University of California - Berkeley, Oral History Center The Bancroft Library
Academic Specialist (Recent U.S. History)
Institution Type: | College / University |
Location: | California, United States |
Position: | Librarian, Research Professional |
Academic Specialist (Recent U.S. History)
Oral History Center
The Bancroft Library
Hiring range: Associate Specialist, Step I - Associate Specialist, Step II
$54,744-$58,548 per annum, based upon qualifications
This is a full time term appointment with option to renew.
The anticipated start date is September 1, 2017.
The Oral History Center (OHC) of UC Berkeley’s Bancroft Library seeks to hire a scholar to fill the position of academic specialist in recent U.S. history, with preferred expertise in at least one of the following fields: the history of arts, arts administration, and philanthropy; business; education (particularly higher education); and/or science, medicine, and technology (particularly the history of engineering). The academic specialist develops oral history projects, writes proposals and seeks funding, conducts interviews, participates in and coordinates educational initiatives, and engages in public outreach activities. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to serious research and believe in the value of publicly-engaged scholarship. We seek an individual who possesses an expertise in one or more of the above mentioned fields, yet also is versatile enough to interview in areas outside his/her immediate area of knowledge. The position requires occasional travel.
Environment
The UC Berkeley Library is an internationally renowned research and teaching facility at one of the nation's premier public universities. In a highly diverse and intellectually rich environment, Berkeley serves a campus community of 25,500 undergraduate students, 10,300 graduate students, and a faculty of 1,500. The Library comprises 20 campus libraries - including the Doe/Moffitt Libraries, the Bancroft Library, the C. V. Starr East Asian Library and subject specialty libraries. With a collection of more than 11 million volumes and a collections budget of over $15 million, the Library offers extensive collections in all formats and robust services to connect users with those collections and build their related research skills.
Formerly known as the Regional Oral History Office, OHC documents the history of California, the nation, and the interconnected global arena by producing carefully researched, video-recorded and transcribed oral histories and interpretative historical materials for the widest possible use. Since its inception in 1954, OHC has carried out interviews in a variety of major subject areas, which include: politics and government; law and jurisprudence; arts and letters; business and labor; social and community history; University of California history; natural resources and the environment; and science, medicine, and technology. Interviews have been used as source material for monographs, books, articles, stage productions, radio programs, video and film documentaries, websites and blogs, and dissertations and theses. OHC has conducted over 4,000 oral histories, which totals tens of thousands of interview hours. Nearly every interview that has been transcribed is available for the public to read on the OHC website.
The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, is one of the largest and most heavily used libraries of manuscripts, rare books, and special collections in the United States. As the primary center of special collections within the library system at Berkeley, Bancroft supports major research and reference activities and plays a leading role in the development of research collections. Bancroft holdings include over 600,000 volumes, 55,000 linear feet of manuscripts, 9,000,000 photographs and other pictorial materials, 86,000 microforms, and 35,000 maps. Additional information regarding The Library and The Bancroft Library is available on the web at: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu
Responsibilities
The academic specialist works independently under the general supervision of the director to:
• Plan and coordinate oral history projects documenting various historical topics
• Create work plans and budgets, including securing necessary funds, for in-depth oral history interviews
• Research and conduct interviews
• Work alongside research, editorial, and technical staff in all aspects of oral history processing, including
editing, overseeing production tasks, preparing supporting material, and developing of multimedia
content, such as contributions to our podcast and youtube channel
• Assist director and other staff historians in development and management of educational initiatives,
including but not limited to the annual advanced oral history institute and introductory oral history
workshops
Qualifications
Minimum basic qualification at the time of application:
• Advanced degree (M.A. or equivalent degree or higher) in history, or a related field, with a research and
publication record in the relevant field of expertise
Additional Required Qualifications by the time of hire:
• Demonstrated experience in planning, conducting, editing, and completing in-depth archival oral
histories
• Demonstrated organizational skills and careful attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to complete projects in a timely manner and within budget while maintaining
consistent high quality
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain good rapport with interviewees, advisors, and donors,
and to work collaboratively with office staff
• Demonstrated project management, training, and leadership abilities
• Computer literate, in standard word processing programs and Internet research
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills
Additional Preferred Qualifications:
• Formal training in oral history methodology preferred
• Expertise in at least one of the following fields: the history of arts, arts administration, and philanthropy,
business, education (particularly higher education), and/or science, medicine, and technology
(particularly the history of engineering)
• Experience working with audio and/or video editing software such as Adobe Creative Suite (particularly
Audition and Premiere), Hindenberg, and/or Pro-Tools.
• Teaching experience highly desirable
• Ability to work with undergraduate and graduate students and guide them on their projects
• Proposal-writing and fundraising experience extremely desirable
• Fluency with up-to-date software programs such as Drupal, MS Project, Google docs, etc.
• Ability to work in languages other than English a plus
Academic Specialists are entitled to appropriate professional development leave, vacation leave, sick leave, and all other benefits granted non-faculty academic personnel. The University has an excellent retirement system and sponsors a variety of group health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans in addition to other benefits.
The Library at UC Berkeley is committed to the support and encouragement of a multicultural environment and seeks candidates who can make positive contributions in a context of ethnic and cultural diversity.
This recruitment will remain open until filled.
Submit applications online at http://apptrkr.com/1047599
Applications must include a cover letter detailing a statement of qualifications, curriculum vitae noting degrees and relevant work experience, a chapter-length writing sample, and the names and contact information of three references who are knowledgeable about the applicant's qualifications for this position. References will only be contacted for individuals under serious consideration.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see:
http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct.
Send inquiries to:
Susan E. Wong
Director, Library Human Resources
Phone: (510) 642-3778
Email: librec@library.berkeley.edu
Contact: |
http://apptrkr.com/1047599 |
Website: | https://www.berkeley.edu |
Primary Category: | American History / Studies |
Secondary Categories: | None |
Posting Date: | 07/20/2017 |
Closing Date | 10/18/2017 |