Open Positions - Available Executive Staff Positions

Director of Gordon B. Olson Library

The Opportunity
Minot State University invites applications for the position of Director of the Gordon B. Olson Library. We are seeking an experienced and innovative director who can lead and motivate staff, work collegially with students, faculty and staff, and maintain and strengthen the library’s instructional and academic roles and responsibilities.

Responsibilities
The Director of the Gordon B. Olson Library reports to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and is directly responsible for all aspects of library administration, including collection development and management, reference services, staff recruitment and supervision, budget planning and administration, technology enhancement, facilities planning, and public relations. The library has a total of 12 professional and support staff and an annual budget of over $1,200,000. In addition, the Library Director works collaboratively with the Minot State University administration, faculty, and students in order to ensure the highest levels of professional instructional services and academic excellence.

The library is in a state-of-the-art building, and currently holds more than 400,000 bound volumes, an array of electronic products, a large number of government documents and maps, and is active in providing instructional services to students, faculty and staff. The Gordon B. Olson Library is a member of the MINITEX Library Information Network. It is also a part of ODIN, a statewide library consortium.

Qualifications
Minot State University seeks a Library Director who is a proven leader with excellent oral and written communication skills, and a strong background in technology. In addition, the Director should demonstrate a commitment to students and their educational needs, particularly the central role the library and academic research play in student success. Essential skills include budgeting and planning experience and the ability to work collegially and collaboratively with students, staff, faculty, administration and colleagues across the state.

Minimum Qualifications:
• Master’s of Library Science from an ALA-accredited program.
• Five years of increasingly responsible library experience; two years directing a college library preferred.

Preferred Characteristics/Qualities:
• the ability to provide leadership to librarians, library staff, and student workers.
• the ability to work with faculty members to support their activities in the classroom, student learning, and research, and to promote the active use of the library facilities and resources.
• a commitment to maintain and strengthen a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere conducive to study, learning, research, and quality services.
• the capacity to facilitate alignment with Vision 2013.
• the ability to respond effectively to the challenges needs of distance education students.
• a strong understanding of library budget and finance.
• an ability to represent and promote usage of the library to the campus, community and work collaboratively with the North Dakota University System.
• demonstrated commitment to new library initiatives including the development of an information commons and campus wide awareness of information literacy.
• knowledge about assessment and evaluation, and appropriate data collection about library usage.
• effective communication and team-building skills.
• the ability to identify and secure local collections that exemplify Vision 2013.
• the capacity to work collaboratively with students, faculty, and staff.
• the highest level of personal and professional integrity.

The Vision
Minot State University is built upon a core commitment to students, learning, service, cooperation, and a respect for people and place. Our Vision 2013 is a vision for Minot State University to become a premier public institution in the Great Plains. This bold initiative rests on a philosophy of engagement and place. We believe that the university experience should provide students connection between academic subjects and the reality of life on the Great Plains, between theory and practice and between local experiences and global realities. This philosophy is grounded in an expectation that all students can learn, grow, and succeed if given the support, guidance and an engaging learning environment. Minot State University seeks individuals that will help us create a community that is pervasively focused on: student growth, learning and success; the development of students with integrity, character, and intelligence; institutional commitment to civic engagement, stewardship of its local and global place; and meaningful service for the welfare of others. Candidates interested in joining us achieve Vision 2013, are encouraged to apply for this position or contact us for more information.

The University
Minot State University was founded in 1913 to serve the citizens of northwest North Dakota. It is located in Minot, a city with approximately 36,000 residents. The city is served by Northwest Airlines and Amtrak. Abundant outdoor activities are available, including boating, fishing and camping in the nearby Garrison Dam/Missouri River area, and the Turtle Mountain Region. Minot also has a strong arts community which features two theatre companies, three art galleries, choral and instrumental groups, a symphony orchestra, and an opera company. A major U.S. Air Force Base is located in the greater Minot area. Minot State primarily serves North Dakota, Montana, and several contiguous Canadian provinces. Several Native American communities are located in our region and are represented in our students and faculty.

The University has evolved from a normal school to a Carnegie Master’s I institution. It is the fourth largest higher education institution in the state and the only non-doctoral university to grant master’s degrees. Three colleges comprise the university’s academic offerings: Arts and Sciences, Business, and Education and Health Sciences. Ten graduate degrees are offered in such areas as communication disorders, management, education, and mathematics. There is a rich mix of liberal arts and professional programs offering 60 majors at the undergraduate level. Minot State University is a member of the North Dakota University System, which is comprised of 11 institutions representing doctoral, master, baccalaureate, and community colleges. The State Board of Higher Education consists of nine members and is the governing board of the System. Minot State University has a Board of Regents acting as an advisory board and champion for the institution.

In fall 2008, Minot State enrolled over 3,400 students. Over 600 admitted graduate students are pursuing either the master’s degree or the joint criminal justice Ph.D. program with the University of North Dakota. Approximately, thirty percent of the student body are registered for correspondence and online courses. In fact, the University is a state leader in offering online courses, including six undergraduate degree programs and two graduate programs with over 1,000 students each term.

The faculty at Minot State consists of tenured, tenure-track, special contract full-time, and part-time positions. While faculty are devoted to teaching, they increasingly contribute to the scholarship of their respective fields. A growing number of faculty conduct research with students as full partners. This past year nearly $8 million came to the University through external funding. The University supports Centers of Excellence including the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD), the Rural Crime and Justice Center (RCJC), and the Prairie Community Development Center. Minot State has an active research and service agenda, which strives to engage students at both the undergraduate and graduate level in research with faculty.

Benefits and Compensation
Major benefits include health insurance and retirement. Health insurance is provided by Blue Cross/Blue Shield through the office of the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System (NDPERS). The premium is paid in full by the University. Health insurance covers vision and dental procedures when deemed as medically necessary. Routine vision and dental coverage is not available through this health insurance; however, separate coverage for routine vision and dental coverage is available at the employee’s expense.

The retirement plan is a defined contribution plan through Teachers Insurance and Annuities Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF). This 401a plan requires a contribution from the employee of 1.5% of base salary and provides a matching contribution from the University of 9.5%. After ten years of plan participation the employee’s contribution increases to 2.0% and the matching contribution increases to 10.0%. Prior years of service in the NDPERS retirement plan or with another current TIAA-CREF retirement plan are counted toward the number of plan participation years. TIAA-CREF provides for self-directed investing through a selection of stock, bond, money market, and real estate funds. A 403b is also offered for those who choose to contribute more toward retirement investments than the 401a plan allows. Typically, these funds are available for retirement income after termination of employment and the employee’s 55th birthday. Funds may also be available should the employee become disabled or for a phased retirement plan.

Another benefit is the accrual of annual and sick leave. Those in this position earn annual leave at the rate of 192 hours (24 days) per year and sick leave at the rate of 96 hours (12 days) per year. Beginning the first full calendar year of employment, 40 hours of annual leave must be taken during each calendar year, and only 240 hours of annual leave may be carried over into the next calendar year. Upon termination, any unused annual leave will be paid out to the employee based on the current rate of pay. Sick leave accrues without limit. After ten years of service, and upon termination, ten percent of the unused sick leave accrual balance will be paid out to the employee based on the current rate of pay.

Other benefits provided by the University include long-term disability insurance, the ability to share and receive leave from other employees in certain circumstances, FlexComp plan for medical and dependent care expenses, and life insurance. The life insurance is a term policy with a death benefit of $1,300. Upon employment, employees may purchase additional life insurance up to $200,000 without evidence of insurability at their own expense through competitive rates.

Salary amounts are based on internal equity and the most recent data from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) for administrative positions. The minimum salary for this position is $60,000.

Application Procedures
To be considered, applicants must submit a letter of application, a current curriculum vitae, a one-page statement describing administrative philosophy, copy of transcripts, and the names, addresses, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of at least five professional references. To claim North Dakota veteran’s preference also complete the MSU staff employment application form (www.minotstateu.edu/hr/forms.shtml).

All application materials must be sent to Wes Matthews, Director, Human Resources, Minot State University, 500 University Avenue West, Minot, North Dakota, 58707. Review of applications will begin January 12, 2009. Position will remain open until filled. Additional information about the institution and the position may be found at the University web site at www.minotstateu.edu.

Minot State University fully respects the need for confidentiality and assures interested individuals that their backgrounds and interests will not be discussed without the consent of the applicant prior to his or her becoming a candidate. Upon becoming a candidate, North Dakota open records and open meeting laws apply. Minot State University is an equal opportunity employer.