Job Description

Title: Director, Electronic Textbook Center

Department: Maag Library

Job Summary:

Develops and leads a program and operational unit to support faculty and staff in creating
electronic textbooks and other digital educational resources. Defines permanent and
temporary positions (as positions are funded and approved) and fully supervises those
positions. Participates in state, national and, when appropriate, international efforts in the
developing field of electronic textbooks / educational resources and, in particular, “Open
Textbooks” and “Open Educational Resources.” Provides strategic and tactical support
in these areas to authors, especially within YSU and YSU-designated partnerships.
Provides leadership on the instructional use of such educational resources in the service
of institutional efforts supporting affordable and pedagogically effective learning
resources.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

Promotes the development and use of Open Educational Resources on the YSU campus.

Leads the YSU ETC Advisory Board, made up of involved faculty and administrators.
With the Board, plans strategic and tactical objectives of the unit and ensures that the
activities of the unit work to strengthen the University’s strategic and tactical educational
goals. Promotes the adoption of Open Educational Resources on the YSU campus.
Continually assesses open educational resources and those provided under traditional
commercial licenses to optimize the mix serving YSU students.

Supervises professional, classified, and/or student staff positions (staffing to be

developed over the next 18 months but conceived as two permanent, full-time,
professional and/or classified at present) utilizing both hard and soft funding sources as
available. Defines positions, hires, trains, assigns duties, and evaluates the performance
of staff.

Participates in state, national and, when appropriate, international efforts in the

development and use of electronic textbook and/or educational resources. Pays particular
attention to developments in “Open Textbook” and/or “Open Educational Resources”
initiatives. Maintains awareness of developing standards and protocols for the creation,
storage, and distribution of same. Acts as the campus authority on these issues and
disseminates information among members of the academic community and with external
constituencies.
Acts as the YSU Campus authority on rights management related to publishing and
especially Creative Commons Licensing. Provides support to authors in the management
of their content. Works with YSU Legal counsel as necessary.

Develops and manages an effective service and support program for electronic authors.
Provides guidance on conceptual, technical, and practical issues related to the
development and dissemination of open educational resources. Assesses service quality
and makes modifications in response to results. Provides technical support when
necessary; develops and maintains person skills to provide such support, especially in
areas such as structured XML and HTML5.

Works with other Maag and YSU technical staff to ensure the proper management,
security, archiving, and accessibility of digital educational resources.

Writes or participates in grant writing activities for the Electronic Textbook Center or for
specific authored projects. Participates in fund-raising activities for the Center.

Gathers data, provides analysis, and generates reports as necessary and/or required.

OTHER FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Performs other related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Administrative and functional supervision is exercised over professional and/or classified

staff, student assistants, interns and volunteers.

REPORTS TO: Executive Director

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: None

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR LICENSURES: None

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Advanced degree beyond BA/BS; Instructional experience at the post-secondary level.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Demonstrated experience in the creation of open educational resources, such as learning

modules and/or electronic textbooks.
Knowledge of XML, HTML and other software relevant to the creation of learning
modules.

The ability to work and communicate well with varied audiences, including staff, faculty,
students, institutional and state officials.

Experience with grantwriting and/or fundraising

Experience with project management