Elsevier is seeking a senior, globally minded leader for the role of Vice President, Global Library Relations. At a moment when artificial intelligence is changing how knowledge is created, discovered, evaluated, and used, Elsevier has an important role to play in helping the world distinguish insight from noise and evidence from assertion. Libraries sit at the heart of that mission. They curate trusted content, enable discovery, protect the scholarly record, and help their institutions turn knowledge into progress. 

As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier has been advancing science and healthcare for over 145 years. Part of RELX Group, Elsevier provides high-quality data, tools, and insights that empower researchers and healthcare professionals to drive innovation, secure funding, and make impactful discoveries. Supported by 37,000 editors and 1.9 million expert reviewers, Elsevier published over 795,000 articles in 2025, accounting for 18% of global research output and 29% of journal citations. More than 950 of its journals are fully open access, and Elsevier now supports more than 3,600 institutions through open access agreements worldwide. 

The Vice President, Global Library Relations will be a credible and visible ambassador to the scientific, technical, and medical (STM) library and information community, and a champion for libraries inside Elsevier. This role champions libraries as leaders in institutional conversations about their value, elevates stories of research impact and student success, and builds partnerships grounded in trust, openness, and mutual progress. Drawing on Elsevier's existing relationships and the breadth of library-related expertise across the company, the Vice President will create a coherent, long-term engagement strategy across business units and regions. 

The role leads a global library relations program across four connected priorities: shaping the scholarly communication conversation, including the implications of AI for trust, discovery, access, and research integrity; strengthening the ecosystem through collaboration with key library organizations and leaders across North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, APAC and other priority regions; building institutional partnerships with university libraries and their leadership; and creating meaningful presence at global events and in dialogue with the library community. 

Success will require deep understanding of how libraries, universities, and their leadership make decisions, as well as the judgment to navigate complex issues with credibility and care. The Vice President will report to the Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Networks, and work closely with leaders across Marketing, Sales, Product Management, Access & Policy, and Communications. 

Person Specification 

Candidates are expected to demonstrate the following: 

1. A proven reputation and established networks across the academic library, scholarly communication, or higher education community; experience spanning multiple regions is highly valued. 
2. Exceptional ambassadorial presence: credible, generous, and able to represent Elsevier publicly with authority, warmth, and sound judgment. 
3. Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage openly and constructively in complex or challenging debate. 
4. A strategic, systems-level thinker able to connect developments in AI, research infrastructure, scholarly communication, information policy, and university priorities. 
5. A demonstrated ability to help organizations frame, evidence, and communicate their value and impact to internal decision-makers and broader communities. 
6. The initiative and resilience to work independently in an ambiguous, fast-moving environment, while knowing when to convene with others and when to make a decision. 
7. A collaborative leadership style and the ability to align colleagues across business units, geographies, and disciplines around a shared agenda. 
8. Working knowledge of academic library policies and practices, including access and entitlement, licensing, interlibrary loan, open access, Creative Commons, digital preservation, user education, and research data management. 
9. A practical understanding of research integrity, responsible AI, and the safeguards required to maintain confidence in scholarly content and systems. 
10. A degree in library science, information science, higher education, or a research-related discipline is a requirement. 

Role Details 

This is a senior global leadership role, reporting to the Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Networks, and embedded within Elsevier's Research Networks division. Location is open to discussion, with a preference for the United States. The role carries extensive international travel. 

Elsevier offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, and Elsevier's Human Resources team will engage to progress this at the appropriate point. The start date is as soon as mutually agreed. 

Appointment Process and How to Apply 

An executive search exercise is being undertaken by Perrett Laver to assist Elsevier in the assessment of candidates against the requirements of the role and to identify the widest possible field of candidates. Applications should consist of a cover letter addressing suitability against the person specification and a full curriculum vitae. 

Perrett Laver may be contacted for informal inquiries and questions by emailing Jess.Winfield@perrettlaver.com. Applications can be uploaded at https://candidates.perrettlaver.com/vacancies/, quoting reference 8642. The closing date for applications is 9pm CET (3pm US Eastern) on Monday, October 26, 2026. 

Perrett Laver will conduct first-round interviews with selected candidates during the weeks commencing October 26 and November 2 2026. Shortlist documentation will be provided to Elsevier in early November, with the Shortlist Review Meeting taking place in the week commencing November 9, 2026. Interviews with Elsevier are scheduled for the week commencing November 23, 2026, with negotiations and appointment expected to conclude in late November 2026.

Elsevier is committed to building an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds. 

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