Assistant Archivist/Assistant Librarian - Engagement Services

Job Purpose

To manage the delivery of Archives & Special Collections’ dynamic, innovative and user-focused engagement services, in particular enquiry and reprographic services. Responsible for maintaining high quality practices and procedures in line with professional standards. To support the delivery of Archives & Special Collections’ heritage collections engagement services. To contribute to Archive & Special Collections’ and the wider University Library’s service planning and improvement.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Manage the enquiry service, ensuring that information requests from users are answered in line with professional service standards. Ensure ASC service frameworks evolve to meet the needs of online service users and the University’s legislative and compliance requirements (eg intellectual property, data protection).

2. Manage services relating to the supply of image content to users in line with ASC standards. Work closely and effectively with colleagues, particularly the University Photographic Unit and ASC Collection Management Team, to develop and maintain user-focussed service frameworks and effective working processes.

3. Provide advice for users and colleagues on access to and reproduction and re-use of the University’s unique and distinctive collections.

4. Support the Archivist (University Heritage Collections Engagement) in planning and developing services which enhance the University community’s understanding and appreciation of its past and its impact on the world.

5. Allocate and prioritise team workload, deploying available resources to achieve optimum efficiency in the short and medium term. Manage performance through the University’s Performance and Development review process.

6. Ensure the maintenance of relevant statistics and performance measures in line with ASC and Library requirements. Monitor and report on these to management in line with reporting cycle, highlighting and prioritising issues for further investigation.

7. Actively engage with the University’s and Information Services’ initiatives to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion within the University’s community. Work constructively with Library Collections colleagues to develop inclusive, critical, and reflective professional practice.

8. Maintain personal and professional knowledge and awareness of trends and developments in online service delivery and user experience management through appropriate professional development, training courses, membership of professional bodies and attendance at conferences and events.

9. Support Library Collections’ and University’s wide-ranging activities; contributing to the delivery of services and the development of collections; responding constructively to ad hoc requests; and engaging with longer-term development and enhancement programmes.

10. Contribute to the enhancement of the University in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, World Changers Together.

Knowledge, qualifications, skills and experience

Knowledge/qualifications

Essential:

A1 Either: ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar or number of different roles. Or: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 8, (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 4) or equivalent (including professional accreditation with relevant formal training), and experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s).

A2 Demonstrable practical knowledge and understanding of archive and library service delivery.

A3 Detailed knowledge and understanding of archives and library principles, practices, and standards.

A4 Knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislative and regulatory framework, including intellectual property and data protection.

A5 A clear commitment to continuous professional development (for example: working towards post-qualification membership of a relevant professional association).

Desirable:

B1 A post-graduate qualification in the field of library / archives / museum studies / heritage discipline.

B2 Knowledge and understanding of the higher education sector.

B3 Digitisation standards, image licensing and digital image delivery systems.

B4 User Experience (UX) as applied to libraries and archives.

Skills

Essential:

C1 Highly effective written and oral communication skills, with a particular ability to communicate stories of a specialist or highly technical nature at a level and in a format appropriate to the audience.

C2 Effective workload management skills with good planning and prioritising skills; a flexible approach to changing priorities, working practices, and work environment; and the ability to work effectively across multiple activities simultaneously.

C3 Management skills along with the ability to work with others and manage and develop the performance of team members.

C4 Excellent interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to build effective collaborative working relationships within and across service teams to achieve goals.

C5 Effective analytical skills demonstrating excellent problem solving capability.

C6 Ability to exercise initiative and work independently but also as part of a team.

C7 Independent research skills across heritage collections.

C8 Excellent customer service skills, for example active listening, adaptability and open-mindedness.

C9 Excellent manual handling skills, with both gross and fine motor skills.
C10 Ability to write content for websites and social media.

Desirable:

D1 Designing/using enquiry workflow and knowledge base systems.

D2 Working as part of an interdisciplinary team.

D3 Using content management systems for communicating service information (eg T4).

D4 Commitment to continuous professional development to enhance own skills and knowledge.

Experience

Essential:

E1 Proven track record of working in an information service.

E2 Significant practical experience of delivery of face-to-face and online information services within the heritage sector and experience of planning and progressing work activities within professional guidelines or organisational policy, applying initiative and independent judgement.

E3 Evidence of participation in and delivery of engagement activities within the heritage sector.

E4 Experience of working independently and resolving unforeseen issues and challenges.

E5 Proven commitment to supporting the career development of colleagues and to other forms of collegiality appropriate to the career stage.

E6 Delivering presentations to peers and service users.

Desirable:

F1 Involvement in the development or delivery of inclusion and equality programme activities.

F2 Experience of supervising and developing a team.

F3 Experience of motivating staff and managing performance.

F4 Representation of organisation within external professional or sectoral organisation.

F5 Involvement in activities addressing inclusion and equality in the heritage or higher education sector.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 6, £32,332 - £36,024 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours per week and open ended.

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:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

3 A flexible approach to working.

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/

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