Director of the McNickle Center

Salary Range: $70,000.00 To $80,000.00 Annually

TO APPLY: Interested candidates should attach a cover letter and resume/CV, both as PDF documents, to their application in the Newberry Career Center. Applications sent without both a resume and cover letter will not be considered. To be considered for this role, applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable to apply for a job on this site because of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodation by contacting us through the Jobs email link listed on the Newberry Career Center page.

ABOUT THE NEWBERRY: The Newberry collection—some 1.6 million books, 600,000 maps, and 5 million manuscript pages—is a portal to more than six centuries of human history, from the Middle Ages to the present. We connect researchers and visitors with our collection in the Newberry’s reading rooms, exhibition galleries, program spaces, classrooms, and online digital resources.

Since its founding in 1887, the Newberry has remained dedicated to deepening our collective understanding of ourselves and the world around us. As individuals engage with Newberry collections and staff, they discover stories that bridge the past and present and illuminate the human condition.

The Newberry’s community of discovery is driven by a shared commitment to promoting research, inspiring learning, and using inquiry across the humanities as a tool to engage critically in a vibrant democratic society.

SUMMARY: Reporting to the Vice President for Research and Education, the Director of the D’Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies leads a research center designed to promote research, scholarship, and education in American Indian and Indigenous Studies, with particular emphasis on areas relating to the collections of the Newberry. The Director collaborates with other staff members to set strategic priorities for and lead the implementation of Indigenous initiatives and programs at the library, including maintaining the center’s Indigenous Chicago project. The Director also leads the Newberry Consortium in American Indian Studies (NCAIS), which brings together students and faculty from several U.S. and Canadian universities with an interest in Indigenous studies for intensive programming with experts in the field.

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Direct NCAIS in close consultation with its steering committee and members and deliver a consistent set of high-quality programs that include fellowships, workshops, and conferences;
• Lead the implementation and maintenance of grant-funded projects, including sustaining the Newberry’s Indigenous Chicago project by updating existing project components; sustaining reciprocal relationships with local Native community members and tribes whose homelands include Chicago; and planning, designing, securing funding for, and implementing additions to the project in line with community priorities;
• Oversee the implementation of the library’s Strategic Plan for Indigenous Initiatives, collaborating with other Newberry departments and divisions to set additional priorities as needed;
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships between the Newberry and Native American communities to whom the library’s collections are relevant;
• Represent the Newberry at relevant conferences and engage in service to the field of Native American and Indigenous studies, including supporting external projects or acting as a liaison between the Newberry and other public humanities institutions and organizations;
• Support public programs and occasional exhibitions at the Newberry related to Indigenous Studies;
• Oversee the department budget and collaborate with colleagues in the development of grant applications;
• Manage and provide leadership to the center’s staff to implement grant-funded and consortium programs;
• Support and interact with fellows and other scholars using the library, including attending fellows’ seminars and colloquia when appropriate;
• Conduct a personal research program related to the center’s purposes;
• Assist with all other tasks or activities as necessary for the broader achievement of departmental and Newberry goals.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD in American Indian and Indigenous studies, or a related humanities field, required; ABD candidates are encouraged to apply, but the dissertation must be defended before beginning the position;
• Commitment to and experience in collaborating and building reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities;
• Commitment to collaborative public humanities work, including interest in and ideally experience with developing public programs, public-facing projects, and exhibitions;
• Demonstrated project management, communication, and administrative skills;
• Ability to collaborate with scholars, librarians, teachers, and other cultural institutions and to represent the Newberry in various settings;
• A record of published scholarship preferred;
• Teaching experience preferred;
• Expertise in the field of Native American and Indigenous Studies, compelling research interests, and a promising research agenda for the future

SCHEDULE: This is a full-time, exempt position, working 35 hours per week, with normal hours generally from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Some work outside of these hours, including attending weekend and evening events, will be required. Limited travel will be required for conferences and off-site seminars. While a remote work arrangement is possible, the incumbent will primarily work onsite.

The start date for this position is spring to early summer 2025, with flexibility. Application review will begin January 10, 2025, however, applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

BENEFITS: For more information, please see the "What We Offer" section on the Newberry Careers page.

THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER View our statement concerning our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion here.