Open Research Manager

Uniperms; Coventry; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Uniperms in Coventry is looking for an experienced Open Research Manager to lead the open research strategy, ensuring integrity and accessibility in scholarship. You'll manage projects and staff, shape policy, and work with researchers at various levels. A degree or equivalent experience is required, along with substantial experience in academic information services. The position emphasizes a collaborative environment, providing significant contributions to the Library and its stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of the open research landscape.
• Substantial relevant work experience in a support service setting.
• Full professional understanding of the current research environment.
• Proficient IT skills for scholarly communication.
• A commitment to leading and developing others.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of open research strategy.
• Manage a small team and contribute to senior management.
• Shape policy and influence sector developments.
• Provide expert advice to senior leaders.
• Design training and support for researchers.

Skills

Understanding of open research landscape

Communication of complex information

Proficient IT skills

Organisational skills

Project management (PRINCE2)

Education

Degree level education or equivalent work experience

Research qualification

Tools

Open-source publishing software

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Open Research Manager to lead the development and delivery of our open research strategy. You will champion openness, transparency, and reproducibility in scholarship, ensuring our research practices align with the highest standards of integrity, accessibility, and societal impact.

As Open Research Manager, you will lead the successful delivery of our Open Access Service, working daily with academic staff, researchers, professional services, and specialist external bodies. You will shape policy, influence sector developments, design innovative training and support, and provide expert advice to senior leaders including the Vice President Research and Associate Deans Research. You will also line manage a small team, contribute to the Library Senior Management Team, and lead annual operational planning for your area of responsibility.

The University of Warwick is committed to embedding open research as a central pillar of our research culture. You will join a collaborative environment where innovation in research practice is valued and supported.

About you

You will have a strong understanding of the open research landscape, including policies, infrastructures, and cultural challenges affecting universities and researchers. You will bring both strategic perspective and practical expertise to enable change and innovation across the research community.

• Educated to degree level or equivalent (for example, a Library Management postgraduate degree), or equivalent significant work experience.
• Substantial relevant work experience in an academic/specialist information service setting or research support service.
• Full professional understanding of the current research environment and research agenda, nationally and internationally, with experience of using this to inform service development.
• A broad understanding of the research process and an ability to empathise with those engaged in research at all levels.
• Full professional knowledge of open research, including copyright, with developed tactics to keep this knowledge up to date through CPD activities.
• A detailed understanding of bibliometrics and formal and informal methods of measuring research impact, with the confidence to use this to creatively advise researchers on bibliometric queries.
• A demonstrated ability to communicate complex and sometimes politically sensitive information to audiences at all levels, imparting information and influencing behaviours through approaches tailored to different situations and audiences.
• Proficient IT skills, with experience of using social media, repositories, open-source publishing software, and other tools for effective scholarly communication.
• Strong organisational skills and a thorough, methodical approach to projects developed with clients and colleagues, delivered within demanding timescales.
• A successful record of working collaboratively and creating a strong sense of strategic direction through effective relationships with colleagues across the University at all levels.
• The ability to work independently and use creative thinking to develop innovative solutions, considering the strategic implications for service development.
• Adaptable and resourceful in meeting complex and conflicting demands and priorities while displaying a consistently high level of commitment and motivation.
• A proven ability to translate strategy into clear objectives involving the whole team.
• A commitment to leading and developing others.
• PRINCE2 or a similar project management qualification, or significant equivalent work experience.
• A research qualification.
• Membership of relevant professional bodies.
• Experience of managing, analysing, and modelling datasets, and the ability to synthesise this data into reports to answer specific enquiries, or a willingness to learn.

About the department

The Library & Archives are central to the delivery of the University strategy, providing a high-quality service to all of our stakeholders in the delivery of teaching, learning, research, and our civic ambitions. Through innovative approaches to information management, data analysis, and emerging technologies, we are striving to create a seamless and personalised experience that enhances teaching, learning, and research; to empower our research community to navigate the complex open research landscape in a financially sustainable and simple way; and to develop learning spaces that provide an enhanced and inclusive physical and digital experience.