Research Skills Advisor

Salary:

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £35,880 to £45,163 with potential progression once in post to £47,874

Background

Libraries & Learning Resources supports the information resources and services needs of staff and students undertaking high quality research, learning and teaching at the University of Birmingham. The Research Skills Advisor is a member of the Research Skills Team, a team within the Collections, Discovery and Research Communications division of Libraries & Learning Resources. 

Role Summary 

The Research Skills Team directly supports the development of key skills of researchers from PhD level to professor. This enhances the research strengths of the University across a diverse student and staff population. The postholder will develop, deliver and evaluate a central and embedded offering of research skills, including baseline support for literature searching, research data management and open access, citation metrics and online identity management, scholarly communication including open research, digital and information literacy, as well as a broad range of postgraduate academic skills. Key audiences include postgraduate research students, early career researchers, and established academics in their field, as well as staff working across a range of Professional Services who support the research agenda. 

Person Specification

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) plus relevant practical experience - where no equivalent qualification is held significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a series of progressively more demanding roles will be required.
• Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly, and to produce and analyse information and data.
• Proficient in the use of standard office software,
• Substantial experience in a customer facing role in a library
• Understanding of the scholarly communications landscape, particularly in relation to literature searching and information literacy.
• Experience using a broad range of resource and discovery tools to an advanced level, including generating and interpreting bibliometric data.
• Methodical record keeping and attention to detail
• Experience designing and delivering training and workshops to a range of audiences
• Demonstrable ability to summarise and explain complex systems and processes clearly and at a level tailored for a given audience
• Demonstrable negotiating and influencing skills
• Approachability, diplomacy and confidence in dealing with a wide range of University staff, including tact and assertiveness as appropriate
• Ability to prioritise and schedule work in the face of conflicting demands
• Evidence of familiarity of the changing culture of Higher Education, including the importance of the research quality agendas.
• An understanding of pedagogic issues as applied to Higher Education
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly. 

Informal enquiries can be made to Judith Hegenbarth, j.hegenbarth@bham.ac.uk 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the Apply Online button

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We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

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