Website:
southampton.ac.uk
Job details:
Overview
The University of Southampton, in partnership with Oxford International Education Group (OIEG), has successfully launched its first international campus in India, located in Gurgaon, Delhi. This initiative, developed in response to India's New Education Policy, represents a significant investment in transnational education. The campus provides Indian students with the opportunity to earn a globally recognised degree without leaving the country.
Job Purpose
The role will engage with a wide range of service users including researchers, educators, students and civic communities, providing expert advice, design, develop and deliver guidance and training, providing an innovative, distinctive and enriching experience.
The post holder is responsible for the delivery of a high-quality library service maintaining agreed service standards for users of the library, as well as overseeing the provision and use of study space and facilities, access to print and online resources and making recommendations for service development. This role would involve liaising with Academic/Course leads to deliver library research skills training. The post has a particular focus on the operation of the site library but also contributes to the work of the broader customer services team and to the work of other areas as appropriate.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide expert advice to service users, developing a partnership and co-design approach where appropriate. This role covers a broad remit engaging with researchers, educators, students and civic communities. Postholders will judge appropriate options across multiple external, and internal policies, working collaboratively across professional services and faculties; balancing a consistent approach to service development with a high degree of specificity required by specialism, discipline and by project.
- Line manage direct reports, exercising good people management practices including mentoring, coaching, training, advice and guidance, as necessary. Ensure the right mix of skills and capabilities through continuous professional development, recruitment and performance feedback. Actively engage in the appraisal process to create an environment which values achievements, celebrates success, delivers balanced feedback and enables improvement.
- Design, develop and deliver guidance and training for the full range of users’ needs. Deploying a variety of appropriate media and methods including workshops, case studies and technology enhanced learning. Keep up to date with sector developments and best practice, ensuring our in-curriculum, co-curricular, research & civic offer provides an innovative, distinctive and enriching experience,
- Oversee the space, systems, equipment and resources using relevant knowledge, initiative and judgement to identify how to resolve complex problems, through communicating effectively with other service areas, relevant partners and service users and knowing when to escalate and prioritise problems.
- Assess, interpret and analyse information in fast evolving and complex policy areas, engaging with the user community to develop appropriate university-wide solutions. Lead on the delivery of detailed reporting, metrics and management information to senior managers and/or lead on the delivery of accessible content across a range of platforms & providers ensuring a seamless user experience and advising senior managers of optimal solutions.
- Manage the delivery of responsive front line library services, acting as the initial point of support for referrals and escalated enquiries in line with library policies and procedures; providing advice and information about the services and collections physically located in the site Library referring to specialists where appropriate.
- Promote and collaboratively develop Library services and resources with academic staff and students using a wide variety of channels, formal and informal. This includes representing the Library at University & Faculty meetings, developing reports and presentations, contributing to policy creation etc. Develop and maintain stakeholder networks, University and sector-wide, influencing developments.
- Liaise and communicate with users about the operation of the site space, services and collections.
- Manage and contribute to fixed term institutional projects, including externally funded projects with project partners, negotiating with stakeholders and ensuring requirements are delivered to timescale.
- Support the continuous improvement of services and the wider library service taking a lead on the collection and analysis of appropriate service statistics and management information. Work closely with colleagues and users to manage change and develop services to meet user needs effectively, identifying and facilitating staff training and customer service developments.
- Contribute to special projects as required, for example, participating in the implementation of new tools and services.
- To actively engage in a range of training and development opportunities and to be an active participant in developing skills and knowledge, engaging with the wider team and the University.
- Any other duties as allocated by the line manager following consultation with the post holder.
Special Requirements
- Occasional requirements to work outside your normal working hours (which may include evenings or weekends) in negotiation with your line manager.
- Embedding University of Southampton Delhi behaviours
Person Specifications
Qualifications, knowledge and experience
- Post Graduation in Library Information Management or equivalent professional qualification or experience.
- Proven experience of planning and progressing work activities within broad professional guidelines and/or broad organisational policy.
- Understanding of how the specialist/professional services provided by the post-holder support the objectives of the University.
- Able to apply an awareness of principles and trends in a specialist or professional field and an awareness of how this affects activities in the University.
- Proven work experience acquired in relevant roles and job-related training.
- Understanding of systems, including but not limited to enquiry management, finance, integrated library system, reading list systems and relevant third-party systems, such as the Jisc Library Hub.
- Membership of professional bodies (Desirable)
- Relevant degree (or equivalent qualification or experience) (Desirable)
Planning and organising
- Able to seek opportunities to progress a broad range of activities within professional guidelines and in support of University policy.
- Able to plan and organise own work and that of others with minimal supervision.
- Ability to successfully plan and deliver administrative projects over a period.
- Experience of successful project management.
Problem solving and initiative
- Able to develop understanding of long-standing and complex problems and to apply professional knowledge and experience to solve them.
- Able to problem-solve and use initiative to ensure service delivery is robust.
Management and teamwork
- Able to proactively work with colleagues in other work areas to achieve outcomes.
- Able to delegate effectively, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of team members to build effective teamwork.
- Able to formulate development plans for own staff to meet required skills.
- Able to solicit ideas and opinions to help form specific work plans.
- Able to positively influence the way the team works together.
- Able to ensure staff are clear about changing work priorities and service expectations.
- Ability to effectively allocate to, and check work of staff, coaching/ training and motivating staff as required.
- Cooperative team working and participation in effective team collaborations to meet business need(s) requirements.
- Experience of successfully managing and developing staff. (Desirable)
- Previous experience of successfully supervising staff. (Desirable)
Communicating and influencing
- Able to provide accurate and timely specialist guidance on complex issues.
- Able to use influencing and negotiating skills to develop understanding and gain co-operation.
- Proven record of good communication and interpersonal skills
Other skills and behaviours
- Knowledge and understanding of digital systems and approaches to find, evaluate, create, collaborate, and communicate.
- Expertise in the use of relevant library systems.
This job description is provided as a guide to the role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive description of duties and responsibilities and may be subject to periodic revision.
Oxford International is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Recruitment checks, including checks with past employees, are undertaken in accordance with our Recruitment and Selection policy.
Oxford International is an equal opportunity employer. Every applicant and employee has the same opportunities regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status
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