Open Research Librarian

Are you an experienced Open Research professional ready to take on a leadership role in a dynamic, fast-moving service? We’re seeking an Open Research Librarian to provide interim coordination for the University’s Open Access service, ensuring high-quality support for researchers and helping shape service developments during a key period of transition.

About the Role

As Interim Open Research Librarian, you will play a central role in the coordination, management and delivery of the University’s Open Access service. Working within the Office for Open Research, you will provide day-to-day leadership for service operations and team members, while also contributing to strategic planning, service improvement and the Library’s wider research support goals.

You will:

• Provide interim coordination and operational oversight of the Open Access service, ensuring consistent, high-quality delivery of processing, enquiry handling, and compliance-related workflows.
• Support the Open Research Manager and Office for Open Research leadership in planning and implementing service improvements aligned with the Library’s strategic goals.
• Line manage Open Research Specialists, ensuring effective performance management, development, and staff empowerment.
• Oversee service performance, using data, benchmarks and KPIs to monitor quality, identify issues, and drive improvements.
• Build strong relationships across the Library and wider University, ensuring effective service resourcing and stakeholder engagement.
• Represent the Library at internal and external meetings, contributing to sector discussions and maintaining a strong professional profile.
• Support researcher-facing work, including advice on Open Access routes, compliance requirements, and scholarly communication processes.

This is a role for someone who can balance operational management, strategic insight, and confident communication, with a commitment to enabling open, transparent and responsible research.

About you

You will bring:

• A professional qualification in librarianship or significant relevant experience in a comparable research support environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to manage staff, build relationships, and work collaboratively across teams.
• Proven ability to handle complex enquiries, particularly those related to Open Access or scholarly communication.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present clearly to a range of audiences.
• Strong digital literacy and confidence working with systems, data and reporting tools.
• Experience analysing and interpreting complex data to inform service decisions.
• Project management skills and the ability to contribute to (and in some cases lead) strategic initiatives.

Experience supervising staff or contributing to organisational change is desirable but not essential – you will be supported to grow into the leadership aspects of the role.

Why join us?

This is an exceptional opportunity to:

• Take on a leadership level role at a world leading research-intensive university.
• Shape the future of Manchester’s Open Access service delivery during a key transitional period.
• Develop your management and strategic leadership experience in a supportive environment.
• Contribute to the University’s commitment to open, equitable and responsible research practices.

You’ll be joining a collaborative, forward-thinking team at the heart of the University’s Open Research ambitions.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Lucinda May

Email: lucinda.may@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries:

Email: recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support:

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date

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