Head of Collections Discovery & Systems
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
The University Library is seeking to appoint a new member of the Library Collections Senior Management Team to bring expertise and leadership in the digital discovery, preservation, and management of the University’s internationally significant collection of books, manuscripts and archives.
Created, acquired, developed and managed since the University’s foundation in 1451, the Library’s collections are a rich and distinctive research resource, enabling learning, teaching, research and engagement across the University community.
The Head of Collections Discovery & Systems will articulate an ambitious vision for collection discovery, preservation, and access. The postholder will build capacity and capability within Library Collections to harness the potential of digital transformation and digital humanities scholarship to enhance and develop our professional practice and services. They will work closely with senior colleagues within Library Services and Library Collections to deliver an enabling technology environment meeting the needs of our collections and the expectations of our users.
The successful candidate will be keenly attuned to the heritage and library collections environment, with expertise in collections metadata and the ways in which this rich data can be optimised, shared, reused and rendered interoperable. The postholder will have opportunities to develop strategic partnerships to enable digital humanities projects centred on the Library’s unique and distinctive collections.
The Head of Collections Discovery & Systems sits within the Library Collections Directorate, within Library Services.
For an informal conversation around this opportunity, please contact Clare Paterson, Assistant Director, Library Collections, on Clare.Paterson@glasgow.ac.uk
Job purpose
Strategic leadership in digital management, preservation and access for the Library’s unique and distinctive collections to maximise the potential for research, learning and knowledge exchange locally, nationally and internationally.
Provision of expert specialist advice on the deployment, development and replacement of systems and platforms for the management of collections.
As part of Library Collections management team, bring professional expertise and knowledge to ensure the development and management of the Library’s unique and distinctive collections.
Main duties & responsibilities
- Articulate and deliver an ambitious vision for collections digital discovery, preservation, and access.
- Lead the strategic development and progression of a digital infrastructure roadmap for Library Collections, centred on the needs of our unique and distinctive collections, our staff and our service users. Ensure that senior managers are regularly briefed on the systems landscape and advised about investment opportunities to maintain effective and sustainable infrastructure.
- Working with colleagues within Library Collections, Information Services, and the Colleges, lead the development and implementation of a digital access roadmap, identifying and enabling opportunities to deliver the Library’s unique collections online to a global audience. Develop networks and engage with key stakeholders to identify and enable digital humanities research projects and partnerships centred around our unique and distinctive collections.
- Develop and implement a digital preservation roadmap, ensuring long-term preservation and accessibility of born-digital collections. Build and maintain effective networks across Information Services, University Services, and the Colleges to ensure the provision of effective and relevant digital preservation advice and services to the University community.
- Work closely with the Digital Library Team, ensuring effective co-ordination and efficiencies across the Library’s digital systems and platforms.
- Support Library Collections team members to ensure local metadata are fit for purpose, meeting all relevant international standards. Provide strategic leadership on the ways data pertaining to the University’s rich collections can be better optimised, shared, reused, and rendered interoperable to ensure the emergence of new strategic partnerships, sectoral initiatives, and as a platform for research and innovation.
- Lead, support and develop staff, ensuring professional standards and quality assured outputs.
- Represent the University at national and international conferences and meetings. Proactively participate in Higher Education and professional networks and initiatives. Enhance Library Collections’ activities through leveraging strategic partnerships and external funding.
- As a member of Library Collections Senior Management Team continue to develop an engaged and effective team to deliver high quality services to the University community and beyond.
Knowledge and qualifications
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and management skills in a similar or number of different specialist professional librarian / archivist / information science roles. Or, Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, 10 or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification), or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in relevant librarian / archivist / information science discipline, with a broad range of professional experience in a management role(s).
- Strong evidence of continuing to develop professional skills and knowledge.
- Deep understanding of the issues, challenges, and opportunities of digital transformation in research libraries.
- Authoritative knowledge of national and international initiatives and standards in data-sharing and interoperability.
- Expert knowledge of collections / content management and discovery systems.
