Yale University: Director of the Department of Area Studies and Humanities Research Support

To apply, please visit: http://www.yale.edu/jobs

Position Focus: 

Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Arts and Humanities, the Director provides vision and leadership for a newly created department of subject experts who support humanities and inter-disciplinary area studies programs at Yale. The Yale University Library (YUL) holds one of the most extensive humanities research collections in the United States and has the distinction of being the first American university to collect in many non-western languages.  The academic programs in these areas attract a world-class group of faculty and students, for which the Department of Area Studies and Humanities Research Support (DASHRS) provides collection development and liaison and research services.  The department is located in the recently renovated Sterling Memorial Library (SML) in the center of Yale’s campus and has oversight of eight reading rooms and two classrooms in SML, as well as the Classics Library in Phelps Hall.

The Director of the Department of Area Studies and Humanities Research Support is responsible for the programmatic aspects of liaison and outreach, collection development oversight and coordination, assessment, budget administration, and supervision and mentorship of 12 librarians and one assistant.  S/he directs departmental teams responsible for evidence-based assessment, research support programming, the departmental web presence, training and skills development, and digital scholarship support services.  

The Director develops strong working relationships with university administrators, academic department leaders, faculty, and students.  The Director communicates and collaborates with colleagues from other Yale University Library (YUL) units to develop and maintain research support and outreach programs and services.  The Director also works closely with the leadership of YUL special collections repositories and the Departments of Collection Development, Technical Services, Access Services and Digital Scholarship. The Director represents the department on the Council for Research Services and Collections and the Collections Steering Committee

The Director is expected to demonstrate leadership within YUL and the University and commitment to participation in regional, national and international professional organizations. The Director must also demonstrate a strong commitment to agile, responsive, innovative public service programs in support of teaching and research in the humanities and international and area studies programs at Yale.

Principal Responsibilities 

1. Provides leadership and vision for area studies and humanities collection development and research support and outreach programs. 
2. Designs projects and brings them to conclusion in a timely manner.
3. Manages liaison librarians including hiring, training, setting priorities, evaluating, and advising on staff development. 
4. Engages with deans, chairs, faculty and students in support of the University’s teaching and research mission.
5. Collaborates with colleagues throughout the Yale University Library and other campus units.
6. Works independently with varied user groups in a complex organization and team environment.
7. Collaborates with library staff engaged in development efforts. 
8. Plans and implements marketing and assessment processes.
9. Coordinates facilities issues involving the Classics Library and Sterling Memorial Library reading rooms and classrooms.
10. Serves on Library and University committees. 
11. Participates in professional activities outside of Yale and monitors developments and best practices elsewhere to encourage innovation and ensure excellence.
12. May be required to assist with disaster recovery efforts. May be assigned to work at any Yale University location.
13. May perform other duties as assigned. 

Required Education, Skills and Experience 

1. Master's degree from an ALA-accredited library school. An advanced degree in a related discipline may be substituted in selected instances.
2. Advanced degree in area studies or the humanities.
3. Minimum of 10 years of related professional experience.
4. Strong commitment to responsive, innovative research support and outreach services and collection development.
5. Demonstrated experience managing staff.
6. Demonstrated excellent oral and written communications and analytical ability.
7. Demonstrated excellent customer service skills; flexibility and a strong commitment to innovation, creativity and excellence.
8. Demonstrated problem-solving skills.
9. Demonstrated experience designing and coordinating projects and bringing them to a timely conclusion.
10. Demonstrated experience in research library service programs.
11. Demonstrated experience working collaboratively and independently with various groups within a complex organization and rapidly changing team environment.
12. Experience managing collection development programs. 

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills: 

Experience working with academic research library liaison librarian services and collections.  Knowledge of and experience with academic technologies for research and teaching as well as knowledge of and experience with digital humanities.   A Ph.D. in an area of the humanities or area studies.  Experience in donor relations, deeds of gift, and/or archival processing.  Knowledge of issues related to collecting, processing and supporting use of non-roman language materials.  Experience supervising subject librarians.