Director of the National Institute for Newman Studies

POSITION
Director of the National Institute for Newman Studies
Full Time Chief Administrative Officer
Start date: Negotiable

The National Institute for Newman Studies (NINS) has as its mission to promote knowledge of the life, work, and influence of Saint John Henry Newman (1801-1890). To accomplish this, NINS has three related goals: first, to collect and curate Newman and Newman-related digital books and manuscripts accessible to scholars throughout the world, and a physical research library in Pittsburgh; second, to provide experienced and developing Newman scholars research space at the Gailliot Center for Newman Studies in Pittsburgh through the visiting scholars program; and third, to promote published work through the Newman Studies Journal (NSJ), the NSJ’s second series of occasional monographs, collections of essays, and critical editions of primary sources, and its e-publication, the Newman Review.

The Director of the National Institute for Newman Studies will provide leadership for all activities associated with NINS. The Director’s responsibilities will fall into six major categories: 1) pursue research and writing on Newman and Newman-related projects; 2) recruit visiting scholars and develop scholarly events; 3) participate in editorial responsibilities for the Newman Studies Journal, the NSJ second series, and the Newman Review; 4) oversee development and preservation of the Newman Library of the Gailliot Center for Newman Studies and the NINS Digital Collections; 5) supervise the staff at NINS, empowering each staff member to fulfill their own responsibilities effectively and efficiently; 6) manages the organization’s budget and spending, overseeing all financial activities in close collaboration with the board of trustees.

The Director will be an active scholar, with 20% of the workload devoted to research and writing projects. The Board treats this as a priority, and time is protected for scholarship.

The Director will be an ambassador for NINS to the public and, particularly, within the scholarly community. The Director will regularly attend academic conferences in order to network with Newman scholars, and those who work in related fields. In that context and through correspondence, the Director will recruit scholars to participate in NINS’s visiting scholars program, Fall Newman Lecture and conference, and Spring Newman Symposium. There is scope for other initiatives. When visiting scholars stay at NINS, the Director will work in conjunction with the Research Coordinator to provide guidance and feedback on scholars’ research and writing efforts.

The Director will serve as Associate Editor of the Newman Studies Journal. In coordination with the Editor and Managing Editor, the Director will actively recruit contributing authors, participate in sending articles out for double blind peer review, and edit manuscripts that are accepted for publication in the NSJ. As Associate Editor, the Director will work closely with the Editor and Managing Editor, in collaboration with an international editorial board and CUA Press, to ensure biannual publication of this academic journal. The Director will also serve on the editorial team that oversees publication of the NSJ second series of occasional publications, and the e-publication, the Newman Review.

The Director will oversee further development of the Newman Library. The library of NINS comprises two complementary parts: a physical print book library, housed at the Gailliot Center for Newman Studies, and the Digital Collections of unpublished manuscripts and published works, which includes the Newman Reader, Birmingham Oratory Archives, the Oriel College Senior Library Project, and thousands of books. The Director will oversee acquisitions (including donations), processing, and preservation of print materials. The Director will collaborate with the Chief Technology Officer of NINS to ensure the long term preservation and accessibility of the Digital Collections. Identification of new digitization projects and collaboration with archives with Newman and Newman-related manuscripts will be another dimension of the Director’s responsibilities for the Digital Collections.

The Director will serve as a liaison between NINS and Duquesne University in order to enhance the NINS-Duquesne Joint Initiative for Newman Studies. The Director will chair two meetings per academic year and work collaboratively with the Dean of Liberal Arts, Gumberg Library Staff, Ryan Endowed Chair for Newman Studies, Chair of the Department of Catholic Studies, and Chair of the Department of Theology. The Director will be open to teaching one course in the fall and spring at Duquesne, and will use all of these opportunities to create a visible presence for NINS on Duquesne’s campus. The Director will be proactive about inviting scholars at Duquesne to participate in NINS’s academic programming, including conferences, symposia, and seminars.

The successful candidate must have a doctoral degree in an appropriate field for Newman Studies, with a minimum of 2-3 years post-doctoral experience of research and teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate level. A record of publications on John Henry Newman’s life, work, and influence is also required. The successful candidate should be able to articulate how their scholarship will contribute to the fulfillment of NINS’s mission. The successful candidate must have a demonstrated record of ecumenical engagement.

The criteria for the Search Committee’s evaluation include: 1) the candidate's demonstrated leadership and relational skills; 2) evidence of an agenda for scholarship and promise of peer-reviewed publications in the field of Newman Studies; 3) administrative abilities; 4) awareness of library management, and manuscript curation practices; 5) ability to work cooperatively and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues; 6) evidence of engagement with the scholarly community at a national and international level.

TO APPLY
Submit cover letter, curriculum vitae, and three reference contact information to
https://www.newmanstudies.org/jobs.

Contact Kenneth Parker, Interim Director of NINS, at hr@ninsdu.org, with any questions about the position and application process. Review of applications will be done on a rolling basis and will continue until the position is filled.

SALARY AND BENEFITS
Appointment salary is competitive, and will be based on qualifications and experience. Benefits include health insurance, matched retirement contributions, paid vacation periods, and more.

MISSION STATEMENT
The National Institute for Newman Studies facilitates scholarly learning and dialogue on the enduring relevance of John Henry Newman's life, work, and influence to foster intellectual and spiritual growth.

We fulfill our mission by providing resources, which enable scholars to make Newman better known to others.

STATEMENT OF FAIR HIRING PRACTICES
The National Institute for Newman Studies is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.

REQUIRED APPLICANT DOCUMENTS
Cover Letter
Curriculum Vitae
Contact Information for three references