Open Educational Resources (OER) Librarian

UAA/APU Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage

Anchorage, Alaska

Application Deadline

Open Until Filled

Wages

$63,333.00 per Year   Calculate

Location

Anchorage, AK

Hours

40.00

MLS

Not Required

Minimum Education

Master's Degree

Library Experience

Not Required

Supervisory Experience

Required

Type of Library

Academic

This job is more than 3 weeks old or the application deadline has passed.

Job Description

The UAA/APU Consortium Library seeks an enthusiastic, innovative, flexible, highly productive, and technologically adept candidate to join us in the role of OER Librarian. The successful candidate must have strong interpersonal skills and a passion for student success and equitable access to education/information. This Librarian will promote and facilitate adoption of open educational resources (OER) (and other affordable alternatives to commercial textbooks when OERs are unavailable) at UAA through advocacy, outreach, education, and support. They will collaborate with a diverse group of discipline faculty, library faculty, students, staff, administrators, and the local and broader community of open education leaders. Both experienced and entry-level candidates who meet the minimum requirements are encouraged to apply.

Position Overview & Duties

The OER Librarian will direct and manage the implementation of UAA’s two-year federal grant project (ending August 31, 2021). The Alaska Open Education Initiative (AOEI) will improve educational equity, recruitment, and retention for underrepresented students pursuing degrees in food, agriculture, natural and human science programs with OERs. The AOEI builds upon work that is already underway at UAA in using OER and other low cost materials to dramatically reduce the overall cost of university attendance for students. However, the AOEI focuses on building structured systems and processes for OER-related curriculum design, materials development, library resources, instructional delivery systems, and support for faculty.

Specifically, the AOEI has the following overarching goals/strategies:

  • Develop a faculty professional development curriculum to facilitate OER adoption.
  • Develop a student leadership and OER advocacy training program (UAA Student Affordability Ambassador program).
  • Increase the number of courses that utilize OER in lieu of commercial textbooks. (Target: 15 courses with high enrollments and/or high drop/fail/withdraw (DFW) rates).

The position is housed in the Instruction and Research Services department of the Library and the work will be performed under the direction of the AOEI Project Directors.

The successful candidate will:

  • Manage the grant’s daily activity and implementation to ensure that all goals are achieved, assessed, and reported on time.
  • Coordinate and collaborate with institutional staff, faculty, and Project Directors on grant activities.
  • Supervise two student employees dedicated to the grant project.
  • Advocate for and promote OER adoption to all stakeholders (faculty, students, administrators) with sensitivity to diverse perspectives; advocate for open (Creative Commons) licensing of locally created works.
  • Provide faculty with the necessary training and support for effectively adopting OER (including referring them to and utilizing other UAA resources, such as instructional designers, when appropriate).
  • Provide OER research consultations with subject-discipline faculty.
  • Serve on committees and participate in meetings that are directly relevant to the position.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Required

  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects at once with minimal supervision, effectively leveraging resources and meeting deadlines.
  • Ability to accurately collect, analyze, and report qualitative and quantitative data; ability to utilize data to communicate impact.
  • Ability to use, adapt to, and learn a range of technologies/software; comfort working in online and tech-heavy environments.
  • Ability to work effectively and creatively in an area that involves ambiguity and rapid change.
  • Ability to work effectively independently and collaboratively.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to communicate persuasively and customize messaging for various stakeholders.

Preferred

  • Knowledge of current trends in OER, open education, open pedagogy, and/or open digital scholarship.
  • Knowledge of current laws and trends in copyright, fair use, intellectual property, and open licensing (e.g., Creative Commons).
  • Working knowledge of creating open materials using Pressbooks.
  • Knowledge of instructional design principles and processes, pedagogy, curriculum development (especially culturally responsive curriculum), assessment of learning, teaching with technology, and learning management systems (e.g., Blackboard).
  • Working knowledge of making documents, websites, and media ADA-accessible; knowledge of testing for accessibility; knowledge of universal design concepts.

