Visiting Oral Historian

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas invites applications for a Visiting Oral Historian, UNLV University Libraries [R0120372]

PROFILE of the UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1957, UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution comprised of approximately 31,000 students and more than 3,900 faculty and staff. To date, UNLV has conferred more than 136,000 degrees, producing more than 120,000 alumni around the world. UNLV is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as an R1 research university with very high research activity. The university is committed to recruiting and retaining top students and faculty, educating the region's diversifying population and workforce, driving economic activity through increased research and community partnerships, and creating an academic health center for Southern Nevada that includes the launch of a new UNLV School of Medicine. UNLV is located on a 332-acre main campus and two satellite campuses in Southern Nevada. For more information, visit us on line at: http://www.unlv.edu

COMMITMENT to DIVERSITY

The successful candidate will demonstrate support for diversity, equity and inclusiveness as well as participate in maintaining a respectful, positive work environment. The University Libraries extends this commitment to diversity and equity in employment and especially welcomes applications from women, persons of color, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity, and others who contribute to diversification.

PROFILE of the UNLV UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

As a strong partner in student learning, UNLV Libraries foster critical thinking and lifelong learning with innovative services, entrepreneurial staff. The University Libraries are a gateway to more than 80,000 electronic journals and 1.7 million books, outstanding digital collections and up-to-date technology. As one of the nation's newest Health Sciences Libraries (HSL), we operate as a start-up culture within an established University Libraries structure. The HSL is a complementary team of recent library graduates, early-career and mid-career librarians, and experienced library professionals who support each other in education, research, clinical and community outreach across the health sciences. The development of the UNLV School of Medicine (SoM) is historically significant for the greater Las Vegas community with great potential to improve the quality and quantity of healthcare in the valley. The SoM has benefitted from wide support from many community partners. It is essential to record the narratives of the key figures who were instrumental in establishing the school to create the origin story of the SoM, detail the involvement of key community members including politicians and funders, boost development opportunities further for the SoM and The UNLV Libraries. The HSL enjoys tremendous goodwill and support from the faculty and staff at the UNLV School of Medicine. Together we are building a medical school in one of the world's most exciting cities.

ROLE of the POSITION

We welcome applications for a collaborative and methodical Visiting Oral Historian with a passion for gathering, preserving and interpreting the voices and memories of the UNLV School of Medicine. This is a temporary, full-time, non-tenure-track position, reporting to the HSL Director and working closely with the UNLV Oral History Research Center. This position will, in consultation with the UNLV Oral History Research Center, conduct interviews with important figures in the Las Vegas and Southern Nevada to capture the history of the UNLV SoM. Duties include performing historical background research with primary and secondary materials, scheduling, conducting and processing interviews, implementing plans for preservation and accessibility of the oral histories. Also, this position will collaborate with Special Collections and Archives to facilitate transfer of School of Medicine archival records to the University Archives.

Occasional travel to off campus interview sites will be required. As requested, this person may give presentations on the project and help develop publicity on social media that will contextualize and promote the interviews. The incumbent will build on strong, existing professional connections with SoM administration, faculty and community partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Learn processes and practices for conducting oral history interviews according to established standards

• Research the history of the School of Medicine and the involvement of potential interviewees
• Develop interview questions for selected interviewees
• Contact potential interviewees to request interviews
• Coordinate schedule and logistics for conducting interviews
• Travel to interviewee locations, on and off campus
• Conduct 35-50 interviews
• Collaborate with Special Collections and Archives Technical Services to preserve and provide access to audio recordings and other related interview material
• Coordinate binding and delivery of transcribed interviews to interviewees
• Coordinate deposit of oral history interview into The University Library catalog
• Ensure timely communications with interviewees at beginning, during and end of the project
• Collaborate with Special Collections and Archives to facilitate transfer of SoM archival records to the University Archives
• Collaborate with UNLV Libraries Development Officers to cultivate donor relations and fundraising opportunities associated with the project
• Occasional after hours work may be required, dependent on interviewee availability

For more information, please visit http://www.library.unlv.edu/employment

QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires an earned Master's Degree in library or information science from an American Library Association accredited program by the date of appointment.

