Library

Grade 7: - £33,797 - £40,322 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 17-Aug-2021, 6:59:00 AM 

The Role Purpose

The Research Support Librarian contributes to the delivery of library services to researchers and research students. The role holder will work as a core member of the team that supports researcher skills development, scholarly communications, bibliometric services, exploitation of collections for research and the management of research data.

The post-holder will

• Play a leading role in the strategic development and management of scholarly communications services including the repository and the use of open access funds.
• Contribute to the University’s use of research publications metrics, in partnership with Research and Innovation Services and the Strategic Planning Office.
• Contribute to the planning and delivery of training and researcher development in partnership with others both inside and outside the department.

This is a new post, strengthening the established team and responding to the increased activity in scholarly communications. Working with the broader team, the post-holder will play a key part in shaping the department’s response to Plan S and the introduction of the Worktribe outputs and profiles modules for management of publications.

The Department

In January 1833 Bishop William van Mildert donated 160 volumes to found the University Library, located on Palace Green and in the same year Durham’s first university museum opened to the public. Today the University Library and Collections offers spaces, collections, expertise and services supporting education, research, the wider student experience and cultural and educational outreach. Collections and services operate across a wide estate of libraries, archives, museums, galleries and exhibition spaces, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Palace Green. Our nationally and internationally recognised collections span early books, archives and manuscripts, museum objects and art, print and electronic materials and include a repository of digitised materials, research outputs and research data. Our users encompass anyone engaging with our collections, services and facilities in person or remotely, this includes university staff, researchers from around the globe, students in higher education from Durham and other universities, school pupils and teachers, Durham’s local residents and tourists.

We are an ambitious and developing team with a focus on providing the best experience for our students, researchers and the wider community. We are valued partners working with students, professional services and academics across the University, and professionals and organisations regionally, nationally and internationally.

The University Library and Collections is made up of six sections: Collections; Customer Services; Education, Learning and Engagement; Research and Systems; Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions; and Finance and Administration. Staff work flexibly between the sections, enabled by seven cross-cutting groups, Collections, Education, Engagement, User Experience, Operations, Research, Staff Development and a Programme and Project Steering Group.

The Research and Systems Team, under the leadership of the Head of Research and Systems, provide services in two key areas of departmental activity. Our services are developing to support scholarly communications and the move to open research, providing advocacy, support and training on best practice in areas such as research data management and bibliometrics. The team contributes to training and support for research staff and students as part of the University's approach to supporting digital literacy and engagement with a wider approach to digital scholarship. Our systems underpin the core activity of the Library and University but extend to enabling innovation in education and research, particularly digital scholarship.

Core Responsibilities:

• Recognised professional practitioner and scholarly communications specialist with responsibility for the management of team members.
• Provide input to the design and development of service processes and deliverables around scholarly communications and researcher development.
• Manage operational service activities to ensure excellence in the stakeholder experience.
• Contribute to the analysis of stakeholder feedback to help define needs and requirements, inputting to the design and planning of services.
• Internal and external relationship development and partnership working, networking and participation to engage and influence future services and the University reputation.
• Develop and deliver training and teaching for service users.
• Provide feedback on team and individual performance and identify development needs, conducting regular staff Annual Development Review and performance reviews.
• Handle the vast majority of welfare issues within the team, referring more complex welfare issues to appropriate support services/senior management.
• Delivery of ongoing coaching, mentoring and training to team members.
• Maintain an awareness of current policy for University business goals such as research excellence and international reputation enhancement.
• Contribute to business meetings, working groups and sub committees at departmental and operational service levels.
• Oversight for the open access funds and responsibility for making decisions on non-standard requests for expenditure.
• Devolve responsibilities to team members to ensure continuity of service provision and encourage skills development.

Role Responsibilities:

• Provide management for the operation of a stakeholder focussed scholarly communications service.
• Manage and monitor service performance and provide metrics and reports to Service Heads, making recommendations as appropriate.
• Participate in and monitor communities of practice and partnership working internally and externally.
• Network and engage with external and internal stakeholders to gather feedback and identify future service needs, to ensure excellence in service provision.
• Contribute to the production and analysis of statistical service metrics to identify successful delivery and areas for future improvement.
• Distribute and process key service information to all stakeholders.
• Implement continuous service improvements to enhance the delivery of stakeholder services.
• Communicate with internal and external stakeholders using appropriate media and methods.
• Contribute to the delivery of activities that generate external income.
• Deliver support to researchers and research students. 
• Any other reasonable duties.

