Director of Library and Digital Academy Services Candidate Pack
The University of Law (ULaw) is one of the world’s largest law schools. With an impressive history dating back to 1876, the University employs over 900 staff and has over 14,000 students studying on their undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, along with an alumni network in excess of 100,000. They were the first-ever independent institution to be granted degree awarding powers and in 2012 gained university title. With a rich heritage and a reputation for innovation and contemporary teaching practices, the University continuously focuses on developing the best legal and business minds. In 2016, they opened their leading Business School, further enhancing their reputation as a full service legal, business and educational training specialist, operating from campuses throughout the UK, Berlin and Hong Kong and an Online campus. What really sets them apart from other universities is the guiding principle that future lawyers and business leaders should learn in a realistic, professional and contemporary context, with plenty of practical interactive engagement. That’s why they keep their contact hours high and their teaching groups small. Over the past 5 years the University has doubled student enrolments and continues to grow. They are extremely ambitious and plan to expand and diversify both in the UK and worldwide. As they have grown, the continuing enhancement of their brand and reputation for teaching quality and student satisfaction has been at the core of everything that they do. Whilst their legacy and identity as a specialist legal education provider remains central to who they are, they have successfully diversified their offering into business and accounting dis- ciplines, with a rapidly expanding suite of programmes delivered in their UK and overseas campuses. They plan to expand their portfolio into new applied and professionally accredited disciplines. As a pri- vate university, they are agile and innovative, anticipating the future needs of their students, their client firms and society as a whole. In 2020 their student recruitment exceeded 10,000 for the first time in their history and, whilst they remain a predominantly postgraduate university, their undergraduate numbers are also growing strongly. In 2020 they were ranked 1st for overall student satisfaction in England in the National Student Survey. Their success is driven by their reputation as a specialist university of the highest quality, offering students a unique and practice-led learning experience.
BACKGROUND
Vision and Strategic Plan
Vision and mission
In 2025 we will be the leading global university of law, business and the professions with a network of online and worldwide locations. Digital technology will enable us to offer unparalleled flexibility, based around cutting edge facilities and environments, further removing geographical barriers to education. We will offer the same quality of teaching and learning experience, with the convenience to study where, when and how our students want. At the heart of this are our people and values. Many of our staff, stakeholders and students helped to shape our new vision and strategic plan.
Vision and Mission
Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan
Caring for our students is at the heart of everything we do. We stand shoulder to shoulder with them, supporting their ambitions and ensuring they are respected and valued.
We are deeply committed to delivering a high-quality service and education. We support and accept appropriate and managed risks, in the pursuit of growth and progress whilst maintaining quality.
We are dynamic and future-focused, anticipating and embracing change with creativity and motivation.
We are agile and adaptable, leading change and meeting the changing demands of our students and employers, all the while updating our knowledge and practice to improve our performance and the student experience.
We embrace our challenges as learning and growth opportunities and prepare our students, with confidence and resilience, to do the same.
We work together in a collegiate way, challenging one another whilst treating each other with dignity and respect - embracing diversity of experience and background that allows people to do their best and thrive.
We have a global outlook and connect across different cultures. We are a diverse, inclusive community where everyone is welcomed and valued, and our differences are a source of strength.
Our diversity and inclusion initiatives are at the heart of our strategic plan to empower our staff and student community.
Vision and Strategic Plan
Core components of our Strategic Plan
Our Learning Journey
Building on our heritage of outstanding teaching and support for our students, we will deliver excellent standards in innovative learning, teaching and applied research that transforms lives and is globally recognised However, our learning journey does not end in the classroom, and we will continue to grow our support services and technologies, deepening our care for our students and offering ever closer support networks. We were ranked top university in England for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2020 and also achieved top ten placements amongst other universities for eleven further categories across the UK including: ‘The Teaching on my Course’ (4th), ‘Student Voice’ (4th), and ‘Assessment and feedback’ (7th). And in the latest Teaching and Excellence and Student Outcome Framework we were awarded silver for our teaching, learning and outcomes. Our performance in the critical categories of teaching excellence and academic support for students is sector leading.
Core components of our Strategic Plan
Our Learning Journey
Our Learning Environment
Our International Community
Our People
Our Impact
Our Learning Environment
We will transform our study and work settings through the use of the most advanced technology and resources.
By combining our physical and online campus environments and infrastructure, we will create adaptable and flexible spaces for learning and support.
Our International Community
We will establish new, and strengthen existing, pathways for international students to join us - including through our oversees campuses and our strategic partnerships.
We will embed inclusivity and multicultural values into the curriculum and develop new modules to define and address ethical issues and the rights of minority and protected groups.
Through collaboration with our international partners we will create global learning and employability opportunities.
Our People
We will develop, retain and recruit the highest calibre people, increasing the ethnic representation to reflect the diversity in our students.
By uniting academic and business professionals, we will innovate and personalise our students’ future teaching and learning, bringing knowledge from the front line of practice.
