Senior Library Manager, Business Systems in Milton Keynes

The Open University is the UK's largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education, combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.

About the Role

The role of Senior Library Manager, Business Systems will be expected to line manage part of the library systems team and undertake the tasks outlined here in collaboration with the other SLM Business Systems. You would be accountable for the delivery of the technical infrastructure and systems framework that underpin the efficient delivery of Library Services. You will manage multiple technology systems, products and services through the complete lifecycle, from inception to mainstream adoption and ongoing use and decommissioning. This work involves establishing and fostering effective partnerships that will contribute to service delivery and strategies, improvements to services for users, value for money and the exploitation of new technologies. You will contribute to sharing good practices to support library, information and knowledge services and provide expertise and leadership on library systems issues. You will have a high level of understanding of information technologies, digital library service delivery, website and related infrastructure in the context of library systems, archival and repository systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic and service leadership: Work with stakeholders and partners to translate business requirements into system designs, functional specifications and plans. Provide advice and guidance to colleagues on the implementation and development of new systems. As a member of the Extended Leadership Team contribute to strategy development, ensure a responsive and customer-oriented approach to service development and delivery, with a focus on continuous improvement and take part in the Library Duty Manager rota. Maintain awareness of relevant university, national and international developments, initiatives and technologies applicable to Library Services, in order to ensure that systems provide high-quality up-to-date services. Lead on the procurement of new systems to meet Library Services technical requirements; ensuring that library systems comply with all University IT policies. Lead the development of systems strategy and related policy formation.
• Systems, digital delivery and operational management: Ensure the effective operation of library technology systems, maintaining compliance with legal and information security requirements. Develop and maintain robust and sustainable support processes and procedures to ensure the availability of core Library Services technology systems, ensuring daytime and out of hours support is provided by the Business Systems team. Co-ordinate with the Knowledge and Information Management Systems team to develop and maintain sustainable support processes, ensuring the availability and resilience of core systems with appropriate daytime and out-of-hours coverage.
• Collaboration and supplier management: Ensure effective collaboration with Digital Services, Information Security, Procurement, Data Protection and other relevant teams to ensure that Library Services systems comply with University policies and procedures. Lead engagement with external providers of library systems to ensure appropriate supplier management is in place and systems deliver contracted levels of service and performance.
• Continuous improvement and governance: Support ongoing change by reviewing systems, processes, and management practices to identify improvements and strengthen service effectiveness. Establish performance measures, evaluation methods, and continuous improvement processes to ensure service quality, compliance, security and effective systems management.
• Leadership and reporting: Manage and motivate direct reports, including recruitment, annual appraisal, personal development planning and objective setting through the CDSA process. Produce reports as required, including performance, systems metrics, budget management, and relevant updates.
• Sector engagement: Participate in external networks, and otherwise to keep abreast of current and likely future developments, using this intelligence to ensure that the Open University Library is sector leading.

About You

Essential:

• Higher education qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience of supporting and maintaining library systems.
• Experience of configuring and supporting library systems for access and authentication management such as EZ Proxy, Athens and Shibboleth.
• Experience of compliance with cyber security requirements.
• Experience of design, administration and maintenance of one or more relational databases such as mySQL, or MS SQL Server.
• Advanced skills and experience of developing modern applications using one or more web-scripting languages such as PHP or Perl.
• Knowledge and experience of good web and user interface design, web standards and issues relating to web usability and accessibility.
• Experience of configuring, maintaining and supporting leading operating systems e.g. Linux.
• Proven experience of leading teams within a technical environment.
• Proven experience and understanding of IT support methodologies and processes.

Desirable:

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in a computer related discipline.
• A recognised relevant professional qualification.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page.

Flexible working: We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Working Location: It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes Office, it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be once every 4 weeks, but this could be more often if business needs dictate. Full-time working based from our Milton Keynes site is also supported if this is preferred by the candidate. Expenses associated with travel to our Milton Keynes site are not reimbursable.

Next steps in the Recruitment process: Interviews are likely to take place mid-October. Early closing date notification: While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented. If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch.

We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

Contact us: If you have any queries or questions about the recruitment process, or regarding your application, please contact: Careers@open.ac.uk. The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential.