Librarian
Salary: Band D £36,650 per annum
Hours: Full-Time (part-time can be considered, minimum 22 hours per week) (We understand the importance of work-life balance and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)
Contract Type: Open-Ended
Location Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh.
Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, technicians and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it's sending probes into space or
finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society.
Come and discover how much you can achieve when you're surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.
About the role
We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic information professional to lead the library and archival services at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh (ROE). This is a rare chance to manage one of the most historically significant scientific libraries in the UK, support cutting-edge research in astronomy, and contribute to exciting future developments of our library and collections.
Your responsibilities will include managing the library budget, maintaining and developing our collections (including rare manuscripts and archives), providing excellent user support, and shaping our library's role in the wider STFC library system. You will also be a key stakeholder in a planned programme of restoration and upgrades to the library's facilities, helping to ensure our spaces and services meet the long-term needs of our users. This role offers the chance to work closely with senior colleagues at the UK ATC and the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Astronomy, as well as with the STFC library, estates and public outreach teams.
Key Responsibilities
* Deliver an excellent library and information service for the ROE community, supporting research, teaching and public engagement.
* Manage the library budget and oversee procurement, retention and disposal policies to ensure sustainability and relevance of the collections.
* Modernise and improve library systems and services and reinforce integration with the wider STFC library network.
* Maintain and curate the ROE's archives, including the historic Crawford Collection of rare manuscripts and early printed books, ensuring access for scholarly research and outreach.
* Support the development and implementation of plans for the restoration and enhancement of the library spaces and facilities.
* Contribute content to maintain and improve our library web pages.
* Run tours and facilitate access to the collections for visitors, academics and members of the public.
Person Specification
We are looking for someone with a passion for connecting people with information and a commitment to preserving and showcasing our unique collections.
* Educated to degree level with a postgraduate qualification in library/information management, or equivalent professional experience.
* Proven experience delivering library services, including use of cataloguing standards.
* Experience of, or a strong interest in, working with rare books, manuscripts and archives.
* Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of users and stakeholders.
* Experience managing a budget.
* Familiarity with library management systems such as Alma/Primo (or similar).
* Ability to contribute to both the operational and strategic development of library services.
Employee Benefits
We are offering a permanent position with a whole host of benefits including:
* 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
* Flexible working hours.
* An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
* Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking
* Excellent learning and development opportunities.
* Cycle to work scheme
Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/
Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.
We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.
As one of Europe's largest research organisations, this is a place where there's always something new to learn - about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Join us and discover what's possible.
UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org .
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who opt into the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the role. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity-driven, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people - and more broadly to the world.
One of Europe's largest research organisations, we're trusted to support, enable and undertake cutting-edge projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we're driving ground-breaking advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/