Our Impact
Graduates will leave ULaw with the experiences and skills to drive change, helping to transform the future of society and the professions.
They will have not only a world class qualification, but also a sense of purpose and empowerment that they can have a positive impact on their environments.
Through our pioneering Employability Service we will shape our graduates into the next generation of professionals. They will be digitally confident, have broad project management skills, and strong leadership potential.
CAMPUSES
1. Birmingham
2. Bristol
3. Chester
4. Guildford Campus
5. Leeds Campus
6. London Bloomsbury Campus
7. London Moorgate Campus
8. Manchester Campus
9. Nottingham Campus
10. The University of Law at UEA in Norwich
11. The University of Law in Exeter
12. The University of Law in Liverpool
13. The University of Law at Reading
14. Hong Kong Centre
All of our campuses are in thriving commercial areas and offer the same fully-resourced facilities, including well equipped IT suites with PCs for DVD and i-Tutorials, comprehensive law libraries with all the latest legal texts, quiet study areas and places to relax.
15. Online
16. The University of Law at Chester
17. GISMA Berlin
18. Sheffield
Birmingham
Nottingham
Hong Kong
Guildford
Moorgate
Bristol
Our Future Academic Model
The University of Law is about to deliver an exciting transformational programme, entitled The Future Academic Model. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in the way higher education bodies design and deliver their courses with the adoption of digital technologies. This rapid redesign of learning techniques has become the kernel for today’s new academic model and the Library service has developed a Digital Learning strategy to support this new approach, proactively establishing the Digital Academy to enable all staff and students to self assess and develop their digital capabilities, with the aim of helping our students and staff to live, learn and succeed in a digital world. A steering group, comprising the Director of Library and Digital Academy and the Directors of Academic Enhancement, TELT, and Design and Assessment sets the strategy for the Digital Academy and a small dedicated team supports on projects and management with Library and Technology teams in dotted line support. The University strategy is one of diversification into new disciplines such as social sciences and the Director of Library and Digital Academy Services will be pivotal in leading the development of the service to support the successful delivery of these new programmes. The (student) award-winning Library service itself operates in 9 libraries in our home-based and online Campuses, providing print and (over 70,000) electronic books , as well as around 30 databases of legal and business information. We are transforming our collections by adopting a ‘digital first’ purchasing strategy. 8 campus-based Librarians and their teams run workshops in digital literacy and research skills and offer face to face and online enquiry services. The library team are proactive in supporting our students and introducing new technology and services to do this. They participate in, amongst other things, the digital research skills curriculum design process, domestic student recruitment activities and support for the developing research capability of the University. To find out more about the Library - its resources and services, please see the website which provides access to the Digital Academy. https://library.law.ac.uk/
Provide senior leadership, management and professional expertise in shaping an innovative, proactive and responsive service supporting the learning, teaching and research needs of all students and staff of the University. Main Function of Job
JOB DESCRIPTION
Main Function of Job
Specific Responsibilities
Reporting to Deputy Vice Chancellor
Location Flexible Location Direct Reports Five
Specific Responsibilities Leadership and management • Work with the University Senior Management team and relevant stakeholders, including the relevant Programme Directors, to develop and deliver an innovative Library and Digital Academy strategy which transforms for a 21st century, digitally focussed University. Ensure strategic alignment with key University strategies, including the Learning and Teaching strategy, the Future Academic Model, the Digital Academy and the Information Technology strategy. • Represent and create a clear identity for the library across the University. Actively work with other operating functions and Directorates to ensure consistency of service delivery and the collective achievement of the University’s strategic objectives. • Collaborate with other Directors across the University to share best practice, identify and manage risks whilst leading cross-functional projects. • Lead and manage the development of high-quality, efficient and sector leading library, learning and digital skills services and infrastructure which is responsive, accessible and effective, working closely with students and academic and professional service colleagues • Oversee the development and management of the technical infrastructure that supports all aspects of the department’s responsibilities for managing, giving access to and preserving information resources, digital skills and research outputs. • Develop and implement operational and strategic plans for the Library and Digital Academy service. Contribute to the strategic planning process for the operating function working closely with the relevant Board Member • Define and deliver against high quality service standards across all aspects of the service, including KPIs and external measurements such as the National Student Survey, the Teaching Excellence Framework and Customer Service Excellence so as to recognise the positive contribution to the University’s achievements • Review and evaluate the area of work to support continuous improvement of departmental activity and high performance of the University in the TEF and national league tables. • Work with Campus Management teams to ensure that delivery of the Library service through Campus teams meets service level agreements and balances both University wide and local support as appropriate • Maintain operational budgetary control. Plan and manage the human, financial and physical resources within the department and ensure cost-effectiveness and value-for-money from the University’s investment in services and resources. • Maximise the impact of the Library’s physical estate in conjunction with Campus Deans, Director of Estates, and Head of Operational Services to achieve learning and research outcomes, through development of high-quality learning space, working to ensure fitness for purpose in a context of changing information provision and student/staff expectations. • Work in accordance with the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, promoting equality and diversity in the workplace, and be responsible for health and safety matters across the Library service.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Specific Responsibilities
Leadership and management • Develop opportunities for the creation of new business or increased revenues across the University. • Champion the University’s Vision, Mission, Values and portfolio of programmes and services taking responsibility for integrating these into the operational areas. • Support the University’s Students’ complaints, disciplinary, and appeals processes – this will include investigating complaints/ complaint appeals, conducting disciplinary hearings/disciplinary appeals and sitting on decision panels Learning and Teaching • Develop strong relationships at all levels both within the University, with students and within the HE sector. Work closely with university, sector and professional colleagues to implement appropriate developments that broaden and strengthen the offering for students and staff • Oversee the development of research support offered by the department as the requirement grows, including the support for the management of research publications, research data and advocacy for open access to outputs, and the development of appropriate information support for researchers. • Develop and implement an open access repository portal / database for research publications. • Provide strategic oversight of departmental support for student engagement with learning including progression and retention, through learning development and generic skills delivery supported by appropriate virtual resources. • Lead the innovative development of academic and lifelong learning skills through the Digital Academy, particularly the development of digital skills that support retention and the academic success of all students and staff • Develop, manage and sustain positive working relationships with faculties and other professional services departments to deliver innovative and integrated partnerships, projects and services for the benefit of excellent learning teaching and research activities.
Specific Responsibilities
• Promote the Library and Digital Academy to the whole University community and maintain effective routes for receiving feedback from Faculties and service users. • Act upon this feedback to continuously improve and enhance the quality and impact of library, learning and digital skills • Develop and manage the University’s collections of electronic and printed resources that support the changing academic portfolio of programmes and research and the changing user needs, particularly in the development of the digital library, with comprehensive access to e books, e journals, databases, data and digital objects Professional • Lead, motivate and inspire all staff within the department and, and constantly seek to create a climate where others are empowered to ensure positive professional engagement and development • Provide professional leadership on library and information management issues through positive engagement with relevant policy and professional bodies and networks, both nationally and internationally. • Provide professional leadership on digital learning, and how students and staff can enhance their digital literacy and capabilities. • Promote and raise the profile of the University within the legal and academic information profession , through attendance and speaking at conferences and participation in professional events
In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the job holder may be required to perform other duties as assigned by the Vice Chancellor/CEO.
The post holder has a duty to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons with whom they come into contact at work. The job holder also has a duty to co-operate with the University in complying with any statutory duty or requirement concerning health and safety at work. In particular, they must familiarise themselves with the Health and Safety Policy and its safety and fire procedures.
This job description is to be read in conjunction with the relevant Roles and Responsibilities Career Level document.
This job description is correct as at April 2021. It may vary in consultation with the post holder to reflect changes within the market place, the function and the University.
New library structure
PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
Education
Essential • Higher Degree/Post-graduate qualification • Relevant professional qualification • HEA fellowship
Education
Experience
Desirable • Relevant management qualification
Special Skills & Knowledge
Behavioural Skills
Experience
Special Circumstances
Essential • Leadership and expertise at a senior level in a university or similar environment, including management of sizeable teams and budgets • Experience of transforming library and/or learning services and resources and leading staff through change • Experience and expertise in the development and implementation of strategic and delivery plans, policies and procedures to achieve agreed objectives and enhance service levels • In-depth knowledge and understanding of working in higher education, including meeting the needs of diverse students and staff
Desirable • Experience of managing teams in a multi-site institution
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential • User focussed approach to enable student success
• Excellent strategic management, planning and organisational skills • Excellent communicator with confident and open interpersonal skills • Strong advocacy, influencing and negotiating skills • Creative and innovative approach to identify new opportunities and new ways of working • Strong leadership, people management and decision-making skills • High degree of problem-solving skills.
Behavioural Skills
Essential • Proactive and constructive thinker able to take personal initiative and make timely decisions in the best interests of the University • The University’s values Compassion, Commitment, Courage, Change and Community, should be core to the approach and attitude of the post holder • Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines
Desirable • Politically aware of culture and environment
Special Circumstances
Essential • Flexible approach to work and willingness to change working patterns as needs change • Travel between Campuses will be required
Application Process
The University is being supported on this recruitment campaign by the search consultancy The Management Recruitment Group (MRG) .
To arrange a brief conversation please contact our advisor Sian Gardiner of MRG on 020 3962 9900 / 07932 717 458 or at sian.gardiner@mrgpeople.co.uk.
Applications should contain a CV and Covering Letter and should be sent to Sian Gardiner at the Management Recruitment Group sian.gardiner@mrgpeople.co.uk.
Closing Date is Sunday 13th June 2021.
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