Head of Area Studies

Head of Area Studies

The Ohio State University Libraries aspires to be the model library advancing the educational, research, and engagement missions of a 21st-century public, land grant, urban, community engaged university. We seek a dynamic, growth-oriented, and values-driven leader to provide strategic direction and vision for our Area Studies unit in support of this vision. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Special Collections and Area Studies, the Head of Area Studies partners with internal and external stakeholders to create a shared vision for the unit and works with a wide variety of campus partners to ensure robust library support for teaching, research, outreach, and service needs of the university community, particularly in the area studies centers. As a leader within the Libraries, the Head of Area Studies demonstrates in-depth knowledge of trends and emerging solutions in areas relevant to area studies; engages in appropriate international, national, and consortial dialogs; seeks mutually beneficial collaborations with peer institutions; and contributes to the fields of librarianship and area studies through active professional engagement.

The Head of Area Studies manages, supervises, and provides direction for a cohort of librarians who understand and can interpret the current landscape of new research methodologies and technologies to advance and deepen research support, and who can strategically advance teaching and learning initiatives aimed at student success. The Head of Area Studies promotes global collections for research, teaching, and learning.

The Head of Area Studies seeks opportunities to learn and collaborate using leadership skills to define problems, provide solutions, and support colleagues in their own professional growth. They consistently demonstrate commitment to our values and promote an organizational culture of Discovery, Connection, Equity, Integrity, and Stewardship, modeling The Ohio State University’s shared values.

The Head of Area Studies has a subject specialty as well as a managerial role. As a subject librarian, this individual also serves as a subject liaison to faculty, undergraduate, and graduate programs; is knowledgeable regarding scholarly communication and publishing patterns of the area supported; manages and builds a distinctive research collection; and is familiar and conversant with research methodologies and emerging trends in pedagogy. The Head of Area Studies understands current practices in the field and develops a repertoire of strategies for staying current with disciplinary priorities and initiatives.

Administrative responsibilities:
• Manages 6 FTE, including faculty and staff, and oversees the services and programs of Area Studies in partnership with library-wide services and programs. Serves as department head for the following areas:
o Chinese Studies
o East European/Slavic Studies
o Japanese Studies
o Jewish Studies
o Latin American and Iberian Studies
o Middle East and Islamic Studies
• Develops and implements a strategic vision for the department in alignment with the Libraries’ and the university’s strategic objectives. Oversees assessment and user statistics that informs a regular review of collection development, services, and programming to address collection needs of the university community.
• In collaboration with the Libraries’ Office of Advancement, engages in growing philanthropic support to enhance collections, services, and outreach. Assists with grant writing and supports wider university grant efforts such as Title VI grant applications.
• Working across divisions, establishes partnerships within University Libraries, with other campus constituencies, and with external groups to support the advancement of strategic activities and collection development related to research, teaching, and student success.
• Establishes strong communications with the Office of International Affairs and various international centers on campus.
• Engages in professional development activities, including participating in regional, national, and international professional organizations and consortia.
• Promotes the ongoing development of a learning-centered organization and its people through the active modeling of its values and alignment with its strategic intent.
• Serves on Libraries-wide committees which provide strategic direction for planning, decision making, communications, and organizational development.

Subject area responsibilities:
• Serves as subject librarian that allows for broader representation in an area of need, such as:
o African Studies
o Eurasian Studies
o Indigenous Populations (outside United States) Studies
o Korean Studies
o Studies in other geographical or international regions in line with university curricular needs
• Responsible for outreach and engagement activities on campus and within the community.
• Works with the Collections Strategist to build and manage a distinctive, interdisciplinary, responsive research collection in specialty areas in support of distinguished academic and teaching programs and promotes current services and collections.
• Assesses user needs to develop and maintain relevant, high-quality services and collections.
• May teach courses or conduct workshops.

Discover Ohio State
Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America’s leading academic health centers and recently ranked No. 4 on Forbes’ list of best U.S. employers for diversity. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

The Ohio State University’s Shared Values include Excellence and Impact, Diversity and Innovation, Inclusion and Equity, Care and Compassion, and Integrity and Respect. Our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.

