Materials Curator

Program: VCUQatar Library
Position Number: FA4320
Location: Doha, Qatar
Position Begins: July 2010
Review of Applications Begins: November 30, 2009 and continues until position is filled.

VCUQatar (www.qatar.vcu.edu) is an undergraduate and graduate degree granting campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, School of the Arts, ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the leading art and design program among all U.S. public universities. Located in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, VCUQatar is affiliated with the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (www.qf.org.qa). Celebrating ten years of operation in 2008, VCUQatar offers BFA degrees in Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design and Painting and Printmaking, and an MFA degree in Design Studies. The majority of students are from the Gulf region with approximately 30% international. The School is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. VCUQatar has substantial involvement with the emerging design industries in Qatar and is a significant catalyst for that growth.

VCUQatar benefits from a funding situation that allows it to be driven by innovative programmatic needs rather than typical fiscal constraints. Externally funded student and faculty research opportunities are expanding with the rapid development of Qatar, now among the wealthiest countries in the world based upon per capita GDP. (www.qnrf.org) The VCUQatar Center for Research in Design has a contract to design the Qatar military uniforms; is involved in the World Design Report with Icograda; has research funding to develop portable, sustainable architecture for labor housing; and is expanding its collaboration with faculty and external partners. The school is the center for design education in the country by emphasizing design entrepreneurship and design awareness through lectures, exhibitions, and conferences, such as the international conference “Tasmeem Doha.”

VCUQatar’s full-time faculty and administrative staff of 120 (60% female), instruct a coed student body of 215. The school maintains an enviable student/faculty ratio of 10:1. Housed in a 96,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, the school has 123,000 square foot addition that will open in Fall 2010. VCUQatar was the first campus established in Education City, a unique 2,500 acre campus community. VCUQatar has since been joined by Carnegie-Mellon University (Business and Computer Science), Cornell University’s Weill School of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Northwestern University (Journalism and Communication), and Texas A & M University (Engineering). Education City is able to continue increasing its international presence as Qatar remains one of the healthiest economies in the Gulf region.

Qatar is a liberal, hospitable and progressive country in the Arabian Gulf. English is the standard second language and the population of Qatar is approximately 1.65 million and growing – 350,000 Qatari, 15,000 US citizens, the remainder expatriates. Doha with a population of 980,000 has all the conveniences found in a contemporary city, and also maintains a traditional Arab flavor, evident in the old markets and the city’s Islamic Arab architecture. The new Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M.Pei opened in November 2008. The US Embassy considers Qatar among the safest countries in the world for Americans.

Position Description

VCUQatar is planning a Materials Library to provide direction, inspiration and support for materials research for our undergraduate and graduate design programs. Materials are the substances used in designed products, such as natural materials, polymers, ceramics, metals, and glass. We are seeking an experienced professional to implement, organize, and manage a library of material samples as well as a professional-level product literature collection for fashion, interior design, graphic design and related design disciplines. This position will design and deliver services including access to and information about materials and the collection; research support for students and faculty, and current awareness services for new materials and applications. This position will foster and maintain industry connections and procure materials internationally to create a source for information about the local materials industry and suppliers. In consultation with the Library Director and design faculty, this position will lead the planning of facilities and furnishings, the development, organization and maintenance of the collections and on-line searching tools, and the provision of proactive educational services. VCUQatar Library faculty are expected to be professionally active and contribute to developments in their field. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

VCUQ welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds with appropriate skills in fields such as materials libraries, project management in interior design or architecture, industrial design, manufacturers’ representative, model making/prototyping, sustainable materials specialist, etc. In addition to an advanced understanding of materials, the position requires strengths in networking and facilitating, teaching and working with students, dealing with manufacturers, organizing workshops, organizing and cataloging collections, and knowledge of the materials industries.

The position requires an undergraduate degree and 5 or more years applicable professional experience; a graduate degree is preferred. Strong collaborative and communication skills are required as well as strong experience or potential for working in a culturally diverse work environment.

Benefits

• Competitive international salary
• Tax protection for U.S. Taxpayers
• 30% Off-shore supplement to base salary
• Medical Insurance (100% employer funded premium and employer cost shared options available)
• Fully furnished villa or apartment including wireless internet
• Annual travel allowance to home of record (to include a spouse and dependents relocated to Qatar)
• Monthly transportation allowance
• Educational reimbursement for up to 4 dependent children enrolled in an accredited K-12 program
• International Professional Development and Research Opportunities

Application Process:Qualified applicants who have a record of achievement appropriate to VCUQatar should submit a letter of interest with a curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts, and the names of five references including email and telephone contact information to Ryan Ellington (rfellington@vcu.edu), Human Resources Administrator. Only Electronic submissions will be accepted.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

For more information on VCUQatar and this unique international opportunity, please visit

www.vcu.edu/arts/employment/qatar