Full Time Job: Curator/Head of Special Collections & Gallery

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 12:55:49 -0500
active, jobs, library

Curator and Head of Special Collections & Gallery

The Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery seeks an individual to serve as the Head and Curator of the Special Collections and Gallery. The individual will serve as part of a creative and user-focused team in directing, managing, preserving, and exhibiting UMBC’s photography, book, and archival collections. The ideal candidate will be a bold and strategic thinker, possess a broad knowledge of the history of photography, and have a sound knowledge of current trends in the special collections field, including in-depth command of digital issues as they relate to special collections.

The candidate will

provide ongoing day-to-day and long-term direction, supervision, and guidance to department staff in their operations, policies, and procedures;

foster cross-departmental collaboration and relations with campus and community stakeholders to extend the reach and impact of UMBC’s collections;

articulate a vision for services in the Special Collections and Gallery that bolsters the Library’s Strategic Plan and incorporates dynamic activities in the areas of discovery, teaching, preservation, digital preservation and presentation, and outreach to new and existing audiences;

work independently and collaboratively with staff to develop and implement in-house and traveling exhibitions, publications, lectures, gallery talks, exhibition labels, web-based media, and other forms of communication.

As the primary contact for all collection donors, the Head and Curator will be thoughtful and strategic in building relationships with collection donors and accepting materials into the collections. The individual will serve as a key external liaison and spokesperson for collection, exhibition, publication, and program matters, and assumes an active role in raising funds for department purposes.

REQUIREMENTS:

ALA accredited MLS for which may be substituted an M.A., M.F.A., or Ph.D. in a discipline relevant to collections as well as a specialty in history, aesthetics, and collecting of photography.

6 years professional experience in a library or museum special collections department or archival repository.

3 years of relevant, progressively responsible supervisory and management or other relevant supervisory experience; experience with working collegially across departmental boundaries preferred.

Experience teaching or writing in an educational or professional context required; teaching or writing on the history, aesthetics, and collecting of photography in an educational or professional context preferred. Familiarity with the publishing process for developing exhibition catalogs preferred.

Demonstrated knowledge of existing and developing standards for collection, description, preservation and access for photography, book, and archival collections in an academic library environment.

Demonstrated knowledge of best practices and methods for donor relations, fund-raising, and grant-writing. Experience managing all aspects of collection development, acquisitions, and donations.

Ability to think critically and analytically; to study problems and develop well-reasoned and supported analysis and solutions; excellent written and verbal communications skills are required.

Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills, showing clear communication, leadership and team building. Must be able to adapt quickly to changing priorities and have the ability to collaborate with a diverse community of faculty, staff, students and administrators.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:
Position is a full time (40 hours/week), 12-month library faculty appointment at anticipated rank of Librarian II. Rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications. Minimum salary $75,000 - $85,000 Comprehensive benefits. The successful candidate will be expected to meet library and university requirements for reappointment, promotion, and permanent status, as outlined in part 6.6 of the Faculty Handbook - http://provost.umbc.edu/faculty-handbook/.

For the full position description, please go to http://library.umbc.edu/employment/. To Apply: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. For best consideration, please respond by March 09, 2018. Applicants should provide a cover letter, a resume or curriculum vitae, the names and contact information for three professional references, and a personal statement demonstrating a commitment to inclusive excellence in higher education. Please submit all application materials to: Patrick J. Dawson, Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, AOK@umbc.edu. For questions about submitting application materials, contact Jill Johnson (jljohnson@umbc.edu). For questions about the position, contact Robin Moskal (moskal@umbc.edu).

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:
UMBC’s Special Collections supports the mission of the Library and actively participates in research and teaching initiatives on campus. Collecting areas include over 2 million photographic images, with an emphasis on images demonstrating the social impact of photography or documenting the development of photography as an aesthetic medium; the Azriel Rosenfeld Science Fiction Research Collection, one of the largest collections of science fiction materials at an academic library in the United States; and archival collecting areas including the Center for Biological Sciences Archives, the Maryland Folklife Archives, the Baltimore Sun Archives, and the University Archives. The Library Gallery is one of the principle art galleries in the region and serves as a popular venue for campus forums, lectures, and other scholarly presentations.

ABOUT UMBC:
UMBC, an honors university serving more than 11,000 undergraduates and 2,000 graduate students, is one of two public universities in Maryland to achieve the “doctoral/research university-extensive” Carnegie classification. Located just outside Baltimore and 45 minutes from Washington, DC, the campus is growing rapidly under dynamic leadership.

Our UMBC community redefines excellence in higher education through an inclusive culture that connects innovative teaching and learning, research across disciplines, and civic engagement. We will advance knowledge, economic prosperity, and social justice by welcoming and inspiring inquisitive minds from all backgrounds. The successful candidate will join a department with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence, and will be expected to contribute actively to these efforts (https://diversity.umbc.edu/).