Teaching Collections Team Leader

at  The University of Manchester

The University of Manchester Library is one of only five National Research Libraries and the third largest academic library in the UK. Our vast and rich collections (both print and increasingly digital) help us to deliver a world-class library and information service for the University of Manchester. While our primary objective is to meet the learning, teaching and research needs of University members, we are also fully committed to widening access to our services to individual researchers, local schools and others in the regional community.

The team are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Team Leader to line manage the team delivering our reading list service which supports staff and students across the University. You will be expected to:

• Line manage a team of six Reading List Assistants and one Teaching Collections Coordinator
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Library to ensure the effective and efficient running of our busy Reading Lists Service
• Proactively liaise with academic staff across the University to efficiently respond to enquiries and escalate issues
• Work well under pressure during busy periods of the year
• Liaise with external stakeholders to develop our system

The Teaching Collections team leads on the provision of all taught course resources, delivering our library reading list strategy with our one-stop shop reading list service, Reading Lists Online, including our institution-wide eTextbook Programme. Working closely with colleagues across the Collection Strategies Directorate, the Teaching Collections team also has strong links with our Faculty Engagement Team and Teaching, Learning and Students division, as well as working with teaching staff throughout the University.

The team are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Team Leader to line manage the team delivering our reading list service which supports staff and students across the University. You will be expected to:

• Line manage a team of six Reading List Assistants and one Teaching Collections Coordinator
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Library to ensure the effective and efficient running of our busy Reading Lists Service
• Proactively liaise with academic staff across the University to efficiently respond to enquiries and escalate issues
• Work well under pressure during busy periods of the year
• Liaise with external stakeholders to develop our systems

You will be joining a friendly, high-performing team committed to delivering the Librarys Reading List Strategy. You will support the Teaching Collections and eTextbook Programme Manager in the delivery of all services related to the provision of reading list resources. You will have significant experience in all aspects of line management, including performance management, leading people through change, as well as motivating and developing individuals within teams. You will be an approachable leader with excellent communication and digital skills, and a customer-focused approach to work. You will thrive on working with people and have high levels of emotional intelligence.
The ideal candidate will also have experience of the provision of online reading lists and book acquisition processes within an academic library, with proven experience of using reading list and library management systems. It would also be beneficial to have a good understanding of the range of book purchasing and eBook licencing models available to academic libraries, and experience of analysing pricing models and negotiating with suppliers.