Assistant Director (University Collections and Digital Services)

Are you passionate about the role of collections in education and research, and can you turn this passion into strategic actions, leading a team to deliver great outcomes for the University and its communities? If so, the Assistant Director (University Collections and Digital Services) role could be the next stage of your career.

Library and Cultural Services is a key enabler of the University’s mission of excellence in transformative education and research. Our teams work in partnership across the University, enabling and empowering all students, researchers and academic staff to discover, critically engage with, and to create cutting-edge knowledge, research, and culture. Student and researcher success is central to our work, as is the development of an inclusive and engaged University community. In recognition of our work, the Customer Service Excellence standard was awarded to Library services in 2022, and in 2021 we were shortlisted for the ‘Outstanding Library Team’ award in the Times Higher Education Awards. In the 2024 NSS we have achieved a 92.6% satisfaction rating for the library question, which reflects the high commitment we have to the experience of our students. This is an exciting time to join us at Essex, as we build upon these successes and implement a new vision for Library and Cultural Services and 6 core strategic programmes, through to 2028.

Library and Cultural Services is formed of three divisions, which collectively operate and deliver the full range of library services for a dual-intensive University, special collections and archives, art collections, and the Art Exchange Gallery and Lakeside Theatre.

Duties of the Role
This is a unique and exciting opportunity to lead the University Collections and Digital Services division and to be a member of the Section Leadership Team, reporting to the Director and University Librarian. You will lead the teams covering content and collections, special collections, archives and art collections, and the digital infrastructure and services of the Section. This will include working closely with the Director and University Librarian to ensure the governance and stewardship of the University’s Collections, and with direct line reports and staff across the University community and external partners. Through these relationships you will lead on managing services, delivering our objectives, managing infrastructure, and producing long-term planning through service roadmaps.

A full list of duties and responsibilities can be found within the job pack.

Skills and qualifications required
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the experience and skills required to lead a diverse team of professionals towards a common mission, while taking an agile and innovative approach. They will be able to demonstrate strong understanding and experience in one or more professional areas the team covers and have worked at the management level. The postholder will have excellent interpersonal skills and possess a degree or professional qualification in a relevant field, or be able to evidence their significant experience in a relevant field.

Please use the 'Apply' button to read further information about this role including the full job description and person specification which outlines the full duties, skills, qualifications and experience needed for this role. You will also find details of how to make your application here.

Our website http://www.essex.ac.uk contains more information about the University of Essex. If you have a disability and would like information in a different format, please email resourcing@essex.ac.uk.

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