Experience

Required

A minimum of 2 years combined work experience that includes the following elements is required: managing projects; teaching, training, and/or developing curriculum; and supervising others. 

Preferred

  • Implementing grants, drafting grant reports, and writing grant proposals.
  • Leading successful initiatives involving multiple stakeholders; and/or grassroots community building (through person-to-person and online interactions).
  • Marketing.
  • Working as an academic librarian and/or collaborating with/supporting subject-discipline faculty in higher education.
  • Providing reference desk, research support, or information/help desk services.
  • Searching OER repositories.
  • Applying and interpreting Creative Commons licenses.

Though an ideal candidate will have extensive relevant experience, highly-motivated and passionate entry-level candidates who meet the minimum requirements are encouraged to apply. Opportunities for training, mentorship, and support from individuals with a variety of skill-sets exist locally and nationally, if needed. Applicants are encouraged to include all relevant previous experience and education/training in their application documents, regardless of the field or format in which it was obtained. 

Required Education or Training

Applicants MUST have either:

  • A Master’s degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited institution by January 5, 2020, OR
  • A Master’s degree in a field closely related to the essential duties of the position (by January 5, 2020) AND one year of OER experience.

Additional Info & Requirements

Position Information

This is a full-time, exempt, represented, non-tenure track faculty position (Instructor rank). The position is grant-funded and works 12 months per year (9+3 contract). Position will start as soon as a qualified applicant is found and will end on August 31, 2021. If the AOEI is successful, UAA hopes to create a permanent Open Educational Resources (OER) Librarian position. 

Salary

Annual salary is $63,333 minimum with an excellent benefits package. Some relocation allowance is available.

Union Representation

This position is represented by United Academics (UNAC) – http://unitedacademics.net/

Special Conditions of Employment

Successful candidates must provide official transcripts documenting academic credentials required for the position at the time of hire.

Must be eligible to work in the United States; no work visas are available for this position.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

Background Check

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Tobacco-Free Campus

UAA Campus is a tobacco-free campus.  For more information, please go to: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/tobaccofreecampus/

Notice of Nondiscrimination

The University of Alaska is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution.  The University of Alaska does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, parenthood, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, or other legally protected status. The University's commitment to nondiscrimination, including against sex discrimination, applies to students, employees, and applicants for admission and employment. Contact information, applicable laws, and complaint procedures are included on UA's statement of nondiscrimination available at www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination

The Community

The Consortium Library serves both UAA (18,000 students on multiple campuses) and neighboring Alaska Pacific University (APU) (500 students). The Library is fully engaged in statewide programs and supports a regional integrated library system. See http://consortiumlibrary.org

UAA is a public comprehensive metropolitan university consisting of the main Anchorage campus and four community campuses situated throughout southcentral Alaska, with additional sites in rural communities. UAA offers certificate, associate, baccalaureate, and graduate programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, and various professions. Though your work will be focused on UAA, you may have occasion to provide services and supports to APU. APU is a private liberal arts school with two-year, four-year, and master’s and doctoral level programs that offer student-centered, experiential learning in the arts and sciences.

Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska with an ethnically diverse population of 290,000, offers a lively intellectual and cultural life, including theater, opera, symphony, art events, and a variety of restaurants. Set between snow-capped peaks of the Chugach Mountains and the ocean waters of Cook Inlet and the Gulf of Alaska, the city offers ready access to state and national forests and parks, year-round outdoor recreation, and unsurpassed natural beauty.

Website
https://consortiumlibrary.org/

Human Resources / Job Listings
https://careers.alaska.edu/en-us/job/513881/open-educational-resources-oer-librarian

HR Info

Interested applicants must complete an online application and upload the following to the UA Careers website:

  • Curriculum vitae (resume)
  • A statement of interest (cover letter) that outlines your qualifications for this position
  • Professional References (if not included in application; phone numbers and email addresses required)

A review of applications will begin Thursday, November 14, 2019, and continue until recruitment ends.

For questions about this position, please contact D’Arcy Hutchings at dlhutchings@alaska.edu.

Posted Nov 7, 2019