- Understanding of digital preservation systems.
- Authoritative knowledge of relevant collections metadata standards and schema (e.g. ISAD-G, EAD, DCRM(B), MARC21).
Desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of the principles associated with varieties of Linked Open Data deployed within the cultural heritage or research-intensive sectors, including the use of persistent identification and graphing of entities to aid data sharing and resource discovery.
- Cognisance of FAIR and its importance in exposing digital collections to human and machine users.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent IT, systems designs and systems development skills.
- Highly effective, confident written and verbal communicator, including preparation and delivery of presentations to University management teams and committees.
- Proven relationship management skills, with the ability to influence, advice and support a wide range of stakeholders.
- Ability to interpret, articulate and disseminate complex technical information to varied audiences.
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to plan, organise and define priorities and direct time effectively.
- Demonstrable leadership skills with the ability to manage teams and staff.
- Highly effective analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Numerate, with the ability to manage budgets and resources.
- Ability to liaise and co-operate with people within a team to deliver team objectives.
Experience
Essential
- Experience in metadata and asset management for very large collections, including in-depth knowledge of library and archival metadata standards (e.g. ISAD-G, DCRM(B), MARC21), interoperability platforms (e.g. IIIF), and metadata harvesting protocols (e.g. OAI-PMH, ResourceSync).
- Proven track record of managing information systems, including managing system integrations, solving interoperability challenges, and successfully exchanging complex data across local and third-party systems (e.g. via APIs).
- Experience of leading and managing complex programmes, evidencing strong organisational and leadership skills.
- Proven track record in building relationships, both internally and externally.
- Track record of leading and managing a team effectively towards delivering strategic goals.
- Experience of matrix working and working collaboratively across teams.
Desirable
- Track record of innovation in delivering and improving services.
- Experience in implementation and management of digital preservation software, systems, tools and standards (e.g. PREMIS, OCFL, etc.).
- Comfort working with data and metadata schema in a diverse range of serializations (e.g. XML, JSON, TEI, etc.).
How to apply
Full details of the role and how to apply can be found by visiting our website:
The closing date for applications is 11 August 2024.
Terms & Conditions
Salary will be Grade 8, £48,350 - £56,021 per annum.
This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended (permanent).
As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook [https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/](https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/), benefits and discount packages.
A flexible approach to working.
A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University [https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/](https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/).
We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community [https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/](https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/).
We endorse the principles of Athena Swan [https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/](https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/) and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.
We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website [https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/](https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/) for more information.
Campus development plan
Our Vision
Over the next 10 years, the major investment will expand our campus footprint by 25%, creating a new urban quarter with the University at the heart of a revitalised west end. This is the largest development since the creation of the original campus in 1870.
This is a unique opportunity for a University to extend the boundaries of its historic core in a central city location. It will create:
- New learning and teaching facilities
- Refurbishment and repurposing of existing iconic buildings for specialist uses
- Identification and design of social spaces that support the student and community experience.
The expansion of our Gilmorehill campus into the 14 acre, former Western Infirmary site will transform the West End of Glasgow. The Masterplan for the site will incorporate:
- New learning and teaching facilities supporting our students and making sure they get the best in modern teaching and learning styles and approaches
- Creation of a Research Hub, housing large-scale multidisciplinary projects and incubator space for spin out collaborations with industry. This will encourage further innovation development
- New public cycle and pedestrian routes and a new central square which will link Byres Road to the up-and-coming cultural quarter for the West End, with new links to Kelvingrove and the newly-refurbished Kelvin Hall
- Refurbishment of five listed buildings: The Chapel, the Outpatients building, the Macgregor building, the Tennent Institute and Anderson College
- Commercial opportunities, including a hotel, restaurant, bars and cafes
- The state of the art Learning and Teaching Hub adjacent to the Boyd Orr building on University Avenue will be completed next year.
