Head, Planning and Assessment, University of Nevada Libraries, Las Vegas, NV
Posted March 25, 2015
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas invites applications for Head, Planning and Assessment as part of the senior management in its University Libraries.
Profile of the University
Located in one of the most exciting cities in the nation UNLV is a comprehensive research university of approximately 27,000 students and 2,800 faculty and staff dedicated to teaching, research, and service. The university has professional programs in law, architecture, performing arts and dental medicine; and leading programs in fine arts, sciences and education. UNLV is located on a 332-acre main campus and two satellite campuses in dynamic Southern Nevada. In 2009, the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC established Brookings Mountain West on the UNLV campus to study the region.
Founded in 1957, UNLV is a growing urban research institution. Major areas of strategic focus for the campus are: attaining a Carnegie Foundation designation as Tier One “Research University/Very High” (RU/VH) and entering the top 100 American research universities; planning for a public medical school in Southern Nevada that will boost the regional economy and provide the community with more access to quality health care.
UNLV faculty and staff are diverse, talented, and passionate people that contribute to UNLV’s mission of teaching, research, and service. On a vibrant campus you will find a supportive workplace, and tools to help you achieve professional and personal growth. For more information, visit us on-line at: http://www.unlv.edu.
Profile of the Libraries
As a strong partner in student learning, UNLV Libraries fosters critical thinking and lifelong learning with innovative services, entrepreneurial staff, outstanding digital collections, up-to-date technology and internationally renowned Special Collections, including two research centers: the Center for Gaming Research and the Oral History Research Center. University Libraries is comprised of Lied Library and three branch libraries and is a gateway to more than 20,000 electronic journals and 1.7 million books, including e-books. We welcome individuals with diverse backgrounds to join our growing organization of over 120 experienced faculty librarians and staff members committed to a culture of continuous improvement as we contribute to the teaching, learning, research and creative endeavors at one of the nation’s fastest growing universities.
Role of the Position
Reporting to the Dean of University Libraries, this position is part of the Libraries’ senior management team and leads the effort to envision, document, articulate, and advocate for the value of the Libraries to the University’s mission and goals. As UNLV emerges as a leading urban research institution, the Libraries pioneer dynamic, user-focused methods of contributing throughout the research lifecycle of faculty and students in order to foster academic success and lifelong learning. The Head of Planning and Assessment will maintain and expand upon the well-established culture of assessment that inform the Libraries’ planning, priority setting and decision-making, creating infrastructure and providing library wide consultations that encourage an evidence based approach for continuous improvement.
The Head of Planning and Assessment works closely with the dean and senior management to design, manage, and coordinate a participatory, biennial strategic planning process that is user-centered, outcomes based, and includes articulation of assessments. The plan provides a blueprint of strategic directions and resource allocation for the Libraries. This position provides ongoing consultation throughout the organization for data collection methods relevant to the strategic planning assessment process, collaborating to produce internal and external reports about the outcomes, accomplishments and impacts of the University Libraries.
The Head supervises a data analyst who collects institutional data and ensures timely reporting to outside agencies such as ACRL, IPEDS, accreditation processes and for other purposes. The Head of Planning and Assessment leads the design and implementation of national and local user surveys, focus groups and other methodologies to collect input from stakeholders. The Head also consults and collaborates on research studies initiated by the Libraries, or by individual library faculty who seek to gather evidence of impact. The Head serves as the Libraries representative on various campus groups related to assessment, as well as working within the national assessment community to represent UNLV interests (e.g., Project Information Literacy and Ithaka S&R)
The UNLV Libraries supports the principles established in the Association of College and Research Library’s (ACRL) Value of Academic Libraries (2010) as well as the ACRL Standards for Libraries in Higher Education (2012).
The successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to work in a complex, changing environment with a positive, flexible, and innovative attitude, and he or she will have a proven capacity to work effectively and collegially in teams with staff at all levels, as well as with faculty and students.
As a tenure-track library faculty member, the incumbent will also be expected to engage in scholarly activities; and provide service to the university, the community, and the profession in accordance with Libraries and University standards for promotion and tenure.
Qualifications
Required: A master’s degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association; a minimum of three years of experience in academic libraries contributing to assessment activities; demonstrated knowledge of library assessment and planning trends; experience with survey research and current survey tools; ability to communicate effectively with numbers and graphically represent abstract and quantitative information; experience developing library policy, articulating vision and providing leadership and direction towards achieving strategic goals; demonstrated ability to work in a complex, changing environment with a positive, flexible attitude; demonstrated commitment to a user-focused perspective and in working collaboratively and constructively with diverse groups and individuals; evidence of excellent organizational skills and sound judgment; evidence of energy, creativity, initiative and commitment to professional growth; excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to work both independently and collegially.
Preferred: Knowledge of and experience with statistical analysis methods, both qualitative and quantitative; knowledge of and experience with usability methods; experience with the use of statistical software such as SPSS and data visualization tools such as Tableau; experience with research design methods; supervisory experience; experience writing successful grant proposals, experience, reputation, and scholarship record sufficient to meet criteria for appointment as a tenured faculty member
Salary Range
This is a full-time, 12-month, tenure-track position at Rank II or III (equivalent to an Assistant or Associate Professor). Salaries are competitive with those at similarly situated institutions and dependent upon labor market. In addition, the UNLV University Libraries is committed to and helps fund professional development opportunities. Position is contingent upon funding.
Application Details
Submit a letter of interest, a detailed resume listing qualifications and experience, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of at least three professional references who may be contacted. Applicants should fully describe their qualifications and experience, with specific reference to each of the required and preferred qualifications because this is the information on which the initial review of materials will be based. The review of materials will begin April 15, 2015, and will continue until the position is filled. Materials should be addressed to the Head, Planning and Assessment Search Committee Chair, and are to be submitted via on-line application at https://hrsearch.unlv.edu. For assistance with UNLV’s on-line applicant portal, contact UNLV Employment Services at (702) 895-2894 or [email protected].