Required

• Competence and sensitivity in working at a university in which students, faculty, and staff are broadly diverse with regard to many facets of identity, including but not limited to gender, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, and religion
• Attention to detail, demonstrated capacity for carrying out tasks in an accurate manner, and ability to check own work for accuracy
• Skill in listening attentively, conveying interest, and following up as appropriate
• Demonstrated sound judgment and ability to work independently, to set priorities and maintain them, and follow through on assignments while coping with a fluctuating workload and competing demands
• Excellent oral communication skills, specifically to interact effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and to effectively present information in group settings in an engaging and informative fashion
• Excellent written communication skills, specifically writing skills to compose documents that are logical, concise and grammatically correct, and editing skills to review and correct correspondence and other documents for grammar, spelling, syntax and content. Ability to summarize information concisely and accurately
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build cooperative, effective working relationships and to develop rapport with a wide variety of individuals
• Demonstrated proficiency with personal computers, the internet, and standard office applications

Preferred

• Ability to formulate significant research questions and conceptualize historical interview projects
• Skill in organizing life history interviews to maintain chronological and topical coherence and to elicit detailed discussion of the interviewees' experiences in ways that illuminate larger historical contexts
• Ability to operate and obtain high-quality recordings on sensitive digital sound equipment
• Knowledge of archival processes and records management of university records
• Demonstrated skill in directing interviews appropriately to maintain focus and to challenge without antagonizing interviewees
• Familiarity with copyright issues, including permissions and release documents, and ability to discuss with interviewees and other copyright holders
• Knowledge of oral history methodology and theory.

SALARY RANGE

This is a temporary visiting, full-time, non-tenure-track appointment. Salary is $65,000. In addition, University Libraries is committed to and helps fund professional development opportunities. Salaries are competitive with those at similarly situated institutions and dependent upon labor market. Positions are contingent upon funding. UNLV and the Libraries provide a rich array of benefits including a generous 401 (a) retirement plan with a 15.25% university match of the employee's 15.25% contribution; HSA / FSA options; 24 days of annual leave and 11 days of holiday leave; 30 days of initial sick leave which accrues at 2 days/month after the first year of employment; grant-in-aid benefits for university courses; and more as detailed at https://www.unlv.edu/hr/benefits. The Libraries provide generous support for individual professional development, and residents of Nevada enjoy no state income tax. Home to many major annual conventions, Las Vegas is one of the best-connected cities in America and the nearest major city to several of the nation's richest natural treasures. In addition to the world renowned Las Vegas Strip providing a variety of culinary and entertainment opportunities, Las Vegas is home to five professional athletic organizations and continues to expand local cultural opportunities, including the internationally recognized Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

To learn more about living in Las Vegas visit our guide at https://guides.library.unlv.edu/lasvegas/welcome.

APPLICATION DETAILS

Submit a letter of interest, a detailed resume listing qualifications and experience, and the names, addresses, emails and telephone numbers of at least three professional references who may be contacted. Applicants should fully describe their qualifications and experience, with specific reference to each of the minimum and preferred qualifications, because this is the information on which the initial review of materials will be based.

Although this position will remain open until filled, review of candidates' materials will begin on March 30, 2020 and best consideration will be gained for materials submitted prior to that date. Materials should be addressed to Visiting Oral Historian, Search Committee Chair, and are to be submitted online as we do not accept emailed materials. For assistance with the application process, please contact UNLV Human Resources at (702) 895-3504 or applicant.inquiry@unlv.edu.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR INTERNAL NSHE CANDIDATES

UNLV employees or employees within the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) MUST use the “Find Jobs” process within Workday to find and apply for jobs at UNLV and other NSHE Institutions. Once you log into Workday, type "Find Jobs" in the search box which will navigate to the internal job posting site. Locate this specific job posting by typing the requisition number, “R0120372” in the search box.

If you complete an application outside of the internal application process, your application will be returned and you will have to reapply as an internal applicant which may delay your application.

SAFETY AND SECURITY STATEMENT

UNLV is committed to assisting all members of the UNLV community in providing for their own safety and security. The Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report compliance document is available online.

UNLV is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action educator and employer committed to achieving excellence through diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, or any other factor protected by anti-discrimination laws. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas employs only United States citizens and non-citizens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. Women, under-represented groups, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. PI118242699

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