Library Collections Manager - UOD2119

University of Dundee; Dundee; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Dundee seeks a Library Collections Manager to lead the development and stewardship of library and cultural collections. The role involves managing print and digital resources, guiding acquisitions, and ensuring high-quality metadata. The ideal candidate is an experienced professional with strong leadership skills and a background in collections management. This role offers a competitive salary, ranging from £46,735 to £55,755, and is crucial for advancing the institution's library services.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in collections management, acquisitions, and metadata.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing specialist teams.
• Knowledge of digital resource workflows and cultural collections.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and stewardship of library and cultural collections.
• Oversee acquisitions and lifecycle management of digital and print resources.
• Ensure high-quality metadata and optimize resource discovery.

Skills

Collections management

Leadership

Collaborative work

Metadata standards

Digital resource workflows

Education

Relevant qualifications in libraries, archives, or museum studies

Tools

Alma/Primo

Job description

The University of Dundee is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Library Collections Manager to lead the development, stewardship, and discoverability of our library and cultural collections. This senior role manages the full lifecycle of print and digital resources, as well as overseeing archives, museums, and special collections, ensuring they remain accessible, sustainable, and aligned with institutional priorities. As a key member of the Library, Academic and Cultural Services managers team, you will shape policy, manage specialist teams, guide acquisitions and metadata strategy, and drive innovation in support of teaching, research, and user experience. Working collaboratively with academic schools, research communities, external partners and national consortia, you will help advance our collections and their impact across the University.

The Library manages open research, scholarly resources, academic support and study facilities within a Directorate committed to supporting excellent research and teaching activity across all disciplines. We demonstrate a strong track record of engaging in collaborative and sector-leading initiatives, aligned to strategic priorities of the University. The post is based primarily at the Main Library, with travel to other sites as required.

Your priorities will include:

• Providing leadership for library and cultural collections, ensuring alignment with user needs and University strategy.
• Overseeing acquisitions, licensing, content budgets, and lifecycle management of digital and print resources.
• Ensuring high-quality metadata, cataloguing standards, optimal resource discovery (Alma/Primo and specialist catalogues), analytics and data-driven decision making.
• Leading Reading List services and supporting academic engagement with collection development including managing copyright, CLA compliance, and the delivery of digitisation services.
• Developing and empowering specialist staff across acquisitions, metadata, cultural collections, and digitisation.
• Creating and maintaining policies relevant to collection development and supporting national purchasing and sector-wide collaboration through SCURL/SHEDL, SCONUL, Jisc, and related networks.

Who we’re looking for:

• An experienced library professional with substantial expertise in collections management, acquisitions, metadata, and digital resource workflows.
• A confident leader skilled in managing specialist teams and working collaboratively, with experience of periodicals management and strong awareness of cultural collections.
• Familiarity with Alma/Primo (or similar systems) and the wider scholarly resource environment, with relevant qualifications in libraries, archives, or museum studies, or equivalent experience.

£46,735 to £55,755 (Grade 8)