Position Summary

San Diego State University Library invites applications for a Resource Acquisition Specialist to support our teaching and research mission. Working under the direction of the Head of Collection Strategies and the Resource Acquisition and Sharing Coordinator, this position plays a vital role in ensuring students, faculty, and staff have seamless access to the scholarly resources they need.

Key Responsibilities:

• Financial Operations: Process vendor invoices, submit purchase requisitions, monitor expenditures, and coordinate budget allocations in collaboration with library leadership.
• Order & Process Scholarly Resources: Order, receive, and process books, journals, databases, and other materials in both physical and electronic formats.
• Process Bindery Shipments: Collect, pack, and ship physical items for mending at a commercial binder. Track, receive, and process bindery shipments upon return.
• Quality & Accuracy Control: Verify received materials against orders, troubleshoot vendor issues, and manage licenses in Alma.
• Compliance & Standards: Apply procurement policies, business practices, and state regulations to acquisitions and reporting.
• Collaboration & Communication: Work closely with collection strategies, library financial operations, discovery services, and vendor partners to support resource needs efficiently.

Why Join Us?

• Meaningful Impact: Directly support the academic success of SDSU students, faculty, and researchers.
• Collaborative Culture: Work alongside a supportive team dedicated to innovation in library services.
• Professional Growth: Gain hands-on experience with resource management, acquisitions workflows, and financial operations in a dynamic academic library.
• Inclusive Environment: Join a university committed to diversity, equity, and fostering a welcoming workplace.

Position Information

• Full-time, benefits-eligible, permanent/probationary position.
• Position is designated non-exempt under FLSA and is eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.
• The individual hired into this role will work on campus at SDSU in San Diego.

Department Summary

The Collection Strategies Unit comprises the collection development, resource acquisitions, assessment, and resource sharing of the library. The unit consists of 5.0 FTE faculty librarians, and 6 FTE Library Service Specialists, with occasional temporary LSS Staff and a number of student employees. Facilitated by the library’s $3.5 million dollar materials budget, this unit is responsible for selecting, lending, and borrowing physical and electronic scholarly resources to support the research and teaching of the university. The unit, which handles work for both the SDSU and Imperial Valley libraries, collaborates with librarians and other teams within the library to identify and select materials that support the learning, teaching, and scholarship activities of the university's students, faculty, and staff.

As a Hispanic-Serving Institution [1] located on the traditional lands of the indigenous Kumeyaay people, [2]San Diego State University Library is deeply committed to supporting our diverse population of students, faculty, and staff. We strive to honor the broadest range of intersectional identities and diverse social and historical experiences expressed across our campus and pay particular attention to the myriad forms of structural, systemic, and historic oppression that impact our campus community. We are an organization of information professionals dedicated to empowering others to access, interpret, and create knowledge that encourages evidence-based analysis and respectful scholarly debate.

We do this by intentionally developing a vibrant collection of print and electronic resources and unique special collections that reflect and amplify the diversity of SDSU. Our collection spans a spectrum of scholarly perspectives and disciplines. Per the American Libraries Association’s Library Bill of Rights, we support intellectual freedom within an environment of academic freedom and neither censor nor limit access to information while protecting the privacy of our users.

We develop comprehensive services that contribute to student success, including information literacy instruction, student research engagement, providing access to affordable educational materials, ensuring accessibility across a range of abilities, and providing the technologies necessary for student retention and persistence.

For more information regarding the Collections Strategies Unit in the Library, click here.

Education and Experience

These qualifications normally would be obtained through the completion of a high school education or equivalent certification plus two to three years of related library and/or clerical experience or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Key Qualifications

• Knowledge of procurement and payment procedures, budget management, fiscal policies, and fund accounting systems.
• Ability to adapt to new technologies, systems, and processes to optimize efficiency.
• Strong attention to detail with accuracy in data entry and coding.
• Ability to prioritize and organize work effectively and meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; able to maintain professional relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Ability to lift boxes of books weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Experience with library management systems (LMS), particularly in academic library acquisitions, is preferred.
• Experience with accounting systems, policies, and procedures, including Oracle accounts payable, is preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

San Diego State University offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth.

Compensation:

CSU Classification Salary Range: $4,280 - $6,235 per month (Step 1 - Step 20); Step placement will be determined based on relevant qualifications and professional experience. Step placement upon appointment is not expected to exceed Step 4 ($4,542) for highly qualified candidates. Future increases, including step advancement, are subject to contract negotiations.

Full Benefits Package Includes:

• Generous Time Off: 15 paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
• Retirement: CalPERS pension plan with retiree healthcare, and reciprocal agreements with other California public retirement systems, including the UC.
• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision options at low or no cost.
• Education Support: CSU tuition fee waiver for employees and eligible dependents.
• Optional Offerings: FlexCash, life and disability insurance, legal and pet plans.
• Campus & Community: Access to the library, campus events, employee groups, and volunteer and social activities.

Our benefits are a significant part of total compensation. Learn more at the SDSU Benefits Overview.

SDSU Values

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community.  Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment.  We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university. 

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another. 

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. 

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Apply by September 17, 2025, to ensure full consideration. Applications submitted after this date will be reviewed on an as-needed basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. 

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. 

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Livia Peeples at lpeeples@sdsu.edu.