Find out more
Living in Glasgow
A UNESCO City of Music, a vibrant arts and culture scene, a food-lover’s delight, and a shopper’s paradise. Just some of the highlights of the ‘friendliest city in the world’. As well as that accolade by the Rough Guides poll, Glasgow has also been named a must visit destination by publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Wanderlust.
Music
The city hosts an average of 130 music events a week catering for every taste; from rock to rap, and classical to country. Glasgow also has a world class club scene playing host to some of the world’s top DJs.
Shopping
Outside of London’s West End, Glasgow is frequently voted the best place for shopping in the UK. A must-visit destination for any shop-a-holic, it houses high street chains, international designers, and independent retailers. The West End, home to the University of Glasgow, is bustling with vintage fashion, vinyl stores, and second-hand bookshops.
Arts and Culture
Glasgow’s arts scene has gone from strength to strength, and is the base for five internationally renowned performing arts companies including the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Ballet. The city has several world-class museums, which are free to the public, and the city’s architecture is a work of art in itself.
Food and drink
You can be in Glasgow and taste the world with its many diverse restaurants, cafes, and bars. And if you’ve yet to sample the delights of haggis and whisky, Glasgow is the place to be.
The City and Beyond
Glasgow has all the opportunities and excitement of a big city but its compact size means you can quickly travel from one vibrant district to the next. You could be relaxing in one of its many parks, before shopping in the quirky West End, and then dancing until the wee small hours in the Merchant City.
And when you fancy getting out of the city you can reach the stunning Loch Lomond in just 30 minutes, climb one of our many breath-taking Munros, play golf at one of Scotland’s many world-class courses, visit one of our ancient castles, or go further North and search for Nessie! Scotland has also just been named the world’s most beautiful country by Rough Guides.
Relocating to Glasgow
Choosing to relocate to Glasgow is a big decision. There are numerous things to be considered, such as the costs of moving, the cost of living, and where exactly to relocate to. We have created two guides to aide you in the decision making process.
Find out more on relocating to Glasgow at the below link:
WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER
WORLD CHANGING GLASGOW 2025
Our outstanding disciplinary breadth and expertise has enabled us to make world-changing advances in fields as diverse as medicine, physics, linguistics, public policy and global development.
The key to our success is our talented staff and students pushing back at the boundaries of knowledge and understanding together.
Our World Changers Together strategy recognises the fundamental importance of a culture of open cooperation: not just as colleagues and mentors or students and teachers, but as a community of discovery that reaches beyond its walls and draws inspiration and strength from its connections and partnerships worldwide: excellence that's part of something bigger. The strategy is articulated across three themes:
COMMUNITY
- People centred, globally engaged
CONNECTIVITY
- Collaboratively minded, digitally enhanced
CHALLENGES
- Solution focused, impact oriented
Find out more
It is the University of Glasgow’s mission to foster an inclusive climate, which ensures equality in our working, learning, research and teaching environment. We strongly endorse the principles of Athena SWAN, including a supportive and flexible working environment, with commitment from all levels of the organisation in promoting gender equity.
Our values
The future holds innumerable challenges for our sector, our society, and our world. We will have to adapt and change what we do and what we offer if we are to navigate these successfully. Our strategy and approach may evolve as the landscape changes, but our values will remain constant: a fixed point of certainty in uncertain times.
We have identified our values in consultation and partnership with our staff and student community. Living and upholding these values will ensure that we remain true to the spirit of our community and ourselves:
Ambition and Excellence
- We strive for excellence through our work
- We defend academic freedom globally
- We recognise and celebrate shared success
- We have an unrelenting focus on development
Curiosity and Discovery
- We innovate and solve problems together
- We lead by influence and example
- We engage with lifelong learning and personal development
- We learn from our mistakes
Integrity and Truth
- We uphold honesty, integrity and fairness
- We share our work widely and generously
- We do the right thing, not the easy thing - or we don’t do it
- We take responsibility
An Inclusive Community
- We are one Glasgow team, and we care for and respect one another
- We advocate for diversity and believe in variety as a vital part of a healthy university
- We champion education as an engine for social progress
- We practise and advance sustainability