EdTech Job – Library Collections Manager – UOD2119 at University of Dundee

The Library Collections Manager plays a critical role in providing both strategic and operational leadership for the development, management, and evolution of the University’s library and cultural heritage collections, working in close consultation with senior leadership. This encompasses oversight of the University’s print and digital library holdings, as well as the cultural collections, which include archives, museums, and special collections. The postholder is responsible for managing teams that handle acquisitions, licensing, metadata, reading lists, and discoverability, ensuring these services align with institutional priorities and support teaching, research, and user needs. Key responsibilities also include optimizing the use of the Library Management System (Alma/Primo), overseeing copyright and digitisation operations, and advancing collection development strategies.

Operating within the Library, Academic, and Cultural Services directorate’s managerial group, this role contributes significantly to service planning, policy development, and team leadership, while driving the ongoing transformation of collections and user-facing services. A comprehensive understanding of library collections, digital resource management, and the evolving demands of academic users is essential. The postholder works collaboratively with academic schools, research stakeholders, and institutional partners to ensure collections are well-governed, accessible, sustainable, and strategically aligned. While primarily based at the Main Library, the role involves periodic visits to other facilities and campuses as needed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership of Collections Management

Provide direction and oversight for the acquisition, development, and preservation of library and cultural collections, ensuring they meet the University’s strategic priorities and the diverse needs of users.

• Budget Oversight and Advisory Role

Collaborate with the Directorate Leadership Team and University Librarian to manage the Library’s content budget. Advise on issues affecting the provision of subscribed resources for faculty, staff, and students.

• Metadata and Discoverability

Ensure metadata quality, adherence to cataloguing standards, authority control, and optimization of discovery tools (e.g., Alma/Primo and other specialized catalogues) to facilitate seamless resource accessibility for users.

• Reading List Service Leadership

Lead the strategic direction of the Reading List service, including managing acquisitions, supporting academic engagement, and aligning services with instructional and learning priorities.

• Copyright and Compliance Oversight

Oversee compliance with copyright regulations, CLA licenses, and digitisation provisions, ensuring service delivery supports teaching, research, and accessibility needs.

• Team Management and Development

Manage and develop specialist staff across various functions, such as acquisitions, metadata, archives, museums, reading lists, and digitisation. Promote a culture of collaboration, expertise, and continuous improvement.

• Policy and Procedure Development

Lead the creation and maintenance of policies and procedures governing collection development, metadata standards, digitisation, stewardship of cultural collections, copyright compliance, and resource management.

• Collaboration and Institutional Engagement

Work closely with academic schools, researchers, Estates services, Digital and Technology Services (DTS), and external partners to advance teaching, research, and cultural initiatives in alignment with institutional goals.

• Service Ownership and Evaluation

Act as Service Owner for key collection services, applying the Service Review Framework to evaluate performance. Utilize analytics, user feedback, benchmarking, and professional standards to identify and implement improvements.

• Strategic Planning and Advising

Provide expert insight on trends, challenges, and opportunities in content and digital transformation, contributing to the strategic development of library services. Participate in annual planning, service reviews, business continuity planning, and ongoing improvements.

• National and Consortial Engagement

Support collaborative resource purchasing at the Scottish and UK levels. Maintain engagement with key organizations and consortia, including SCURL/SHEDL, SCONUL, and JISC.

Through these responsibilities, the Library Collections Manager will ensure the University’s collections remain cutting-edge, well-managed, and effectively positioned to meet the needs of a dynamic academic and research environment