Head of Oral History Programme and Collections, Library

Head of Oral History Programme and Collections, Library
Competition Number: U12.26
Department: Library
Employee Group: UWFA-RAS
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Job Type: Continuing
Date Posted: 04/21/2026
Closing Date: 05/21/2026

Head of Oral History Programme and Collections

(Continuing-Track Position)
The University of Winnipeg Library invites applications for the position of Head of Oral History Programme and Collections. This position will be appointed as a Librarian Member of the University of Winnipeg Faculty Association (http://www.uwfa.ca). Salary and benefits will be commensurate with experience.

Located in the heart of Treaty 1 Territory and the traditional homelands of the Métis Nation, The University of Winnipeg is a diverse, multicultural urban campus committed to academic excellence, community engagement, social justice, and environmental sustainability. With a faculty and staff of approximately 1,000 and more than 14,000 learners, The University of Winnipeg combines a strong tradition of outstanding scholarship in teaching, research, and creative work with a unique emphasis on engagement with community partners.

Position Description:
Reporting to the Dean or Associate Dean of the Library in their capacity as Director of the Oral History Centre, the “Head of Oral History Programme and Collections” (“Head”) is responsible for the research, design, implementation, and development of educational programming, advisory services, research outputs, and archival collections to support the use of oral history in research and teaching on-campus, across Canada and internationally.

Established in 2012, the Oral History Centre is concerned with oral history as a field of study and a scholarly method involved with gathering, interpreting, and preserving and making accessible the individual and collective memory of specific communities. The Oral History Centre is headed by the Director, who is responsible for ensuring the Centre conforms to the policies of the university.

As a Librarian member within the University of Winnipeg Faculty Association (UWFA), the Head is a subject expert in the field of Oral History, including methodological best practices, the preservation of oral history records, and the curation of oral history records and research outcomes. The primary role of the Head is to lead the daily operations of the Oral History Centre and prioritize support and research commitments with respect to the strategic goals of the Centre.

Service to the university includes participation in Librarians’ Committee and other committees as defined in the UWFA Collective Agreement.

Responsibilities:
• Remain current in the disciplinary trends in academic and community-based oral history, including:
o creation, management, and preservation of oral history records;
o application of oral history methodologies in teaching and research;
o curation of oral history in public contexts;
o current technologies applicable to the creation and curation and preservation of oral history; and
o equitable models of community/university collaboration.
• Consult in oral history practice and collections management.
• Support creative knowledge mobilization through outputs for oral history research, such as faculty publications, exhibitions, and other publicly accessible modes of dissemination.
• Develop a personal research programme.
• Oversee the annual programming and ongoing functions of the Oral History Centre, including:
o public educational programming,
o oral history workshops,
o participation and partnership in oral history-based research projects,
o the appraisal and acquisition of oral history donations, and
o managing and facilitating access to extant collections at the Oral History Centre Archives.
• Develop strategies, policies, and procedures around oral history research and collections management, creating accessible educational materials where useful and appropriate.
• Supervise Oral History Centre staff as needed.

Qualifications:
Required
• A Master’s degree in history or archival studies, with a focus on oral history.
• Extensive knowledge of oral history practice and methods.
• Experience working in the fields of oral history, public history, and/or archives.
• Experience developing and instructing educational programming.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Evidence of successful project management.
• Demonstrated commitment to providing customer service.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse internal and external contacts.
• Advanced computer and technological skills, including Office 365 and other technologies frequently used in the recording and dissemination of oral history.
• Familiarity with major oral history and archives software and tools (ex. OHMS, AtoM, Aviary).

Preferred
• Experience working at an oral history centre or institute.
• Experience developing and delivering oral history-specific instructional programming.
• Experience working successfully with persons from culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Experience supervising staff is an asset.

Appointment:
This is a continuing-track appointment and is subject to final budgetary approval. The Head of Oral History Programme and Collections will be appointed as a Librarian member of the University of Winnipeg Faculty Association (http://www.uwfa.ca) to one of four ranks, depending on qualifications and experience. Salary and benefits will be commensurate with experience.

Applicants must submit a cover letter, CV, and the names of three references through the University of Winnipeg’s online recruitment system at: Careers – University of Winnipeg. Please click on the “Apply” link at the bottom of the advertisement to submit your application.

The deadline for receipt of applications is May 21, 2026.

Inquiries about this employment opportunity can be directed to:

Janice Reyes Bain
ja.reyesbain@uwinnipeg.ca
204.786.9801

The University of Winnipeg is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognizes that a diverse staff and faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research environments, and is essential to academic and institutional excellence. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and encourage women, racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons to confidentially self-identify at time of application.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University of Winnipeg is committed to ensuring employment opportunities are accessible for all applicants. If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact human_resources@uwinnipeg.ca.

The personal information of applicants is collected under the authority of the University of Winnipeg Act and 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. All personal information collected via the recruitment process is used to assess the applicant’s suitability, eligibility, and qualifications for employment, and to otherwise support recruitment activities. This information will be provided to participating members of the recruitment process. Questions regarding the collection of your personal information may be directed to the Director, HR Services, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2E9 or human_resources@uwinnipeg.ca.

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