Job Description

Are you an effective strategic and people leader, able to set direction and convert strategy into compelling outcomes? Are you committed to collective leadership and inclusive practice, a creative optimist who will inspire and engage our people?

Now is a hugely exciting time to join Library and Cultural Services. We are embarking on an ambitious plan to reimagine our profile and portfolio, including the design and construction of a landmark new building, in support of the University\'s Road to 2030 strategy.

To drive change and achieve this transformation, we need inspired, innovative leadership across a broad spectrum of responsibilities. If you can develop a compelling vision and lead with authenticity and purpose, motivating and engaging staff, this is your chance to join us as Associate Director of Content and Discovery - playing a key role in embedding a shared culture of innovation and supporting the University\'s priorities.

About us

With over 4,000 staff members and around 40,000 students - including some 6,000 choosing to study for a postgraduate qualification - we are a big institution with even bigger ambitions. We are proud to be an integral part of the great city of Manchester, but in fact our impact reaches around the globe.

We are committed to providing excellent education to transform our students\' lives, and to delivering high quality research with powerful real-world impacts and benefits, as evidenced by our highly successful 2021 REF outcome.

About the role

Sharing responsibility for the strategic leadership and management of Library and Cultural Services, you will have a particular focus on developing a new approach to content - in response to the shift to open, changing scholarly communications, evolving user needs and behaviour, emerging formats and the opportunities of our Library Transformation Programme. You\'ll lead the digital transformation of services and collections, as well as the strategic development and operational management of access and discovery services, tools and platforms. Overseeing the delivery of the overall Library and Cultural Services budget, and planning and managing a significant content budget, you will also be expected to build productive relationships with senior colleagues and to actively engage with sector developments in content, negotiation and licensing.

About you

You bring drive to achieve our strategic vision and develop and deliver innovative services. You are future focussed and people led. Inclusive and collective ways of working matter to you.

With a record of successful senior leadership and management in a large, complex and diverse library or information environment, you have excellent knowledge of innovative and sector leading approaches to the development and delivery of academic library services and content. Your experience includes managing library systems and digital library development, as well as leveraging developments in academic publishing and collection development to identify opportunities and deliver service enhancement.

You have substantial experience of developing strategy and translating it into measurable outcomes, with good knowledge and understanding of the strategic issues and context within which UK higher education operates, and an evident ability to build relationships and develop alliances and influence. Your proven experience of initiating and leading change programmes/projects - and of supporting staff through change - is backed by the ability to develop, lead and complete multiple programmes/projects, and the financial acumen to manage substantial procurement of content.

For further information, please contact Rachel Beckett, Director of Library & Cultural Services ( )

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