Overview

Reporting to the Head of Access & Delivery Services, the Simbonis Librarian for User Experience serves the Yale Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Public Health and the broader Medical Campus through assessment, outreach, and reference activities. In partnership with a supportive team, the Simbonis Librarian for User Experience, engages with patrons and medical library staff to understand their diverse needs through usability testing and workflow assessment. Through this work, this librarian will leverage user-centered design to review, develop, and improve library processes and workflows to ensure their efficiency and usability while also gathering, analyzing, and communicating data that shows the impact and value of library services, spaces, and resources. As a member of the Access & Delivery Services department, this role is responsible for supporting the daily operations of the department and coordinating outreach activities that support academic success, wellness, and engagement.

Experienced and recent/projected MLS/MLIS graduates are encouraged to apply. You must have your degree completed by or within 90 days of start date. The fellowship allows the selected candidate the unique opportunity to work with several program areas, collaborate on projects, and to participate in a challenging and rewarding work environment. A flexible program will be developed to balance the candidate's individual goals and interests with the library's needs and with an eye to developing a few key projects to present at conferences. In addition, the librarian's professional interests will be supported with a mentoring program, professional development opportunities, and participation on library committees.

This position will be assigned a rank of 3 based on a combination of professional experience and accomplishments. Yale's librarian ranking structure was recently updated; applicants are encouraged to review current ranking information at: http://bit.ly/YULRanksPromotions

The Simbonis Fellowship is a two-year term appointment from the date of hire. The position is made possible by the Stanley Simbonis Fund.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Excellent interpersonal, analytical and communications skills, including the ability to actively listen, understand and translate user needs into functional system improvements.

2. Commitment to providing excellent customer service standards and a passion for user-centered design.

3. Demonstrated ability to prioritize, multi-task and meet deadlines, and to conceptualize and conceive new solutions to problems with creativity and flexibility.

4. Ability to work both independently or collaboratively in a team environment, and to effectively build partnerships and promote the benefits of change in an academic culture that often values ambiguity, diversity of opinion and historic precedent.

5. Ability to design and implement effective programs, projects and services and bring them to fruition or conclusion promptly to achieve library objectives. Knowledge of techniques for evaluating/assessing information literacy programs and instruction.

Principal Responsibilities

1.Collaborates on projects with colleagues on the Academic Research and Education Team who support students and faculty at the Yale School of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, colleagues from the Clinical Research and Education Team who support the patient care, research and education needs of clinicians at Yale New Haven Hospital, and colleagues from the Technology and Innovation Team who provide data, informatics, web, and technical support across the medical campus.

2.Assesses the user experience of access, services, resources, and spaces. Identifies barriers to access and engagement, recommends user-centered improvements, and coordinates implementation efforts in collaboration with department heads.

3.Analyze and improve medical library workflows and systems to increase efficiency, consistency, and usability, applying UX principles such as usability, accessibility, and user-centered design.

4.Plan and execute outreach programming that promotes academic success, wellness, engagement and increases awareness of Medical Library resources, services, and collections

5.Conduct usability testing and workflow assessments with users and staff to inform continuous system and process improvements.

6.Provides general reference and information services for students and researchers.

7.Participates in departmental- and medical library-planning, and engages in campus, regional, and national professional organizations, and collaborative activities.

8.Stay current on emerging library technologies/trends, UX practices, and AI trends to support continuous improvement and innovation.

9.May serve as department manager in the Department Head's absence.

10.May serve as a project manager for short-term projects.

11.May be required to assist in disaster recovery efforts.

12.May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

1.Master's degree from an ALA-accredited library school. In selected instances, a graduate degree in a related discipline may be substituted for a master's degree in library science.

2.Experience working collegially, collaboratively and independently with varied groups with and across a complex organization, and a rapidly changing team environment.

Job Posting Date
10/02/2026

Job Category
Professional

Bargaining Unit
NON

Compensation Grade
Library

Compensation Grade Profile
(LIB)

Salary Range
$68,000.00 - $145,250.00

Benefits
A general description of the benefits to be offered with this Managerial & Professional position is available at:
Yale Benefits

Time Type
Full time

Duration Type
Staff Fixed Duration (Fixed Term)

Work Model
On-site