Assistant Archivist/assistant Librarian

**Job Purpose**
To manage the delivery of Archives & Special Collections’ dynamic, innovative and user-focused engagement services, in particular enquiry and reprographic services. Responsible for maintaining high quality practices and procedures in line with professional standards. To support the delivery of Archives & Special Collections’ heritage collections engagement services. To contribute to Archive & Special Collections’ and the wider University Library’s service planning and improvement.

**Main Duties and Responsibilities**
1. Manage the enquiry service, ensuring that information requests from users are answered in line with professional service standards. Ensure ASC service frameworks evolve to meet the needs of online service users and the University’s legislative and compliance requirements (eg intellectual property, data protection).
2. Manage services relating to the supply of image content to users in line with ASC standards. Work closely and effectively with colleagues, particularly the University Photographic Unit and ASC Collection Management Team, to develop and maintain user-focussed service frameworks and effective working processes.
3. Provide advice for users and colleagues on access to and reproduction and re-use of the University’s unique and distinctive collections.
4. Support the Archivist (University Heritage Collections Engagement) in planning and developing services which enhance the University community’s understanding and appreciation of its past and its impact on the world.
5. Allocate and prioritise team workload, deploying available resources to achieve optimum efficiency in the short and medium term. Manage performance through the University’s Performance and Development review process.
6. Ensure the maintenance of relevant statistics and performance measures in line with ASC and Library requirements. Monitor and report on these to management in line with reporting cycle, highlighting and prioritising issues for further investigation.
7. Actively engage with the University’s and Information Services’ initiatives to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion within the University’s community. Work constructively with Library Collections colleagues to develop inclusive, critical, and reflective professional practice.
8. Maintain personal and professional knowledge and awareness of trends and developments in online service delivery and user experience management through appropriate professional development, training courses, membership of professional bodies and attendance at conferences and events.
9. Support Library Collections’ and University’s wide-ranging activities; contributing to the delivery of services and the development of collections; responding constructively to ad hoc requests; and engaging with longer-term development and enhancement programmes.
10. Contribute to the enhancement of the University in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, World Changers Together.

**Knowledge, qualifications, skills and experience**

**Knowledge/qualifications**

**Essential**:

A1 Either: ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar or number of different roles. Or: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 8, (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 4) or equivalent (including professional accreditation with relevant formal training), and experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s).
A2 Demonstrable practical knowledge and understanding of archive and library service delivery.
A3 Detailed knowledge and understanding of archives and library principles, practices, and standards.
A4 Knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislative and regulatory framework, including intellectual property and data protection.
A5 A clear commitment to continuous professional development (for example: working towards post-qualification membership of a relevant professional association).

**Desirable**:

B1 A post-graduate qualification in the field of library / archives / museum studies / heritage discipline.
B2 Knowledge and understanding of the higher education sector.
B3 Digitisation standards, image licensing and digital image delivery systems.
B4 User Experience (UX) as applied to libraries and archives.

**Skills**

**Essential**:

C1 Highly effective written and oral communication skills, with a particular ability to communicate stories of a specialist or highly technical nature at a level and in a format appropriate to the audience.
C2 Effective workload management skills with good planning and prioritising skills; a flexible approach to changing priorities, working practices, and work environment; and the ability to work effectively across multiple activities simultaneously.
C3 Management skills along with the ability to work with others and manage and develop the performance of