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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Engage with academic schools to enhance library services and support student learning.
- Company: Join the University of Birmingham, a top global institution focused on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 40 days holiday, flexible working, and a generous benefits package.
- Other info: Diverse workplace committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education while developing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Degree-level education and experience in delivering quality services are essential.
The predicted salary is between 36636 - 46049 ÂŁ per year.
Position Details
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range ÂŁ36,636 to ÂŁ46,049 with potential progression once in post to ÂŁ48,822
Grade: 7
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 19th May 2026
Our Offer
People are at the heart of what we do. We support a healthy work‑life balance and offer a generous benefits package, including 40 days paid holiday per year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, a pension scheme, and subsidised day nurseries. Flexible working arrangements are available.
Background
To support the University’s ambition to be a global top 50 institution, this post will provide discipline‑level support to the academic community, linking key services, resources and people networks to deliver seamless service provision. The primary purpose is to develop proactive relationships with stakeholders within Schools and Departments, ensuring a consistent, high level of service across Libraries and Learning Resources.
Role Summary
Library Engagement Advisors provide an engagement service to Academic Schools and Professional Services. They collaborate with key academic stakeholders to develop and manage collections and services, promote engagement, negotiate support for strategic priorities, and ensure equitable delivery of services. The post holder must have a good working knowledge of the range of services and information resources for academic staff, students and professional services, and strong capabilities in organisational understanding, communication, and resource management.
Main Duties
- To contribute to the development of Library Academic Engagement Services through:
- Develop knowledge and understanding of the Education and Research strategies of designated Schools, considering impact on Library needs and identifying opportunities for support.
- Monitor service demand and quality, and plan for sustainable service development.
- Maintain knowledge of curricula, learning & research developments within designated Schools and their impact on the needs of Library users.
- Contribute to service improvement activity.
- Maintain knowledge of good practice and service developments nationally, share this awareness in planning within the University’s Libraries and Learning Resources.
- To provide expert engagement services across designated Schools through:
- Build credible, successful, and productive relationships, alliances and partnerships within Libraries and Learning Resources, and across the University.
- Deliver advocacy, communication and marketing strategies to inform staff and students of service developments.
- Identify opportunities and advocate for embedded delivery of digital and academic skills and tools within the curriculum, uptake of research support services, Special Collections services, and adoption of the Resource List system.
- Support internal and externally driven action planning in response to student survey and quality assurance activity.
- Provide a second‑line enquiry service, complementing frontline Customer Support, and resolve issues and complaints from designated Schools.
- Plan and coordinate reports and other documents required for School meetings to ensure consistency.
- Represent Libraries and Learning Resources at Staff‑student, Education and Curriculum meetings.
- Support designated Schools with quality assessment and accreditation exercises.
- Lead or contribute to Service Improvement Groups, providing the academic perspective and engaging around new services.
- To support collection development and management activities of Libraries and Learning Resources by:
- Contribute to the implementation of the Libraries and Learning Resources’ Collection Development and Management Policy and relevant sub‑policies.
- Partner with Schools to develop robust business cases for the Information Resources Fund.
- Obtain School feedback on collection development and management needs, identify strengths and conduct gap analysis.
- Lead on collection promotion, applying usage data and metrics to designated Schools.
- Provide current awareness information about new resources to School stakeholders.
- Communicate with stakeholders about stock editing, explain constraints and rationale for decisions.
Essential: Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
- Formal education to degree level or equivalent.
- Proven track record in developing and delivering quality services to diverse end users within an accountable framework.
- Customer‑oriented approach to service design and delivery.
- Knowledge base of issues in Higher Education and library services.
- Evidence of literacy and numeracy, ability to write clearly, produce and analyze data.
- Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 protected characteristics and actively ensuring equal treatment of individuals with protected characteristics.
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Excellent communication skills, with experience negotiating and influencing diverse stakeholders.
- Critical analysis and interpretation of evidence for stakeholder discussions.
- Ability to prioritize and schedule workloads amid conflicting demands.
- Translate school‑level learning, research and information strategies into operational plans.
- Aware of wider developments in library and information services that may enhance University services.
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification in Library and/or Information Science and/or postgraduate teaching qualification.
- Full or Associate membership of the Higher Education Academy or another relevant professional body.
- Experience in HE libraries, preferably with academic liaison or academic skills roles.
- Experience of project management.
- Experience familiar with the changing culture of Higher Education.
Use of AI in applications
We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools may appear generic and lack the detail needed to assess your skills. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
We believe there is no typical member of University staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength underpinning exchange of ideas, innovation and debate. We are committed to proactively addressing barriers experienced by some groups, hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations, and maintain an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that continuously improves the University as a fair and inclusive place to work.
Informal enquiries: Tamasine Ashcroft – email t.a.ashcroft@bham.ac.uk.
Library Engagement Advisor - Library Services - 48371 - Grade 7 in Birmingham employer: University of Birmingham
Contact Detail:
University of Birmingham Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Library Engagement Advisor - Library Services - 48371 - Grade 7 in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the library and academic circles. Attend events, join relevant groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current Library Engagement Advisors on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that applications alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for libraries! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your ideas on how to enhance library services or engage with students. This will demonstrate your commitment and creativity, making you stand out from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the University of Birmingham’s library services. Understand their current projects and challenges, and think about how you can contribute. Tailoring your responses to their specific needs will show that you’re not just another candidate.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage with us directly. So, go ahead and submit your application – we can’t wait to hear from you!
We think you need these skills to ace Library Engagement Advisor - Library Services - 48371 - Grade 7 in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: Let us see your enthusiasm for the role! Use your application to express why you're excited about being a Library Engagement Advisor and how your background aligns with our mission at the University of Birmingham.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight relevant experiences and skills that match the job description. We want to know how you can contribute to our goals, so be specific about your past roles and achievements!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your writing straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and ensure your application is easy to read. This will help us understand your qualifications without any confusion.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way to ensure it reaches us directly and gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at University of Birmingham
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the Library Services and how they align with the University’s Education and Research strategies. Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of the academic community and be ready to discuss how you can support them.
✨Build Relationships
Since this role is all about collaboration, think about how you can demonstrate your ability to build credible relationships. Prepare examples of past experiences where you've successfully engaged with stakeholders or improved service delivery through teamwork.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Excellent communication is key for this position. Be prepared to discuss how you've effectively communicated complex information in the past. You might even want to practice explaining library services in a way that’s engaging and easy to understand.
✨Be Ready for Questions on Diversity
Given the emphasis on equality, diversity, and inclusion, think about how you can contribute to these values within the library context. Prepare to discuss your understanding of the Equality Act 2010 and how you would ensure equitable service delivery to all users.