Open Research Librarian

Are you an experienced Open Research professional ready to take on a leadership role in a dynamic, fast-moving service? We’re seeking an Open Research Librarian to provide interim coordination for the University’s Open Access service, ensuring high-quality support for researchers and helping shape service developments during a key period of transition.

About the Role

As Interim Open Research Librarian, you will play a central role in the coordination, management and delivery of the University’s Open Access service. Working within the Office for Open Research, you will provide day-to-day leadership for service operations and team members, while also contributing to strategic planning, service improvement and the Library’s wider research support goals.

• Provide interim coordination and operational oversight of the Open Access service, ensuring consistent, high-quality delivery of processing, enquiry handling, and compliance-related workflows.
• Support the Open Research Manager and Office for Open Research leadership in planning and implementing service improvements aligned with the Library’s strategic goals.
• Line manage Open Research Specialists, ensuring effective performance management, development, and staff empowerment.
• Oversee service performance, using data, benchmarks and KPIs to monitor quality, identify issues, and drive improvements.
• Build strong relationships across the Library and wider University, ensuring effective service resourcing and stakeholder engagement.
• Represent the Library at internal and external meetings, contributing to sector discussions and maintaining a strong professional profile.
• Support researcher-facing work, including advice on Open Access routes, compliance requirements, and scholarly communication processes.

This is a role for someone who can balance operational management, strategic insight, and confident communication, with a commitment to enabling open, transparent and responsible research.

About You

You will bring:

• A professional qualification in librarianship or significant relevant experience in a comparable research support environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to manage staff, build relationships, and work collaboratively across teams.
• Proven ability to handle complex enquiries, particularly those related to Open Access or scholarly communication.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present clearly to a range of audiences.
• Strong digital literacy and confidence working with systems, data and reporting tools.
• Experience analysing and interpreting complex data to inform service decisions.
• Project management skills and the ability to contribute to (and in some cases lead) strategic initiatives.

Experience supervising staff or contributing to organisational change is desirable but not essential – you will be supported to grow into the leadership aspects of the role.

Why join us?

This is an exceptional opportunity to:

• Take on a leadership level role at a world leading research-intensive university.
• Shape the future of Manchester’s Open Access service delivery during a key transitional period.
• Develop your management and strategic leadership experience in a supportive environment.
• Contribute to the University’s commitment to open, equitable and responsible research practices.

You’ll be joining a collaborative, forward-thinking team at the heart of the University’s Open Research ambitions.

What you will get in return

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here. Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Any recruitment enquiries from recruitment agencies should be directed to recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk.

Any CV’s submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.

Enquiries

Name: Lucinda May

Email: lucinda.may@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries: recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support: https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.

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