Head of Reference and Instruction

EMPLOYMENT TERMS: Full time, 12-month position

PRIMARY DUTY: As an integral member of the library leadership team, the Head of Research and Instruction provides vision and direction for the research and instruction team. This position reports to the Director of Library Services and Operations. This role also serves on the library leadership team to support the overall library mission and goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Assist the Director by serving on the leadership team to provide direction and supervision that ensures the library’s mission and goals align with institutional priorities and philosophies.
2. Provide leadership in library instruction and research support for academic services that align with institutional priorities and philosophies.
3. Lead the Reference and Instruction team in planning, implementing and assessing pedagogically appropriate instruction for library users; and providing in-depth, specialized research consultation and reference services.
4. Directly supervises, establishes divisional goals and objectives, manages schedules, monitors instruction trends, and creates workflows for the reference and instruction team.
5. Partner with co-workers and academic faculty to deliver general education and subject-specific academic research instruction in-person and online.
6. Utilize course management software, responsive web development tools, and library course guides to create research content for the curriculum and online instructional materials that support departmental mission and vision for academic achievement.
7. Serve as liaison to a number of disciplines, collaborate with library and university colleagues on procurement of appropriate materials to support the curriculum and research.
8. Assist library personnel and patrons with library catalog issues such as location of an item or the steps to borrow an item via ILL.
9. Assist in hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating student employees.
10. Serve on library, institutional and consortia working groups and teams, as necessary.
11. Perform other duties and assignments as required.

REQUIREMENTS: 

Education: ALA Accredited Master’s Degree in Library Science

Experience: Three to five years of supervisory experience in an academic library; evidence of developing and delivering training; coaching, and mentorship of employees; demonstrated experience in completing projects in a team environment

Skills: Strong leadership, customer service, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills; strong analytical abilities; ability to work independently as well as in cooperation with diverse populations; ability to handle multiple responsibilities in a rapidly changing environment.

WORKING CONDITIONS: This position will work in a library environment with the day shift hours Monday through Friday with a lunch break with the possibility of varied hours as needed for special events. Must be able to move throughout the library to assist in the library collection maintenance activities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Supervises student employees.

EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS USED: Computers, spine label printers, book mending machine, microform, paper copier

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Primary sedentary work, but also requires standing, walking, stooping or crouching, kneeling, crawling, reaching, pushing, grasping and lifting. Requires the ability to exert up to approximately 35 pounds of force to occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move carts/boxes of books/materials. Ability to concentrate on detailed information over an extended period of time

COMMUNITY: Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Missouri, a community of 12,000 with a diverse economy and a strong industrial base. Maryville is located 45 miles north of St. Joseph, Missouri, 90 miles north of Kansas City, Missouri, and 110 miles southeast of Omaha, Nebraska. For more information visit the city’s website at www.maryville.org.

UNIVERSITY: With an enrollment of about 10,000 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus as well as its Northwest-Kansas City location at the Northland Innovation Center and through Northwest Online.

Founded in 1905 and ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top public regional universities in the Midwest, Northwest places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jump start on their careers. Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area and Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency.

The University also is a national model for student success and career placement with 96 percent of graduates securing employment or continuing their education within six months of completing a degree at Northwest, according to the most recent data. 

Furthermore, its vibrant and diverse learning community offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, which is among the lowest in the nation, saving students an estimated $6,800 over four years. Northwest also offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program. Designated the Missouri Arboretum, the Northwest campus was named one of the “50 Most Amazing University Botanical Gardens and Arboretums in the U.S.” For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit www.nwmissouri.edu. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Until filled

DATE AVAILABLE: March 1, 2025 

TO APPLY:

Please fill out a Northwest application online by clicking https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/nwmissouri to reach our employment opportunities listing. You will also need to submit a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for three references in order for your application materials to be complete. Please contact the Office of Human Resources at 660-562-1127 or email [email protected] for more information.