Content Acquisition & Access Manager

The University of Edinburgh; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive staff benefits

Generous annual leave

Defined benefits pension

Staff discounts

Flexible work options

Job summary

The University of Edinburgh is seeking a Content Acquisition & Access Manager to lead strategies for cost-effective acquisition, discovery and access to library resources. You will manage the Content Acquisition & Access Team, oversee the £9.3M Library Materials Budget, and plan annual purchases in collaboration with stakeholders.

This role offers hybrid working options and a dynamic environment within a world-class university.

Qualifications

• Experience leading library content acquisition and e-resources.
• Experience managing large budgets and a large team.
• Strong understanding of library supply chain and consortia.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influence skills.
• Skills with integrated library management systems and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Content Acquisition & Access Team and drive service improvements.
• Develop and deliver strategies for cost effective acquisition and access to library resources.
• Plan and manage the annual cycle of library materials purchases and access.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to forecast needs and optimize spend.
• Work with colleagues to address future provision of scholarly resources.

Skills

Content acquisition

Budget management

Team leadership

IT systems

Negotiation & influence

Tools

Integrated library management systems

Job description

Job Description

Grade UE08: £50,253 to £61,759 per annum

Information Services, Library & University Collections

Full-Time: 35 hours per week

Open Ended: permanent

The Opportunity

The University of Edinburgh is a world-class organisation, covering a wide range of activities. In Professional Services, we support the University’s research and teaching, offering many career and role specialisms. You will be part of the Library & University Collections team which helps people to grow their knowledge and create new connections through open services, collections, and environments, sparking ideas that change the world.

As the Content Acquisition & Access Manager you will lead the development and delivery of strategies for cost effective and efficient acquisition, discovery and access to library print and electronic information resources. You will work with key stakeholders to plan and manage the annual cycle of library materials purchase and access, overseeing spend of the £9.3M Library Materials Budget.

You will lead the Content Acquisition & Access Team, ensuring that team members are motivated, flexible and have the relevant skills so that services and innovations are delivered to target. You will plan and initiate innovations and refinements in acquisition and e-resource operations to deliver continuous improvement, and work closely with Library colleagues in the University and the sector on planning for the future provision of, and access to, scholarly resources.

In 2026/27 and beyond, you will continue to work closely with colleagues within the University and in the wider sector to address current challenges in providing effective access to library resources in support of teaching, learning and research.

We welcome applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role, including:

• Extensive experience gained within academic / research libraries in: leading library content acquisition and e-resources; managing large, complex budgets; managing a large team.
• Good understanding of the academic library content supply chain, and the role of consortial groups and sectoral bodies.
• Excellent communication skills and proven ability to negotiate and influence.
• Excellent IT skills including significant experience of integrated library management systems, able to produce and analyse systems data.
• Experience of managing change, developing services and staff to respond to evolving requirements.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week) with a minimum of 3 days a week to be worked at the Main Library, George Square, Edinburgh. We are open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that include up to 2 days a week remote working, as business needs allow.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.

Championing Equality, Diversity, And Inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also a Stonewall Proud Employer, actively promoting LGBTQ+ equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab)

On this occasion the University will not consider applicants requiring sponsorship for this role. International workers will therefore only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Key Dates To Note

The closing date for applications is Friday 9 October 2026. Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.

Interviews are expected to be held late October 2026.

About Us

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.

About The Team

The Library helps people to grow their knowledge and create new connections through open services, collections and environments, sparking ideas that change the world. Library & University Collections teams (approximately 200 staff) provide leadership and oversight for the University's library and museum collections and services, and lead the University's transition to Open Scholarship. Collections comprise over 2 million print volumes, 2 million e-books, 200,000 e-journals and 100 kilometres of Heritage Collections which include rare books, archives, artworks and musical instruments. Library & University Collections deliver highly-regarded services to support teaching, learning and research across the University and wider communities. Services and access to collections are provided online and onsite through the Main Library, site libraries, the Centre for Research Collections, award-winning makerspace services and St Cecilia’s Hall Concert Room & Music Museum.