[Web4lib] Position Posting: Assistant Director, Usability & Accessibility Center Michigan State University

[Junus, Ranti]

[Posted by request.  Please contact them directly if you're interested.  Thanks. --ranti.]

Position Posting
Assistant Director, Usability & Accessibility Center
Michigan State University


Michigan State University is seeking candidates for the position of Assistant Director of the Usability and Accessibility Center (Academic Specialist rank).  The position is full time, annual year, fixed-term starting as soon as possible. We offer a competitive salary, outstanding benefits package and the professional advantages of an environment that supports your development and recognizes achievements. 

The University: Michigan State University (www.msu.edu), with 44,500 students, is one of the largest public land grant universities and has the distinction of belonging to the Association of American Universities (AAU).  MSU's mission of teaching, research, and service is supported by the university's diverse employment base of approximately 12,000, including 4,000 faculty and academic staff and 8,000 support staff.  MSU is composed of 14 colleges, including three medical schools. The campus is situated on 5,200 acres in a park-like setting in East Lansing, Michigan.

The Usability & Accessibility Center: This newly created, cross-disciplinary unit (www.usability.msu.edu) is designed to provide leadership in evaluating the degree to which new interface technologies are useful, usable, accessible, and appealing to a broad cross-section of people. The Center supports and advocates for the development of accessible interface technologies for people with disabilities. The Center conducts research, usability testing, and accessibility evaluations; provides training, formal education, and consulting services; and participates broadly in local, regional, national, and international usability and accessibility communities of practice. Housed in University Outreach and Engagement (www.outreach.msu.edu), it serves faculty, students, and organizations at the University, as well as external clients through consulting, collaborative research, educational programming, publications, and the sponsorship of open houses, workshops, and symposia. The Center makes its state-of-the-art testing facility available as a resource to support undergraduate and graduate credit courses and curricular programs.

Qualifications
The Assistant Director will be responsible for helping to build the Center into a self-sustaining unit that serves internal as well as external constituencies, and is expected to generate revenues of half a million dollars by the end of two years and sustain and grow the Center's business thereafter.  The successful candidate will have proven business development experience, knowledge of user-centered design methodologies, and usability & accessibility product consulting experience.
Specific qualifications include:
·	Bachelors degree, advanced degree preferred, in business or marketing.
·	3+ years of professional experience in client management and business development, including work with clients of usability and accessibility services. Responsible for developing new external accounts and maintaining client satisfaction. Directly manages and develops relationships with external clients. Educates business owners and developers on the importance of usability design guidelines and testing.
·	Expertise and experience in developing business plans and strategies. Ability to create budgets and budget forecasts.
·	Ability to work collaboratively across the University and with other groups to develop proposals.
·	Excellent organizational, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. The ability to use effective communication skills to maintain and develop working relationships across various corporate, education, and government clients is essential.
To apply, please send a letter describing your interest and pertinent qualifications, resume, and the names and contact information of four professional references. The review of applications will begin on October 14, 2005, but applications will be accepted until suitable candidates are identified and the position is filled.

E-mail: Dr. Sarah Swierenga (uac at msu.edu), Director, Usability & Accessibility Center (no phone calls please)

Mail: Usability & Accessibility Center Search Committee, Michigan State University, 94 Kellogg Center, East Lansing, MI 48824-1022

Fax: 517-432-9541

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity institution. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.

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Ranti Junus - Web Services
 100 Main Library W441
 Michigan State University
 East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
 +1.517.432.6123 ext. 231
 +1.517.432.8374 (fax)