£27,547 to £28,381 per annum, pro rata (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £32,638.15 per annum, pro rata).
Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.
We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.
The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.
We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.
Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.
Our Provost – Learning and Teaching department drives forward the University’s ambition to provide excellence and opportunities for all students; building on Derby’s long-standing reputation for teaching excellence, ensuring the development of sector-leading flexible, integrated learning that aligns to the needs of learners, not just now but in the future.
Library
Our Library is one that supports our communities to realise their ambitions by opening up new areas of knowledge & understanding and through fostering applied creative thinking.
At the centre of our approach is a high-quality student experience, outstanding student outcomes and supporting an excellent research environment. With this in mind, our teams deliver against three core strategic themes:
- Community - The original missions of libraries were not about repositories of books or as gatekeepers to knowledge, but about fostering communities of scholars. With that in mind, our focus is on how the Library supports the wide range of communities we have, fostering connection and empowering academic culture.
- Confidence - There is a fundamental role for the Library to ensure all students become confident, independent learners and researchers. We shall support students to develop confidence and applied creative thinking through our academic skills provision and an industry relevant skills offer that enhances performance whilst at university as well as into their chosen future.
- Content - Exploration and access to scholarly content is critical to the process of learning, teaching, research, and knowledge exchange. The Library plays a significant role provisioning scholarly content, working with our academic colleagues and students. We shall work to ensure that relevant content is delivered in a sustainable way and that we leverage technology and metadata expertise that enables our students and academics to explore and access the scholarly record.
As User Experience Assistant, you’ll be responsible for the delivery of operational activity in support of the library’s user experience services, delivering to the operational plan. You’ll provide first line library support to users, working collaboratively to answer queries at service points, onsite and online, and offer guidance on navigating library services. You'll be responsible for maintaining a welcoming, safe and accessible environment, investigating and reporting any matters of concern, and contribute toward tidying and organising of library spaces. You'll work with colleagues to assist with induction activities, including providing introductory tours of the library.
This is a part time position, 21 hours per week. The working pattern for this role is Sunday: 9am - 5pm (7hrs) / Wednesday and Thusday: 1pm - 6pm (5hrs) / Friday: 9am - 1pm (4). This role requires the post holder to be flexible within the working pattern to meet the business needs, including working evenings, weekends or extended hours.
To be successful in this role you will be self-motivated and able to work collaboratively. You’ll leverage your experience of user-focussed services with an emphasis on delivering information, advice, and guidance. You’ll demonstrate excellent communication skills and build positive relationships with a wide range of colleagues. You’ll be confident and self-assured with the ability to actively listen, to resolve queries and respond to user feedback. You’ll be confident in approaching new technologies and have a strong ability to plan, prioritise and organise work to achieve objectives on time. You'll have a positive perspective and have the ability to adapt.
- Working collaboratively, provide operational support for library spaces and user experience, delivering against operational plans and placing strong focus on continuous improvement to align with university priorities.
- Deliver a general enquiry service, providing first line support and offering initial advice on finding and navigating resources and services, escalating as appropriate.
- Maintain a welcoming, safe and accessible environment, observing, investigating and reporting matters of concern regarding security, safeguarding and health and safety.
- Deliver circulation support across allocated sites, ensuring service points are fully staffed, throughout library opening times.
- Build positive and effective relationships with colleagues across the Library, working collaboratively to resolve issues and complete tasks.
- Capture data and feedback in respect of library spaces and user experience, in accordance with defined measures and benchmarks.
- Work collaboratively across the Library to assist with induction activities, including introductory tours of the library spaces.
- Regularly support the arrangement of stock and re-shelving of items and contribute towards tidying and organising library spaces.
- Assist in the promotion library resources, services and events and wear university-branded clothing provided at appropriate times and occasions in aid of this.
- Have an awareness of the Library’s provision of spaces for a variety of research and learning preferences.
- Actively participate as a member of working groups across the Library and, where relevant, the wider University to develop and implement policies and procedures, contribute towards decision‑making, resolve issues and implement assigned projects.
- Actively promote and support inclusion through operational activities undertaken through the role.
- Undertake continuous personal and professional development in support of the role.
- Be flexible with working pattern and in working at different University sites and supporting other library teams, as required.
- Ensure compliance with relevant University policies and procedures.
- Level 3 qualifications or equivalent professional experience
Experience
- Experience of delivering user‑focussed services with an emphasis on continuous quality improvement
- Experience of delivering information, advice and guidance
- Experience of building positive relationships and working productively in collaboration with a wide range of colleagues
Skills, knowledge & abilities
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion with the ability to role model, adhere to and advocate the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
- Confident and self‑assured with the ability to actively listen, communicate confidently to resolve queries and respond to user feedback
- Ability to plan, prioritise and organise work to achieve objectives on time
- Confident in approaching new technologies and flexible approach to change
Business requirements
- Ability to work across all University sites, as required
- Ability to be flexible within the working pattern to meet the business needs, including working evenings, weekends or extended hours
- Willingness to provide support at University events from time to time e.g., Graduation, Clearing and Open Days, (some of these events occur outside of normal working hours, such as evenings and weekends).
Qualifications
- Relevant library and information qualification
Experience
- Experience of working within an academic library
- Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
- Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family‑friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
- Discounted onsite gym
- Cycle to Work scheme
- A flexible working environment
- A commitment to personal and professional development
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Warren Roome, User Experience Librarian via [email protected]
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [email protected] .
The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Equity, diversity and inclusion
The University of Derby is committed to fostering an open, inclusive and diverse community where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We are committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex or sexual orientation.
As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome requests for adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Applicants may choose their preferred title, including 'Mx', and may share preferred pronouns if they wish. We also use anonymised shortlisting to help reduce the potential impact of unconscious bias. For more information on equity,diversityand inclusion at the University of Derby, pleasevisitour website .
We are also committed to promoting academic freedom and freedom of speech and expression within the law, in line with our Code of Practice , and value diversity of thought alongside diversity of backgrounds and experiences.
However you identify, we welcome applications from people whose experiences, perspectives and talents will contribute to our inclusive, supportive and intellectually vibrant community.
Environmental Sustainability
At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.
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