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The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established Dual Careers and Faculty Relocation (DCFR) to focus on supporting new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual careers partner consultations, identifying potential employers and/or employment opportunities, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community. While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are provided to support the partners of new and prospective faculty as they are considering or transitioning to The Ohio State University.

In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies. Ohio State is an NSF ADVANCE institution and a member of the Ohio/Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC).

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About The Ohio State University Libraries
The Libraries promotes innovative research and creative expression, advances effective teaching, curates and preserves information essential for scholarship and learning at Ohio State, and shares knowledge and culture with the people of Ohio, the nation, and the world. Libraries faculty and staff live these values in all that we do: Discovery, Connection, Equity, Integrity, and Stewardship.

The Libraries’ greatest resource is our faculty and staff. Their expertise produces value beyond the collections and their commitment to continual improvement and innovation is one of the most significant ways the Libraries meets the diverse and evolving information needs of university students, faculty, and staff, alongside scholars throughout Ohio and the world.

As a global leader, the Libraries is actively engaged in local, statewide, national, and international initiatives to help shape the future of academic research libraries. These activities and the innovations that result enhance our ability to acquire, manage, and preserve emerging information resources, support knowledge creation, and enable its effective transmission to future learners.

The Libraries strives to provide welcoming, supportive environments for all to pursue and share knowledge. The Libraries is guided by our strategic priorities that facilitate, celebrate and honor diversity, inclusion, access and social justice. All positions are expected to contribute to building and advancing this environment, and we encourage candidates to apply who share these values.

Appointment
This is a full-time, regular, 12-month appointment as a tenure-track faculty member. The candidate will be required to meet university and Libraries requirements for promotion and tenure. Faculty rank at either Associate Professor or Professor are dependent on qualifications and experience.
The Ohio State University believes in diversity in people and ideas. What Ohio State does matters. And how we do it matters. When we are at our best, we make a real difference to people. We believe that the university should be a place where people can work and learn together in a safe environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, and intimidation. As such, finalists for any faculty position that carries tenure must sign an authorization and disclosure form, which will allow current or prior employer(s) to share information to the University regarding any findings of employment-related misconduct or disciplinary proceedings against a candidate and/or any pending investigations related to alleged misconduct. Such information shall include findings and pending investigations with respect to sexual harassment, violence, or harassment; research misconduct; financial fraud or misconduct; foreign influence violations, grant misuse or misconduct; and/or any other type of finding or pending investigation relating to a candidate’s employer’s policies and rules governing faculty conduct that may reasonably be expected to affect a candidate’s appointment. If the University becomes aware of any past finding of misconduct or pending investigations that were not disclosed, Ohio State will treat that as a serious omission and reserves the right to rescind an offer or terminate employment.

Salary
$100,000 to $120,000 annual salary negotiable.
Application
Please submit cover letter, CV, references, and application by December 10, 2023.

100,000-120,000

Required Qualifications:
• An ALA-accredited master’s degree, or another terminal graduate degree in a relevant discipline, or a comparable graduate degree from a non-U.S. university (reviewed on a case-by case basis).
• Record of research, publication, service, and scholarly achievement sufficient to warrant appointment with tenure at the Associate Professor or Professor level.
• At least 5 years’ experience managing non-western-European language collections.
• Experience purchasing collections from non-Western countries.
• Knowledge of issues related to non-Roman language materials.
• Linguistic skills in a non-English language.
• Experience supervising faculty and/or staff.
• Understanding of global or area studies librarianship.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrated initiative and the ability to create and thrive in a collaborative and interdisciplinary work environment.

Desired Qualifications:
• Significant experience supporting area studies centers.
• Experience in an academic library environment or comparable setting.
• Grant writing or fundraising experience.
• Experience managing related but discrete units/multiple departments and divisions under one umbrella.

The Ohio State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The Ohio State University is a member of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Alliance.

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.