Job Related Information

This document includes information about the role for which you are applying and the information you will need to provide with your application.

  1. Role Details

Vacancy reference / 12963
Job title: / Research Support Librarian
Reports to: / Library Services Manager (Research Support, FASS & IET)
Salary: / £32,004 to £38,183 (pro rata)
Terms and conditions: / Academic Related
Grade / 7
Duration of post: / Permanent
Working hours: / Part time (18.5 hours per week)
Location: / Library Services
Walton Hall
Closing date: / 12:00pm (noon), 17 November 2016
Type of application form accepted: / Long version and covering letter
Your covering letter, of no more than 500 words, should address why you are applying for the role and summarise your two main attributes that make you an ideal candidate for this post. Without this document the panel will not be able to shortlist you
Number of referees required: / 3
Unit recruitment contact: /
  1. Summary of duties

Purpose Statement
A specialist role to support the growing area of scholarly communication including altmetrics, bibliometrics, open access publishing, research data management and scholarship.
  1. As part of the Research Support team develop and implement a research support strategy ensuring that the needs of the University researchers and external funders are met.
  2. Provide advice and guidance to the Research and Academic Strategy Unit and Central Academic Units on funder requirements for research data management and open access publications.
  1. To deliver resources and services to enable researchers to effectively manage their research outputs and maximise their impact and visibility.
  1. To promote and embody a positive attitude and behaviours, to encourage a future focused culture and champion the values of the organisation.
Main responsibilities:
  1. Provide advice and guidance to OU academics, researchers and library staff on developments in scholarly communication, research metrics and research data management policy and practice.
  2. Provide specialist support in complying with OU policy and external funders’ mandates e.g. for Open Access publishing, research data management, copyright and intellectual property rights, and ensure that appropriate publication, citation and other data is stored and accessible in the University’s research systems.
  3. Administer and report on expenditure from external funders Open Access block grants, liaising with publishers as necessary.
  4. Provide advice and guidance to Research and Academic Strategy and Central Academic Units on research publications metrics that can be used to inform decision making and in research planning.
  5. Collate, analyse and interpret data on all aspects of the research support service and produce updates and reports for Library Services Leadership Team, Research and Academic Strategy, Central Academic Units.
  6. To develop and deliver training and workshops on advanced digital and information literacy skills training and all aspects of research support service.
  7. To develop, maintain and update online support material on all aspects of the research support service.
  8. Collaborate with IT and the Research and Academic Strategy Unit to develop technical infrastructures that support the University’s research activity.
  9. Maintain professional expertise by keeping abreast of external trends and developments in scholarly communication and sharing practice with the wider research support community. Uses this expertise and knowledge to contribute to strategy and to inform continuous improvement of research support products and services.

  1. Person specification

Requirements (E = Essential/ D = Desirable)
Education, qualifications and training
Essential: /
  • A degree, or equivalent education, or work experience at a comparable level.

Desirable: /
  • Project management experience

Knowledge, work and other relevant experience
Essential: /
  • Knowledge of the research lifecycle
  • An understanding of developments in scholarly communication
  • Experience of delivering workshops and training
  • Experience of developing training material
  • Experience of using common software tools (e.g. MS Office)
  • Experience of collating, analysing and interpreting data

Desirable: /
  • An understanding of quality control processes and systems
  • Experience of gathering user requirements

Personal abilities and qualities
Essential: /
  • High level of attention to detail
  • Excellent interpersonal skills – including all aspects of communication both verbal and written
  • Excellent organisation and time management skills
  • Ability to work as part of a team towards a common goal
  • Ability to exercise judgement, prioritise and solve problems
  • Ability to be receptive to new ideas, responding quickly to changing priorities and seeing change as an opportunity

Desirable:
  1. Role specific requirements e.g. Shift working

N/A

5. About the unit/department

The Open University (OU) transforms lives through education. It is the United Kingdom's only university dedicated to distance learning, and teaching well over 200,000 people every year, the OU has become by far the largest university in the UK. The University promotes educational opportunity and social justice by providing high-quality university education to all who wish to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential.
Library Services
Library Services aims to help students get the most from their studies with The Open University. It also supports the information needs of all Open University staff whether based at Walton Hall or at a distance.
Using our information expertise, Library Servicesis at the core of the University’s academic activity (learning, teaching and research) through procurement, management and facilitating access to content, and in developing policies for University Information Management.
The role of Library Services is to:
  • Help students get the most from their studies with the OU and to support their learning
  • Provide access to and manage electronic information resources supporting learning, teaching and research
  • Ensure the University complies with legal obligation through best practice in information and records management
Library Services is recognised as being at the leading edge of delivering library services to distance students. The online library ( enables OU staff and students worldwide to access quality educational resources such as online journals and interactive tutorials; either produced internally at the OU or from external providers. They can find, explore, and interact with resources and a range of development tools which support both their independent learning and their employability.
  1. How to obtain more information about the role or application process

If you would like to discuss the particulars of this role before submitting an application, or if you have any questions regarding the application process, please email:

7. The application process and where to send completed applications

Please ensure that your application reaches the University by: / 12:00pm (noon) on Thursday 17November 2016
Your application should include: / To be considered for this post, please ensure that you send a completed application form and a covering letter as set out below.
Application form
The selection panel will be paying particular attention to the following section of the application form: “Please use this space to describe briefly the nature of your present appointment or any other information you consider relevant to this application not covered elsewhere”.
NB: It is important that candidates complete all sections of the application form in full.
Covering letter
Please set out in no more than 500 words the following:
a) Why you are applying for the role
b) Your 2 main attributes which make you an ideal candidate for this post
Without this document the panel will not be able to shortlist you.
A CV is not required and will not be considered as part of the selection process.
Please quote the correct vacancy reference for the post you are applying for.
Post it to: / As follows:
Name/Job title: / Staffing & Finance Assistant
Department/Unit: / Library Services
Address: / Library
The Open University
Walton Hall
Post Code: / MK7 6AA
Or e-mail your application to: /

8. Selection process and date of interview

The interview panel will be chaired by: / Tricia Heffernan, Associate Director (Student & Academic Services), Library Services
The other members of the interview panel will be: / Nicola Dowson, Library Services Manager (Research Support, FASS & IET), Library Services
Ursula Stickler, Senior Lecturer (German), WELS
Assessments and interviews will take place on: / 2 December 2016
The selection process for this post will include / Assessments and interviews will be held on 2 December 2016.
The selection process for this post will include additional activities designed to assess your ability to meet the criteria for this role.
/ We will let you know as soon as possible after the closing date whether you have been shortlisted for interview. Further details on the selection process will also be sent to shortlisted candidates.
Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.

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