Head of Cultural Collections and Archive

at  Birmingham City University

ABOUT US

At the heart of our Strategy for 2030 and Beyond, it is our mission to enable our students to transform their lives and to achieve their potential. Through our education and research, and the roles our graduates go on to play in the world, we not only support individuals to transform their lives, but we also play a part in transforming society.
Located in the centre of the UK’s second city, we are a university with a long heritage of innovation and of making, dating back to our origins in 1843 when we were founded as the Birmingham Government School of Design.
Our heritage of making through innovation and its application through knowledge exchange, and of creative research and practice, today finds it expression in our STEAM agenda, in our research and enterprise, and in our commitment to challenge-based learning. Working across disciplines, and delivering impactful research and enterprise, interdisciplinarity is at the heart of the continuing transformation of our academic portfolio.

The role of Head of Cultural Collections and Archive within Birmingham City University’s (BCU) Library & Learning Resources (L&LR) is an exciting opportunity to drive forward the University’s research aspirations to be an inspiring, accessible, and inclusive institution.
The new Cultural Collections and Archives team will have strategic oversight and direction of the University’s special collections and archives. Their role is critical in shaping a cohesive strategy that consolidates, develops, and enhances BCU’s collections while making them accessible to both the university community and the wider public. This is an exciting opportunity to build and manage the university’s archival resources and contribute to its academic and civic missions.

Key aspects of the role include:

• As a senior leadership team member, being instrumental in shaping the future of L&LR services, ensuring they are accessible, relevant, and continuously improving to meet the diverse needs of the university community.
• Planning and prioritising initiatives to make special collections more discoverable, both physically and digitally.
• Focussing on digitisation efforts, ensuring that materials are accessible for research, teaching, and broader public engagement.
• Aligning the collections with the curriculum, supporting faculty and students in their research.
• Maximising the use of collections for the wider community of Birmingham and beyond, potentially through outreach and public engagement activities.

Library & Learning Resources (L&LR) is committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment with the goal of inspiring student success, enhancing staff productivity, and promoting well-being. Recognised with the Customer Service Excellence Award, the library service offers a vast array of resources, including millions of learning materials and over 800 study spaces across four library locations. Its services and resources are carefully aligned with Birmingham City University’s academic and business objectives to effectively support the university community.
Library & Learning Resources strategy | Birmingham City University (bcu.ac.uk)
For further information please contact Dr Sarah Pittaway, Director of Library and Learning Resources sarah.pittaway@bcu.ac.uk