About Library and Information Services
Located at the heart of the RGU campus, is the distinctive round tower of the university library, a first class physical Library with a range of relevant learning environments with flexible and varied space and collections appropriate to teaching, learning, research requirements and integral to the wider teaching and learning mission, to supplement a comprehensive Virtual Library, with information available in digital format to support the needs of our diverse community. All services are available in a digital environment with services and resources embedded within VLE & VRE.
Our values are customer focussed, with the customer at the heart of everything we do. Library colleagues are reflective, innovative and professional, aspiring to excellence through expertise, collaboration and effective practice.
The Library’s excellent reputation is built upon key aims, which are:
- Getting it right for every student – access to the best resources for the individual, when they need them, delivered in the most appropriate format.
- To offer user education and support which enhances learning, research and employability.
- To provide a virtual environment, supplemented by the physical, which are complementary to the wider University learning environments.
- To be a valued partner for schools and other student facing departments, other professional and HE agencies.
- To enable provision of an extensive collection of historical objects and contemporary art which allow staff, students and visitors to explore our University’s history.
Director of Library and Information Services
RGU’s library is central to the University. The new Director will be part of the University Management group and will play a key role in enabling the University achieve its strategic ambition by; advancing the teaching and research provision, creating meaningful and creative learning experiences, forging effective and productive relationships with stakeholders and ensuring students (and staff) achieve the highest standard of information literacy.
You will deliver a compelling strategic vision for the library, implement robust financial planning and facilitate and ensure the highest standards of collections stewardship (including the arts and heritage collection), among a range of other responsibilities.
An inspirational and strategic leader you will be personally committed the University vison, mission and purpose. You will bring extensive leadership and operational management experience in the academic library and collections sector and be an expert in scholarly communication, open access, and digital support services. With an in-depth understanding of current issues relating to the Higher Education Sector and Library Services and Collections, you’ll have the ability to plan strategically to address these issues in alignment with the University Strategy. You will accustomed to working in diverse and innovative workplaces and will have excellent relationship-building, ambassadorial and interpersonal skills, with a track record of successful people management and the ability to motivate and inspire staff.
Principal Duties
- To provide strategic direction for the university library staff to ensure delivery of a high quality, high performance service to staff and students.
- Promoting the centrality of the library’s role, which includes responsibility for the RGU art and heritage collections and the university archive, in providing essential support for the enhancement of research, teaching and learning and the student experience
- Exploiting the benefits of the digital information environment and developing new strategies and vision for shaping the physical collection and the facilities.
- Deliver a high quality library and heritage services to support student success and achievement of university strategic priorities.
- Lead the development and implementation of the Library, RGU Art and Heritage Collections and University Archive Strategic Framework ensuring this reflects university priorities, also changing trends/circumstances in sector.
- Ensuring an affordable and balanced information resource aligned with the programme portfolio and research aspirations.
- Ensure the delivery of library management systems, taking account of relevant framework agreements and shared services supporting more centralised servicing of content to support institutional access to and discovery of an increased resource base and streamlining of local services.
- Facilitate student participation in the development and delivery of library, heritage and cultural activities to inform enhancement, including through student volunteering and work placement.
- Ensure effective management and implementation of projects.
- Deliver best value for RGU through joint procurement of resources via the Scottish Higher Education Digital Library consortium managing risks associated with publisher contracts/ agreement.
- Ensure alignment and to and implementation of appropriate policy and systems; promote awareness to facilitate university Open Access to increase visibility and citation of RGU outputs, also to meet requirements of REF2028 and research funders.
- Participating (and encouraging library participation) in regional, national and international organisations that promote the Library in the wider academic community as a leader in technology and information-related concerns.
- Encouraging and assisting Library staff in the development of grant and contract proposals that advance the mission of the university.
Requirements
Qualifications and Professional Memberships
- Educated to degree level or above, holding a relevant qualification
Knowledge and Skills
- Extensive knowledge of library services and systems
- Understanding of publishing (national and international), scholarly communication , copyright, licensing and publisher agreements
- Knowledge of developments in technology, learning and resource management and the application thereof Understanding of HE environment and cultural sectors
- Ability to communicate vision, plans, proposals and business propositions to varied audiences inside and outside the university.
- Ability to lead and motivate other within and outwith area of professional expertise
- Ability to deliver successful change programmes, including culture change that enhances the efficiency and quality of services to customers.
- Ability to deliver quality services by engaging customers and understanding their requirements
- Ability to develop strong working relationships with senior colleagues and foster a collaborative culture through effective team leadership
- Ability to build and use networks at a uk, national and regional level to deliver an extensive provision and to maximise the use of these collaborations to further teaching, learning and research
Experience
- Significant and proven experience of leading , motivating and developing teams
- Significant experience in delivering an innovative and customer centred library and information service
- Experience of budget management, procurement and contract management, including making budget trade offs that support a customer centred provision
Leadership Behaviours
- Communicates a clear and consistent vision and is able to translate it into plans and actions that engage people;
- Champions change looks for and implements better ways of working
- Proactively supports and encourages enterprise, innovation and creativity
- Treats people with respect; promotes and encourages fairness and equality
- Builds and maintains good working relationships
- Builds and leads an effective team
About RGU
Robert Gordon University (RGU) offers staff and students alike a distinctive, professionally-focused academic environment in which demand-led teaching and research helps individuals develop and prosper. With significant, often unique, strengths across a wide range of educational areas, an impressive array of national and international awards and one of the most beautiful campuses - and regions - in which to live and work in the UK, we offer staff a unique platform on which to develop their careers.
Our University's role in the community can be traced back nearly three and a half centuries to the birth of Aberdeen merchant and benefactor Robert Gordon in 1668. Robert Gordon's mercantile adventures founded a strong and remarkably modern belief that his investment in the education of his townsfolk would equip them with the skills and knowledge to strengthen their success in Europe and further afield.
Today, more than 260 years after his death, the University which bears his name remains true to his spirit and enterprise.
Relocating
Whether you are coming from within Scotland, the UK or from overseas, we appreciate that it’s a complex process with a multitude of things to consider. Our recruitment team will be pleased to help and answer any questions, but you can also find the best of the information available online to help you make this transition:
We look forward to welcoming you to Aberdeen.
Relocation assistance will available subject to conditions.
How to Apply
Submit your application online:
Please upload a CV and supporting statement explaining your interest in this post and detailing what you would bring to the role and your view of potential future developments for the library.
Closing Date
Please submit your application by Monday 13 June 2023.
Contact
Informal enquiries should be directed to Professor Nick Fyfe, Vice Principal Research and Community Engagement, n.fyfe3@rgu.ac.uk
For any further questions, please contact hr@rgu.ac.uk