Job Description
Job title: / Scholarly Communications LibrarianDepartment/School: / Library
Grade: / 7
Location: / University of Bath Library
Job purpose
The Scholarly Communications Librarian will use their expert knowledge of research publications and related activities to deliver direction and co-ordination of activities to ensure the continued development and delivery of the Library’s research publications service, particularly in the area of open access.
The postholder’s strong understanding of the research lifecycle and research environment within higher education, as well as their excellent communication and interpersonal skills, will allow them to work with a range of academic and professional service colleagues to ensure that scholarly communication activities are effectively integrated in activities undertaken by other professional services, committees, working groups, and projects across the University.
The postholder’s will engage with researchers to advocate and promote best practice in research dissemination, ensuring policy compliance and research impact. They will also manage colleagues in the research publications team and work closely with them to provide guidance, training, and individual researcher support by delivering a range of services which enable research outputs to be effectively exposed, managed, curated and measured.
The Scholarly Communications Librarian will manage our Open Access funds, provide reports and expert advice to Library and University management, relevant University committees, and external bodies on the University’s compliance with relevant Open Access policies.
This post supports the University Research Strategy objective to invest strategically in high quality research infrastructure, facilities, research support, and research information management systems. Ultimately, this will increase the visibility of the University of Bath’s research, extending the potential for collaboration with others.
Source and nature of management provided
This post reports to the Head of Library Research Services
Staff management responsibility
This post is responsible for managing the Repository Support Librarian. They also have the responsibility for the supervision, training and development of other staff, including Information Librarians and from time to time, graduate trainees and library assistants.
Main duties and responsibilities
1 / Develop and deliver services and resources advancing the University’s engagement with scholarly communications, for example in the areas of open access, publishing and other means of dissemination of research outputs.
2 / Have the primary responsibility for monitoring and assuring compliance with Research Council UK (RCUK), Wellcome Trust and any other funding bodies with specific OA policies, including primary responsibility for managing any assigned budgets (such as the RCUK OA block grant £243,000 2016-17).
3 / Manage the work of the Open Access team in Research Services and any other allocated staff, supporting them to develop their full potential. This may include induction, probation, appraisal, supervision, training & development, coaching and performance management.
4 / Develop and deliver relevant scholarly communications training materials to academic staff and to answer complex enquiries related to Open Access from academics, HEFCE and funding bodies.
5 / Participate in the Library’s contribution to planning and initiatives around research impact and research assessments, such as the REF.
6 / Provide advice on the management of scholarly reputation and the use of sites such as Academia.edu, ResearchGate, etc., in addition to supporting individual researchers to raise their own profile by maximising the exposure of research publications.
7 / Represent the University of Bath Library at external seminars/conferences and meetings and contribute to raising the profile of the University through professional activities locally, nationally and internationally.
8 / Maintain a close watching brief on technological and other developments to ensure that the University gains from and contributes to innovative practice in other sectors.
9 / Working with the Research Analytics Librarian, promote an understanding of the role of identifiers, such as ORCiD, ResearcherID, etc., and the application of DOIs to academic and research staff.
10 / Work closely with other members of Library services teams, researchers and other stakeholder groups such as the Doctoral College, Researcher Development Unit, Research and Innovation Services, faculties and school senior administration and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) to develop an on-going understanding of researcher needs, and to develop Library and collaborative services in response to this, exploiting funding opportunities as appropriate.
You will from time to time be required to undertake other duties of a similar nature as reasonably required by your line manager. You are required to follow all University policies and procedures at all times and take account of University guidance
Person Specification
Criteria: Qualifications and Training / Essential / DesirableLibrary qualification to at least undergraduate level. / ü
Further relevant qualifications or higher degree. / ü
Chartership OR Fellowship with CILIP (or equivalent). / ü
Criteria: Knowledge and Experience / Essential / Desirable
Significant experience of high-level reporting, strategic planning, and stakeholder relationship management. / ü
Demonstrated knowledge of funder open access policies and their relevance to the University’s research portfolio. / ü
Understanding of the research publication process and a strong understanding of the research environment and its culture. / ü
Knowledge of the OA publishing landscape, regulations, current developments, relevant projects, and stakeholder initiatives. / ü
Significant practical experience of engaging proactively with academic staff and researchers. / ü
Demonstrated experience of planning and delivering effective skills instruction, advice, and guidance to a range of stakeholders. / ü
Have experience in answering enquiries effectively, whether delivered in person, by phone, by email or other means; and in identifying and anticipating ongoing user requirements. / ü
Criteria: Skills and Aptitudes / Essential / Desirable /
To think strategically, collaboratively and innovatively; leading, influencing and motivating others to meet University and Library priorities. / √
To display excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to express complex ideas clearly and succinctly both to a research focussed audience and to others, and to represent the Library within the University and externally. / √
To be credible, confident and adept in the development and delivery of teaching and supporting e-materials to researchers, and to be able to respond effectively to academic challenge and questions. / √
To work in partnership with academics and also with Professional Services colleagues to develop a highly relevant service. To demonstrate a strong user focus and customer service ethos and a proactive and agile approach to service provision. / √
To have a proven ability to manage projects, work under pressure, prioritise, schedule and balance workloads in the face of conflicting and uneven demands. / √
To demonstrate a collegiate approach and an ability to work co-operatively and effectively, with the ability to liaise and communicate effectively with all levels of staff and users within the research arena and to appreciate others’ priorities and requirements, maintaining confidentiality where required. / √
To demonstrate experience of managing budgets and working accurately and effectively with numeric and financial data, and an ability to communicate such material to others in a comprehensible manner within the University’s committee structure and elsewhere. / √
To demonstrate an evaluative, reflective and considered approach to information provision. / √
To show initiative and demonstrate an innovative approach in your work, displaying a versatile, adaptable and enthusiastic attitude. / √
To display a committed approach to library and information provision with a proactive approach to your own continued professional development and that of others. / √
Effective Behaviours Framework
The University has identified a set of effective behaviours which we value and have found to be consistent with high performance across the organisation. Part of the selection process for this post will be to assess whether candidates have demonstrably exhibited these behaviours previously.
Managing self and personal skills:
Willing and able to assess and apply own skills, abilities and experience. Being aware of own behaviour and how it impacts on others.
Delivering excellent service:
Providing the best quality service to all students and staff and to external customers e.g. clients, suppliers. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up service standards.
Finding innovative solutions:
Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically and with creativity to analyse problems and develop innovative and workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation.
Embracing change:
Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, demands and changing roles. Seeing change as an opportunity and being receptive to new ideas.
Using resources:
Making effective use of available resources including people, information, networks and budgets. Being aware of the financial and commercial aspects of the University.
Engaging with the big picture:
Seeing the work that you do in the context of the bigger picture e.g. in the context of what the University/other departments are striving to achieve and taking a long-term view. Communicating vision clearly and enthusiastically to inspire and motivate others.
Developing self and others:
Showing commitment to own development and supporting and encouraging others to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential for the wider benefit of the University.
Working with people:
Working co-operatively with others in order to achieve objectives. Demonstrating a commitment to diversity and applying a wider range of interpersonal skills.
Achieving results:
Planning and organising workloads to ensure that deadlines are met within resource constraints. Consistently meeting objectives and success criteria.