Associate Director: Cultural Collections & Curatorial Practices

This role will be based on the university campus, with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are also open to discussing flexible working arrangements.

Are you an effective strategic and people leader with significant experience of leading teams of staff within a large, complex and diverse organisation? Do you have extensive experience and/or knowledge of cultural collections? Are you a skilled influencer and networker with an ability to develop effective relationships and alliances? Do you want to help position the University of Leeds Libraries as one of the greatest libraries in the world? 

The University of Leeds is one of the top 135 universities in the world. We have a truly global community, with more than 39,000 students from 170 different countries and over 9,000 staff of 100 different nationalities. Established in 1904, we have a strong tradition of academic excellence, reflected in first-class student education, along with world-leading research that has a real impact around the globe. 

The Cultural Collections (Rare books, Manuscripts, Archives, Art, Objects) of the University of Leeds Libraries are of international quality and underpin a wide range of teaching, research, and engagement activities across many disciplines. We undertake a modern and wide-ranging approach towards curatorial practices, engaging new audiences in collection and exhibition-based curation, underpinned by our impactful physical and digital spaces. We are looking for an outstanding individual who will expand the horizons for how these collections can contribute even further to the intellectual life of the campus, and help deliver our ambitious vision for the future, Knowledge for All

Recent major investments in our physical spaces for cultural collections and planned investment in our digital infrastructure will allow us to develop further as a globally significant library. We want Cultural Collections to play a key role in achieving this ambition, working in close collaboration with academic colleagues in Schools and Faculties across the University. The two on-campus galleries, The Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery and The Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery provide significant opportunities for community engagement activities for the public good. 

The Associate Director: Cultural Collections and Curatorial Practices will be a key member of the Library’s Executive Team, shaping the strategic direction of one of the UK’s largest and highest performing academic libraries. This role will work closely with the University Librarian and Keeper of the Brotherton Collection, the Deputy University Librarian, Associate Directors, and other members of the broader leadership team, and will provide leadership and strategic capacity for the libraries. In addition, the role-holder will contribute to the cultural shift, making our libraries a beacon of innovation and inclusivity.

We are looking for an ambitious optimist who believes in the values of Inclusivity, Integrity, Collaboration and Compassion and can convert strategies into actionable outcomes to move the libraries forward. We are looking for a strategic and people leader and a trustworthy partner to position the University of Leeds Libraries as one of the greatest libraries in the world. 

Interviews expected to be held on Monday 17th April 2023.  

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: 

Masud Khokhar, University Librarian and Keeper of the Brotherton Collection

Email: m.khokhar@leeds.ac.uk 

Location: Leeds - Main Campus

Faculty/Service: Professional Services

Category: Professional & Managerial

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