Director, iSpace (Makerspace) and Research Center

Description

The University of Arizona Libraries seek a dynamic and forward-thinking Director to provide leadership for our makerspace and digital research center slated to open in the Fall of 2019. This space will be an expansion of our current makerspace, the iSpace (https://new.library.arizona.edu/ispace), and includes, in addition to the traditional makerspace, a dedicated virtual/augmented reality and media lab, a research center with a data visualization wall, adjacent classrooms, and a co-lab space existing between these spaces and services. This is a new position and is an exciting opportunity to build on the success of the iSpace’s services, events, and community. This position will report to the Vice Dean of the Libraries.

We expect that the first year of the position will be focused on the move of the current space and the establishment of new and expanded services, technologies, and events. This will include maintaining an appropriate balance between open hours for informal learning, and curricular integrations that enable the space and its services to play important roles in more formal learning within UA courses. A critical factor in the success of the current iSpace has been the intentional focus on fostering an inclusive community in order to ensure that those who have not traditionally used such spaces find a welcoming and supportive environment in which to explore, learn, play, and research. The Director will ensure that this focus remains as we transition to a larger space.

The Director will work closely with library and campus stakeholders to set vision and direction for the space and associated services. Approximately 3-4 library faculty and staff will be affiliated with the space and will have a percentage of time dedicated to specific work within the space such as with the virtual/augmented reality and media lab. Faculty and others from across campus use the current space to support curricular work and research. We expect that interest from campus will grow with the new space, and that much of the work of the Director will be developing a strategy for the programmatic and curricular activities, as well as the selection and deployment of technologies in the spaces. The Director will be responsible for coordinating outreach activities with affiliated faculty and staff to the broader campus and with external groups. The Director will supervise an Operations Manager who is responsible for the day to day management of the makerspace and a Technology Manager who is responsible for coordination with Technology Group in Access and Information Services, developing training and documentation, and managing the certification process. The Director also has supervision and coordination responsibilities for graduate assistants who will provide support for the programmatic and curricular work of the spaces. The Director will participate in campus efforts to build a network of maker and innovation spaces on campus, and will take part of consortial, regional, and national meetings to stay abreast of trends and to represent the positions and interests of the University and the Libraries.

This is a continuing status track (equivalent to tenure track), academic professional position. Depending on experience, candidates may be hired at either the Assistant or Associate rank, and as continuing-eligible or with continuing status. Incumbents are members of the General Faculty of the University of Arizona and are entitled to all accompanying rights and privileges granted by the University and the Arizona Board of Regents. Retention and promotion are earned through achievement of a record of excellence in position effectiveness, scholarship, and service.