Senior Information Specialist - Department of Library Services at University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful candidate’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Research support: 

• Advising users on the research process;
• Managing research queries at a high level of complexity;
• Finding relevant information that is not readily available using knowledge of one’s own collection and what is available globally;
• Partnering with Departments and Institutes to identify and address their research needs;
• Positioning the library as a bridge between researchers in different fields to facilitate interdisciplinary research;
• Advising and guiding on research impact metrics and tools;

Teaching and learning support:

• Providing instruction and training in the use of information resources for the assigned discipline or subject area;
• Orientating and training users on available information resources;
• Advising on relevant issues in the information environment that have an impact on teaching and learning;
• Contributing content to the University Learning Management System;
• Creating instructional online tutorials that supplement face-to-face training;
• Developing and maintaining relevant, accurate, quality Libguides and subject guides;

User relations management:

• Liaising and communicating with staff in assigned departments;
• Building relations of trust with users;
• Collaborating with staff on all levels of the organisation to support the delivery of library services;

Information resources management:

• Identifying material to assist with collection building according to the department’s needs and the need for a balanced, comprehensive collection;
• Evaluating, selecting and filtering sources for collection building, using expert knowledge of the subject and the content and format of information resources;
• Ensuring easy access to the best available externally published, and internally created, information resources;
• Benchmarking collection in collaboration with a senior staff member/leader/mentor;
• Managing the information resources budget on behalf of the department(s);
• Enduring electronic reserved collection items are identified and made accessible;

Marketing:

• Marketing library products and services to the users, using relevant mediums for optimum reach (e.g. social media, emails, newsletters);
• Participating in marketing initiatives of the library such as orientations, exhibitions, promotional events and other outreach activities;
• Contributing to the marketing plan of the team;
• Identifying and working with champions in the department(s);

• Professional development and strategic projects:

  • Improving subject and professional knowledge and skills continuously;
  • Translating and implementing Library strategies in own work environment;
  • Contributing to the advancement of the LIS profession;
  • Participating in projects, both individual and collaborative in scope, identifying ways to improve, extend, and integrate the Library’s services; 

Research Commons:

• Attending to and resolving requests from Research Commons users;
• Liaising with and guiding student assistants in the Research Commons;
• Providing professional leadership with regard to the best practice and matters arising at the Research Commons.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• A four-year degree; OR
• A three-year degree with a Postgraduate diploma; 

WITH

Five years’ experience in:

• A library as an Information Specialist;
• Teaching and learning and research support to academics and researchers. 

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):

Knowledge:

• Subject knowledge;
• Information sources in various formats;
• Building information retrieval strategies;
• The research process and methodology;
• Information organisation methods/packages/tools;
• Relevant information technology (software and hardware);
• Marketing methods/procedures;
• Benchmarking methods;
• Administration systems, policies and processes;
• Legal requirements with regard to information distribution and information media;
• Training and evaluation methods;
• Work processes in the environment/industry;
• Bibliometric knowledge and skills;
• Libguides and Blackboard;
• Patenting process;
• Management/leadership;

Technical competencies:

Skilled in:

• Searching;
• Information analysing, evaluating and organising;
• Information management;
• Collection management;
• Marketing;
• Training;
• Financial management;

Behavioural competencies:

• Interpersonal skills;
• Negotiating skills;
• Emotional intelligence;
• Communication skills across cultural borders;
• Conflict management skills;
• Organisational skills;
• Presentation skills;
• Self-control and personal drive;
• Creativity and innovation;
• Adaptability;
• Responsible;
• Client focused;
• Knowledge.

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES: 

• A relevant Master degree;
• Experience in a higher education or research institute.