Deputy Director, Collections at Durham University

Durham, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

02 Jun, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

04 Mar, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Leadership, Collections Management, Strategic Oversight, Preservation, Liaison, Financial Planning, Budget Development, Risk Management, Compliance, Audit, Human Resources, Staff Development, Business Planning, Policy Development, Data Gathering, Data Analysis

Industry

Higher Education

Description

Deputy Director, Collections Durham University is seeking to appoint a Deputy Director, Collections, who will play a key leadership role in shaping, managing, and preserving Durham University’s unique and diverse collections. This position supports the Director in the strategic oversight of modern, heritage and cultural collections across our libraries, archives and special collections, and museums. You will serve as a key liaison among library, archival, conservation and curatorial staff bringing a ULC wide approach to all University collections, ensuring that our collections are managed responsibly, made accessible to diverse audiences, and leveraged in the advance of teaching, learning, research and community engagement at the University and beyond. As a member of the Senior Management Team within University Library and Collections you will provide senior leadership for all collections under the ownership and custodianship of ULC and associated staff including librarians, archivists, conservators and curators. The role will include financial planning, budget development and tracking, administration, as well as organisational and staff development. Areas of responsibility include: Finance, budget planning and monitoring Risk, compliance and audit Human resources and staff development Strategic and business planning Policy development and procedures Data gathering and analysis Management and leadership of collections staff ULC comprises over 160 staff working within our libraries, museums and galleries, archives and special collections. Staff are based in the Bill Bryson Library, Palace Green Library, the Oriental Museum, Museum of Archaeology, the Castle, the International Study Centre and at our external storage facility. ULC is an active partner in the teaching, learning, wider student experience, research and external engagement at the University. Our collections are an integral part of the research infrastructure at the University. The role will be based in Palace Green Library but you will be expected to work across all ULC sites and locations as required. ULC supports flexible and hybrid working arrangements where possible. This role is expected to work on site for a minimum of 3 days per week. For further information about the role and the Person Specification, please view our candidate brochure. Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. At Durham University, our aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women, and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role. How to Apply We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our E-Recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates. What you need to submit A CV: and A supporting statement or covering letter which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification detailed in the candidate brochure. Contact details For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Stuart Hunt, Director of University Library and Collections, University Librarian (stuart.w.hunt@durham.ac.uk). The closing date for applications is 11:59pm on 1 April 2026. It is anticipated interviews for this role will be held in or around 1 May 2026. Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Privacy Notices - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data. When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

Responsibilities

This role involves playing a key leadership role in shaping, managing, and preserving the university's unique and diverse collections across libraries, archives, special collections, and museums. The Deputy Director will provide senior leadership for all collections under ULC ownership, overseeing staff including librarians, archivists, conservators, and curators, while managing finance, HR, and strategic planning.