Senior Librarian

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Glasgow Caledonian – the largest and leading modern university in Scotland - is a vibrant, values-led university with campuses in the heart of Glasgow and London. With a strong commitment to high quality education and research which supports the communities we serve, we have strong partnerships with employers to ensure our students get the careers they dream of and deserve.

In 2023 we rocketed into the top 40 universities in the UK in the highly regarded Guardian University Guide, were ranked the UK’s 2nd top performing modern university in the inaugural Daily Mail guide, and entered the top highly coveted 50 UK universities in the 2024 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide for the first time. We are the top performing modern University in Scotland in all three guides. We are the only Scottish university with EcoCampus Platinum accreditation and were ranked second in Scotland for sustainability in the most recent People and Planet league table.

With a wide range of professionally accredited courses and links with over 300 industry partners, we have the highest proportion of undergraduate level graduates in highly skilled occupations (83%) compared to other Scottish modern universities - with 91% of our students in employment or further study within fifteen months of graduating (HESA 2023). We are Scotland’s leading provider of Graduate Apprenticeships and we have transnational partnerships around the world, supporting more than 22,000 students from nearly 120 countries.  We are committed to widening participation, helping more people from diverse backgrounds into university.

Guided by our values – integrity, responsibility, creativity and confidence - we transform the lives of the people and communities we serve.

The Sir Alex Ferguson Library in Glasgow Caledonian University is a state-of-the-art facility at the heart of the campus. It offers a wide range of high-tech learning resources and services, including over 1,800 study spaces, free Wi-Fi, and 350 computers. The library is designed to support both collaborative and individual study, with spaces for group work as well as quiet areas for focused study. We aim to create a vibrant learning environment for staff and students and are committed to supporting the University's mission of transforming lives and communities.

 

We seek to recruit a full time Senior Librarian to lead the Collections and Discovery team and provide operational leadership, management, and support for the effective delivery of the following services:

• The acquisition, description, management, discoverability, and accessibility of library electronic resources and physical collections.
• Management of the University research outputs repository, open educational resources repository, and support for the Open Access research agenda.
• Management, development, and support of library systems and services.
• Archives collection management, enquiries and access, and learning and teaching support.

The post holder will be part of the Library Senior Management Team responsible for directing and developing library strategy, policy and planning, and ensuring alignment with, and support for, University strategic objectives.

The successful candidate will possess a professional qualification in a relevant subject plus significant management and leadership experience. They will have proven experience in managing and developing teams of experienced professionals with the ability to interact effectively with all levels of staff and management across the University. They will possess strong project management skills, and excellent presentation and interpersonal skills, with experience building internal and external network relationships. Expertise in cataloguing and metadata standards is required, along with knowledge and experience in managing library systems and services. Additionally, the candidate should have expertise in open access management and research support, including providing REF advice and guidance.

Further details on this post are available by contacting Gary Steele, Head of Library Services at gary.steele@gcu.ac.uk. 

As the University for the Common Good, we are committed to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as our values in everything that we do.  As such, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates who demonstrate the GCU Values.

Glasgow Caledonian University is committed to a fair and transparent recruitment process that is free from bias so that we can attract and retain a high performing workforce which makes a critical contribution to our success​.

The University holds the prestigious Athena SWAN Silver institution award, which recognises our significant record of activity and achievement in promoting gender equality across different disciplines.

As a Disability Confident 'Committed' employer, we are striving to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to disabled people. Although the Disability Confident 'Committed' level does not guarantee an interview for disabled applicants, we will make reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants during the recruitment process.

The University also holds the Carer Positive ‘Engaged’ employer award, which recognises our commitment to supporting staff with caring responsibilities.

Glasgow Caledonian University are committed signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant. 

The University offers a range of benefits including opportunities for professional development, family friendly policies, cycle to work scheme and onsite childcare facilities.

Please note that the appointment will be made on the first point of the salary scale (unless by exception).