Senior Library Manager, Business Systems

• 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 (clicking this link will open a new window).

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.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please use the link to our application portal button on our site.