For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications for the full-time position of Dean of Library to commence summer 2018. The Dean will work alongside academic leaders to promote and integrate the library and special collections in to the life of SAIC. The School is looking for a librarian with a vision and ability to align these resources for the future of an art and design education and creative practice in the development and implementation of programs and other strategic initiatives that support student and faculty success and advance research and scholarship.

The Dean of Library includes leadership for the archives and special collections at SAIC. These include:

·         The Video Data Bank

·         The Roger Brown Study Collection

·         The Fashion Resource Center

·         The Joan Flasch Artists’ Book Collection

·         The Randolph Street Gallery Archives

·         The Three Walls Archives

·         The Goat Island Archives

The Dean should be prepared to work with and engage the SAIC community, including the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries at the Art Institute of Chicago. The Dean will work to advance and coordinate these areas to effectively support SAIC's academic mission, and to ensure these units are recognized as strategic assets in the advancement and development of the institution. The Dean will be responsible for oversight and leadership of the Flaxman Library at SAIC and all its operations including, but not limited to:

·         Collection development and stewardship

·         Support for student and faculty research

·         Library programming

·         Ensure that the Libraries and Collections stay at the forefront of changes in technology, communication, instruction, outreach and the storage and delivery of information;

·         Professional development and advancement of librarians and library staff

·         Management and evaluation of librarians and library staff

·         Management of library budgets

·         Grant-writing and fundraising

·         Development and articulation of policies and procedures for the library and special collections

·         Long-range planning

The Dean of Library will be the co-chair of the Faculty Senate Library Committee. Reporting to the Provost, the Dean will be an advocate for libraries and special collections both internally and externally. Engaging with students, faculty, and staff across the institution, the Dean will have an active role in cultivating and strengthening relationships with local and national organizations, as well as donors, sponsors, and alumni/ae.

The Dean of Library will be responsible for leading a strategic planning process for libraries and assigned academic support units, including development and articulation of mission and strategic goals for each area and in aggregate, in alignment with current and future institutional planning efforts.

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago recognizes diversity and inclusivity as fundamental to its learning community and integral to an art and design education. We welcome candidates whose experience in academic leadership, teaching, scholarship, professional practice, or service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence.

Qualifications

Master's degree required; MLS/MLIS preferred. Undergraduate or graduate degree in history, theory and/or practice of Architecture, Design, or the Fine Arts is preferred.

Minimum of five years of progressive responsibility and experience in all phases of library and/or academic resource administration.

Record of success in fostering strong collaborations and partnerships across an organization.

Significant experience and demonstrated success with administration and management of staff and complex programs; including the ability to lead and engage staff through organizational improvement and change.

Demonstrated understanding of key issues and current trends in higher education and their impact on libraries and academic services.

Experience in budget preparation and financial management, and in developing and evaluating services.

Record of scholarship and active participation in relevant professional associations.

Experience in curricular development, writing and research support programs, museum education, or academic publishing is preferred.

Effective written and oral communication and interpersonal skills; well-developed assessment and analytical skills.

Extensive knowledge and understanding of research libraries, their roles in higher education, and the impact of information technology. Experience with fundraising and public engagement.

 

For fullest consideration please apply online at: https://hrweb.artic.edu/recruit/applyjob.html

The Art Institute of Chicago is an equal opportunity, equal access employer fully committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace.