along with student workers. These are people who take pride in delivering excellent service. The Director will mentor and develop them, advocate for them, make thoughtful decisions about priorities, and guide the team through change with transparency and care. 

Ideal Candidate Profile 

The successful candidate will bring a passion for user experience and hospitality, along with proven leadership skills and a record of inspiring a team. They will be excellent communicators who is comfortable working with technical teams and using data to guide decisions, and who has a strong eye for design and aesthetics. The candidate should possess a master’s degree in Library and Information Science or a related graduate degree in the sciences, social sciences, or humanities, with equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience considered. They will have demonstrated professional experience delivering public services within an academic or research library setting, along with a proven record of supervisory and leadership effectiveness. Candidates should bring at least three years of experience managing staff, leading teams, and fostering a collaborative, service-oriented environment. 

Join Tulane in New Orleans 

This is a full-time position that will be performed on-site in New Orleans, Louisiana. Salary is commensurate with experience, with a generous benefits package. Located in vibrant New Orleans, Louisiana, Tulane provides an inspiring environment where cultural richness meets academic excellence.  

For creative, service-minded leaders ready to make a lasting impact on the student experience at a distinguished university, this role is an extraordinary opportunity to shape what comes next for Howard-Tilton Memorial Library. 

Learn more about the position here. To express interest in this leadership opportunity, contact the search team at DSG Storbeck, or email TulaneDirector@dsgco.com. All inquiries are handled with strict confidentiality.