Weekly Working Hours: 24
Change Your Career, Change Lives
The Open University, the UK’s largest university, is a global leader in flexible, part-time education. With a mission to broaden access to higher education while maintaining research excellence, we are dedicated to transforming lives through learning. Watch this short video to learn more about our mission.
About the Role
The Senior Library Manager (Student and Academic Services) plays a critical role within our Library team, overseeing relationships with one of our four faculties and leading essential service areas.
Our Library strives to deliver a dynamic and evolving service that aligns with the needs of the OU community. Building strong, collaborative partnerships with faculty colleagues is key to understanding our stakeholders and shaping services accordingly.
Working within a matrix management structure, the Senior Library Manager will also strategically oversee a designated service area. These services may include live and on-demand training, real-time support, and the integration of library content and skills into the curriculum.
Key Responsibilities
Faculty Relationship & Collection Management
- Forge and lead strategic relationships with senior faculty stakeholders to understand their priorities and foster collaboration.
- Assess faculty needs regarding library collections, ensuring subscriptions meet evolving teaching, scholarship, and research demands while securing maximum value for money.
- Collaborate with the Content, Licensing, and Intellectual Property team to establish suitable subscriptions and licensing for faculty-driven collection development.
- Manage the Information Resources Budget (IRB) to adapt to changing curriculum and research requirements.
Strategic Service Leadership
- Provide visionary leadership to develop and refine innovative library services.
- Work closely with Library teams to deliver cohesive services that reflect university priorities and ensure fair team workloads.
- Identify and articulate the value and impact of your designated service area.
- Communicate decisions promptly while keeping the Library updated on institutional and sector-wide developments.
Library Leadership
- Inspire and motivate your team to deliver high-quality results, meeting performance standards, deadlines, and budgets.
- Actively contribute to strategic planning as part of the Extended Leadership Team, adopting a customer-centric mindset and focusing on continuous improvement.
- Leverage and analyze data to inform decision-making, collaborating with teams to utilize business intelligence for service enhancement.
- Oversee recruitment, appraisals, personal development, and performance management of assigned staff.
- Participate in external networks to stay ahead of sector trends and ensure the OU Library remains a leader in its field.
Additional Duties
All staff members are expected to:
- Undertake other reasonably assigned duties.
- Prioritize health and safety for themselves and others impacted by their actions.
- Participate in staff development opportunities and training relevant to the role.
About You
We are looking for someone with the following:
Essential Criteria
- A degree in librarianship, information science, or equivalent professional experience.
- Up-to-date expertise in library resources, modern teaching methods, and delivering library services remotely.
- Proven experience in developing library strategies, leading associated services, and managing change.
- Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional initiatives and managing complex workloads.
- Strong stakeholder and relationship management skills, with the ability to negotiate and influence outcomes effectively.
- Exceptional people management experience, with a focus on team and individual growth.
- Outstanding organizational, planning, and problem-solving abilities, with a flexible approach to deadlines.
- Competence in analyzing and leveraging both qualitative and quantitative data to improve services.
- Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills tailored to various audiences.
- A commitment to applying inclusive and fair practices in all aspects of the role.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience in project management and planning.
- Prior experience in the higher education sector.
- Professional accreditation, such as Fellowship of Advance HE (FHEA) or Chartered Librarian status.
Support for Your Application
If you have questions or require adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email [email protected], quoting the advert reference number.
What’s in It for You?
We provide a range of benefits to recognize and reward outstanding work while promoting a healthy work-life balance. Visit our Staff Benefits page for more details.
Flexible Working
We welcome discussions about flexible working arrangements, including part-time roles, compressed hours, and job shares. Let us know what works for you.
Working Location: This role supports a hybrid working model, combining office time at our Milton Keynes campus with remote working. While on-site attendance may be required occasionally as part of the business needs, we also support full-time, campus-based work for those who prefer it. Note: Travel expenses to Milton Keynes are not reimbursed.
Recruitment Process & Timeline
Interview dates are yet to be confirmed.
Early Closure Notification
While applications will remain open until the advertised closing date, review and early closure may occur if sufficient applications are received. Roles will always remain open for at least one week before such action. If you started your application but were unable to complete it due to an early closure, please contact us for support.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit the following documents via our recruitment system:
- CV
- Supporting Statement (max. 1,000 words) explaining why you’re interested in the role and detailing how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria outlined above.
Make sure to check your spam/junk folders for updates on your application.
Inclusivity at The Open University
We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, reflected in our mission of openness to all. We actively foster an environment where differences are celebrated, and we encourage applications from underrepresented groups. Join us in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive!