Manager: Technical Services (P6) (Library & Information Centre: Technical Services) at University of Johannesburg

Job Description:

This critical position in the Library at the University of Johannesburg ensures that the over 50 000 students and 4 000 academics are able to access the most relevant information easily. There are four key areas in this position. First to give leadership, guidance, and management to the larger technical services division in the Library. Second to provide strategic direction, decision-making and implementation of collection development, cataloguing and the implementation of best technical platforms to ensure that all Library resources are easily accessible to staff and students at UJ. Third to oversee and also actively work on the day-to-day operations of the division. Fourth to provide budget input, and management of the overall technical services budget.

Responsibilities:

• Planning and offering strategic direction to the division and to the wider library. 
• To oversee and ensure that all library resources for academic research and learning in all formats are available to staff and students at UJ in a manner that makes it easy to access them. 
• To ensure that the collection offered at the UJ library is continuous relevant for the needs of research, learning and teaching at UJ. 
• To give leadership to the different divisions and staff within the division. 
• To oversee all human capital management within the division. This includes hiring, training, supervision, evaluating, disciplining, and supporting staff in the division to perform to the best of their abilities. 
• Develop, review, and administer policies, procedures, and processes in support of the division. 
• Lead and support collection development for the University Library. 
• Maintain and improve automated library systems and the workflow within the Library’s technical services area. Ensure that all resources both electronic and physical are available and easily accessible.
• Manages and participates in the most complex configuration, maintenance and repair of applicable technologies and associated equipment. 
• Maintains the strengthens vendor partnerships including library related contracts and negotiations of licences and subscription terms for collections of electronic resources. 
• Collects and analyses a variety of complex data and information to understand collection usage and how best to develop the collection going forward. 
• Participates in a variety of meetings both internally in the library and with external stakeholders.

Minimum requirements

• Master’s Degree (NQF9) or equivalent in Library Science, or Knowledge Management or a related field.
• Five (5) years of job-related experience.
• Two (2) years’ experience managing a team of people.

Competencies and Behavioural Attributes:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Time management skills.
• Budgeting principals and financial administration skills.
• Client Services skills.
• Leadership and management skills.
• Strong IT skills.
• Procurement principles.
• Information and intellectual freedom ethics, copyright principles.
• Library science principles, practices, and technologies.
• Library cataloguing principles and practices.
• Integrated library systems and automated library database systems.
• Strong interpersonal relationships.
• Analytical thinking.
• Strong ethical behaviour and commitment to ethical practices.
• Very good communication skills both oral and written.
• Work well with a diverse range of colleagues from different cultural, language, academic and ethnic backgrounds.
• Commitment to staff development.
• Ability to work in an agile and continually changes environment.

Recommendations:

• Project management skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Detailed knowledge of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies including use of AI in technical services.