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New Mexico State University - Las Cruces, NM - Department Head, Library

Friday, June 14, 2024 12:36 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
Department Head, Library
  •  Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
  •  Faculty
  •  Department Head
  •  Closing at: Jul 12 2024 at 23:55 MDT

Position Title: Dept Head, Library

Employee Classification: Lib Dept Head, References

College/Division: Library

Department: 390300-LIBRARY REFERENCE AND RESEARCH SVCS

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces, NM

Offsite Location (if applicable): N/A

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  Minimum starting salary $80,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  We support and enhance the teaching, learning, research, and outreach endeavors of NMSU.

Classification Summary: Reports directly to the Dean of the Library. Administers and provides overall leadership for the Reference and Research Services department. Supervises approximately 11 departmental faculty/staff and supports their development and growth. Ensures the provision of effective and high-quality departmental services. Serves as intermediary between Library administration and the department while acting as advocate for both. Contributes to Library-wide planning, policy-making, goal-setting, and assessment efforts. Serves as a member of the library’s management group. Demonstrates a commitment to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) across the NMSU system as a foundation for institutional excellence. Collaborates with various stakeholders to achieve Library and university goals. Ensures compliance with relevant Library and University policies and procedures, including department head roles and responsibilities as specified in Administrative Rules and Procedures, 6.72. A copy of the NMSU Library Promotion and Tenure Policy can be read here: https://provost.nmsu.edu/faculty-and-staff-resources/p-t-resources/Library PT Policy-Revised Summer 2021.pdf

As a member of the library faculty, is responsible for achieving in the following areas:

  • Librarianship
  • Scholarship and Creative Activity
  • Outreach and Extension (when appropriate)
  • Service

Classification Standard Duties: The responsibilities of the department head are to be accomplished, insofar as possible, within budget and policy/rules restraints in the following areas as applicable:

  • Academic Leadership
  • Faculty Development
  • Professional Contacts
  • Teaching Support
  • Effective Management
  • Departmental Advocate/College and University Steward
  • Liaison to Dean
  • Policy Compliance
  • Role in Recruitment
  • Supervision of Graduate Assistants
For details please visit: Administrative Rules and Procedures (ARP) 6.72 – Department Heads Responsibilities, Including Teaching at https://arp.nmsu.edu/6-72/

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency:

  • Master's degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association
  • A minimum of three years of supervisory experience in public services within an academic research library setting
  • Academic qualifications appropriate to appointment to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure as specified in the University Library’s Promotion and Tenure policy
  • In-depth knowledge of and experience with recent trends in librarianship, including interdisciplinary approaches in reference and research services, instruction, collections development and management, assessment of programs and services, information literacy, and critical thinking pedagogy

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Knowledge and understanding of principles, procedures, regulations, and standards applicable to the job.
  • Understanding of the University's mission, vision and goals.
  • Excellent communication skills, ability to listen to new ideas and to respond in a timely manner to faculty, students and staff.
  • Demonstrated ability to administer in a fair, thorough and thoughtful way.
  • Ability to solve problems and workshop solutions with co-workers.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and to establish and maintain a high degree of personal and departmental integrity and openness with students, faculty and staff.

Job Duties and Responsibilities: Please refer to Classification Summary for position details.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Evidence of creativity in problem solving and effective organization and time management competencies.
  • Ability to craft an innovative vision of library services for the department.
  • Experience collaborating with diverse groups and library departments to develop initiatives, programs, and services that address student success and research support needs of the university.
  • Ability to work as part of a team in a complex, changing institutional environment.
  • Proactive leader with a record of professional engagement and contributions well positioned to support and mentor tenure-track and college library faculty and staff.
  • Evidence of oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

Special Requirements of the Position: Position includes allowance for moving expenses.

For more information about working at NMSU please visit: https://talent.nmsu.edu/

Department Contact:  Leticia Phetteplace, 575-646-1808, leti@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: May require evening and weekend work

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.

Recruitment Summary: We are New Mexico’s land-grant institution and a comprehensive research university dedicated to teaching, research public service and outreach at all levels. NMSU is a welcoming community of talented faculty, staff and students who are working together to make a difference. We are a NASA Space Grant College, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), a minority-serving institution (MSI) and home to the first Honors College in New Mexico. We offer an accessible education that shapes bright futures. 

NMSU provides learning opportunities to a diverse population of students and community members at four campuses, Cooperative Extension offices located in each of New Mexico’s 33 counties, 12 research and science centers, and through distance education.

NMSU Main Campus
Located in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University's 900-acre main campus is located at the crossroads of I-10 and I-25 in the Southwestern United States. As a thriving center of higher education, deeply rooted in the regional tradition, its role as a comprehensive university is recognized throughout the state.


"New Mexico Library  Association" is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. P.O. Box 26074, Albuquerque, NM 87125

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