Recruiting to this post

In order to be considered for interview, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification.

In some cases, the recruiting panel may also consider the desirable criteria, so we recommend you evidence all criteria in your application.

Please note that some criteria will only be considered at interview stage.

How to apply

We prefer to receive applications online. Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

What you are required to submit

1. A CV;
2. A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above;
3. Examples of how you satisfy the essential criteria in the person specification, this will require completion of the 'Questionnaire' application section.
4. A separate document with examples of how you satisfy the Realising Your Potential criteria in the Person Specification

Please ensure that you submit all documentation listed above or your application cannot proceed to the next stage.

Contact details

For further information please contact; Matthew Phillips, Head of Research and Systems - m.e.phillips@durham.ac.uk

At Durham University, our aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.

Job Family: Community, Participation and Engagement Services

Our Characteristics: We are a globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, in a unique and historic setting.

Our Values: We are inspiring, challenging, innovative, responsible and enabling.

Durham University

Durham University is one of the world's top universities with strengths across the Arts and Humanities, Business, Sciences and Social Sciences. We are home to some of the most talented scholars and researchers from around the world who are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives. 

The University sits in a beautiful historic city where it shares ownership of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral, the greatest Romanesque building in Western Europe. A collegiate University, Durham recruits outstanding students from across the world and offers an unmatched wider student experience.

Durham University seeks to promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment for work and study that assists all members of our University community to reach their full potential. Diversity brings strength and we welcome applications from across the international, national and regional communities that we work with and serve.

It is expected that all staff within the University:

• Contribute to our learning culture by engaging in mentoring, training and coaching.
• Positively contribute to fostering a collegial environment; as well as demonstrating commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Have due regard to Health and Safety requirements appropriate to grade and role.

Family key attributes

Roles in this family provide an excellent stakeholder experience for our diverse and supportive community.   

Overall family purpose

• Provide excellent student support services, development and extra-curricular activities.
• Align and deliver programmes and activities to meet operational and strategic objectives to enhance the stakeholder experience.
• Respond to stakeholders at the point of service delivery, either in situ or remotely.
• Facilitate the development of excellent colleague and academic engagement.
• Provide a stakeholder focussed service designed to increase widening participation and diversity.
• Promote the Durham reputation by establishing and broadening national and international community links to enhance the cultural and economic viability of the City and region.
• Enhance the Durham wider student experience by developing extra-curricular activities.
• Contribute to and enhance active, inclusive and supportive communities of stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively and network across the University with staff in other families to ensure a smooth, timely and high-quality delivery of service.
• Engage with suppliers, consultants and specialist professionals to deliver programmes and activities to enhance the stakeholder experience.
• Engage and encourage outreach and participation with external professionals, schools, alumni and donors.
• Engage and network with both internal and external stakeholders to facilitate knowledge exchange and impact through local, national and international communities. 

Link to key strategic plan

• An economically and environmentally sustainable approach to delivering stakeholder focussed services across the University;
• A world-class student, alumni and donor experience;
• Focussed on the needs of all users working together to deliver front-line services as part of the Wider Student Experience;
• Learn from and match best practice in the Wider Student Experience around the world;
• Opening up our world-class sporting facilities to local clubs and athletes;
• Support and facilitate activities as part of the Widening Student Experience at Durham;
• A stakeholder-focused orientation, offering satisfying careers to all staff;
• Ensure that an increasingly diverse workforce is treated equally, fairly and with respect, and that all staff are demonstrably valued and actively engaged.

Person specification - skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience required

Essential Criteria:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop excellent working relationships both internally and externally.
• Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office.
• Professional practitioner who can use knowledge and awareness of open access and scholarly communication issues to contribute to the delivery and development of services, events and activities within the organisation.
• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
• Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships, to influence perceptions of the University.
• Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
• Experience of implementing policy and procedures and involvement with future changes for a service area.
• Ability to contribute to planning at operational level.

Desirable Criteria:

• Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
• Experience of managing and developing a team or teams and/or line management qualification.
• Continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition.

Realising Your Potential Approach

Embracing Change

Proactively scanning the wider external environment to seek opportunities to develop the University

Working Together

Working across boundaries to develop relationships with other teams

Achieving Results

Being knowledgeable about key stakeholders and how they may influence the work of your department

DBS Requirement: Not Applicable.