Department/Organization
219101 - University Libraries

Rank
Assistant Professor

Position Summary
The University of Alabama seeks a proactive, team-oriented, and creative person to serve as Instructional Design Librarian. This position serves a dual role as a librarian participating in multimodal library and information literacy instruction and as an instructional design specialist directly developing content and training liaison librarians who are building instructional design projects.

Detailed Position Information
The University of Alabama seeks a proactive, team-oriented, and creative person to serve as Instructional Design Librarian. This position serves a dual role as a librarian participating in multimodal library and information literacy instruction and as an instructional design specialist directly developing content and training liaison librarians who are building instructional design projects.

The ideal candidate will have the ability to work collaboratively and creatively with University Libraries faculty and staff to plan, develop, and deliver asynchronous and classroom library instruction. They will be responsible for developing a robust instruction and outreach program, both in-person and online, while also offering software application training and support related to areas of liaison responsibilities for the disciplines assigned, currently the College of Education. This includes training and working with librarians to design active learning environments, multimedia tutorials, and other digital learning objects. This also includes working with staff and faculty in the Sanford Media Center to design programmatic curricula for multimodal projects and instruction. The Instructional Design Librarian will also develop and support training activities for best practices in utilizing instructional technology tools. The person in this position will also serve as the administrator for Springshare. The successful candidate must be willing to continually learn, develop, and apply additional expertise through work-related experiences and professional development opportunities. They will pursue grant writing opportunities and submission of projects relevant to the mission of University Libraries and the University of Alabama. They must also possess the ability to navigate change and ambiguity as they successfully solve the types of complex problems encountered in research settings.

Reporting to the Head of Information Services and Creative Media, the Instructional Design Librarian will participate proactively in the unit’s priorities and initiatives. In addition, the Instructional Design Librarian will work collaboratively with The University of Alabama Faculty Resource Center and the College of Continuing Studies to support online learning initiatives in the broader campus community.  This position will work collaboratively within Gorgas Information Services and with Research Data Services to promote and integrate data services, data literacy, data curation, and geographic information systems into library instruction and the data services workshop series program across the disciplines.

Responsibilities of the position evolve as the library environment continues to change.

Responsibilities include, but are subject to the needs and resources of the University Libraries:
• Develop and maintain major instructional design projects for the University Libraries
• Train liaison librarians who are building instructional design projects for distance learning, classroom supplementation, and flipped classroom pedagogy.
• Participate in instruction efforts by leading instruction sessions for multimodal projects and by helping to design programmatic instructional curricula in partnership with the Sanford Media Center.
• Serves as a knowledgeable resource to support greater liaison presence in University of Alabama’s learning management system (LMS; BlackBoard Learn)
• Help design and conduct assessment of University Libraries’ instructional design efforts and multimodal projects
• Participate in research services and the University Libraries’ larger information literacy instruction for UA’s First-Year Writing Program as needed
• Participates in multimedia production of University Libraries promotional materials in partnership with the Sanford Media Center.

Prior to employment the successful candidate must pass a pre-employment background investigation.

SALARY/BENEFITS: 12 month tenure track faculty appointment at the Assistant Professor rank. Salary is $75,000.00 - $85,000.00, commensurate with qualifications, experience, and advanced degrees. Strong benefits, including professional development support, tuition fee waiver, and matching retirement contributions.

Minimum Qualifications
• Master's in Library Science from an ALA accredited program OR Master's in Instructional Design, Education, Educational Technology or a related field.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, including associated skills such as listening, negotiating, and adapting.
• Demonstrated experience/expertise with relevant academic and instructional design technologies, including but not limited to: video capture and editing software (e.g., Camtasia, iMovie), e-learning authoring tools (e.g., Storyline 360, Adobe Captivate), content creation and design in Blackboard Learn or an equivalent learning management system (LMS) (e.g., d2L, Canvas, Moodle).
• Proven interpersonal skills, evidenced by the ability to work cooperatively and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, faculty, students, and staff.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply teaching methodologies and learning theories.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies, standards, and their applications to distance education. 
• Ability to conceptualize, communicate, and execute plans to meet short- and long-term goals.
• Ability to conceptualize, articulate, and implement short and long-range goals.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member to solve problems, using sound judgment in decision-making according to an established timeframe.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, initiate, and implement effective programs, projects, and services.
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible in a dynamic work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a complex changing environment and complete tasks according to an established timeframe.
• Demonstrated strong commitment to customer service excellence.
• Ability to meet the requirements for tenure and promotion.
• Commitment to conduct research and scholarship consistent with the requirements of a tenure track appointment; commitment to engage in continuing profession development and service.
• Responsibilities of the position evolve as the library environment continues to change.

Preferred Qualifications
• Academic library experience. • Two to three years of professional experience in an educational environment. • Online teaching experience. • Experience in the systematic design of instruction for online, blended/hybrid and/or traditional courses. • Experience designing, developing, and delivering training programs and workshops on teaching methods and technology utilization in the classroom. • Familiarity with issues related to scholarly communication, e.g., copyright, authors’ rights, open access, etc. • Experience with creative media applications to support content creation (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, video and audio editing). • Experience with Springshare. • Familiarity with and dedication to creating accessible content, including familiarity with WCAG 2.0 guidelines for interactive and video content. • Knowledge of funding sources and organizations for grant revenues. • Experience submitting grant proposals.

Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Applications are accepted online only at https://careers.ua.edu. Click Faculty Jobs, then University Libraries. Please include your application, Curriculum Vitae, and names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three references, including one current supervisor. Consideration of applications will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled. Applications received by May 28, 2024, are assured of receiving full consideration. For questions regarding the search, contact Michael Arthur, Senior Associate Dean, at maarthur@ua.edu.

About the Division/College/School
The University of Alabama Libraries, a system of four separate discipline-related libraries, is proud to support the research enterprise at the University of Alabama via a comprehensive and integrated network of resources, services, and technologies designed to meet the academic and research needs of students, faculty, and staff. We take pride in serving as a hub for innovation, knowledge creation and dissemination, research assistance, and collaborative learning.

Members of the University of Alabama family visited our physical and virtual spaces over 10 million times in 2022. Our print collections span over 6 million volumes, and we offer access to 2.5 million E-Books, 220,000 AV titles, and 98,000 E-Journals via our 685 databases.

University Libraries provides strong mentorship for faculty and staff, with ongoing collaborative opportunities, and administrative support for innovative services and ideas. We provide excellent support for needed technology and conference travel, and we are invested in academic freedom with teaching and research.

Our staff routinely update and maintain cutting edge programs of service in support of our stakeholders. Our faculty librarians have developed a robust instruction program, including a series of research data services and workshops, that consistently performs at the top of the SEC. We are heavily invested in performing the same high value research that our stakeholders produce, and that assists us in our data-driven strategic planning for the future. Our librarians have produced 75 peer reviewed journal articles in Tier 1 journals in the last 2 years.

If working with a talented group of professionals who value service, innovation, and high achievement, earning a nationally competitive starting salary, in a thriving college town, with a low cost of living, close to Birmingham, Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, and the Gulf Coast sounds interesting to you, start your application process with us to learn more!

About the University
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus.

A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. The University of Alabama has R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity status by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and is among the top doctoral research universities in the United States.

As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.

About Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa is so much more than a college town.

It's a vibrant community that’s filled with legendary history. Located along the Black Warrior River, the city features a walkable downtown that’s complete with live music, locally owned shops, outdoor spaces to explore and local restaurants to meet every palate. With a geography ranging from suburban to rural, the area offers a variety of housing options along with excellent public and private schools and a wealth of recreational and entertainment options.

With a metro area population of 235,000, the Druid City lies about an hour southwest of Birmingham, in west-central Alabama. It’s within a few hours’ drive of Gulf Coast beaches and major cities like Nashville, New Orleans and Atlanta, making it a great base for growing better acquainted with the South’s finest offerings.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf