Teaching and Learning Support Officer – Medical Librarian

Applications are invited for the above permanent full-time post working within Digital Services.

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic medical librarian to join our multi-skilled team. You will work in partnership with academics, researchers, and professional services staff to support the Medical School. You will work closely with the library collections team to ensure that the Medical School has the optimum resources to support their teaching and learning goals.

You will be expected to understand pedagogical principles and academic skills, including information and digital literacy. You will be expected to develop innovative approaches to teaching. Have knowledge of immersive learning techniques and how to apply emerging technologies such as generative AI. You should also possess expertise in crafting compelling and effective student learning experiences.

You should have a degree or a postgraduate qualification (or near completion) in library or information studies or information management, experience in using virtual learning environments and library tools and systems, and proven experience working within an academic or medical support library environment and delivering information skills training.

The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role.  

The role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview. 

Applications will also be considered from those who may wish to work on a job share or part-time basis.

Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.

Closing date for applications: 7th January, 2024.

Committed To Equal Opportunities.

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join a new medical school in Bangor.  As such you will play a key role in ensuring the school is optimally resourced to support their learning and teaching needs. You will be part of a multi-skilled team that supports Teaching and learning at Bangor University.  The team is part of the larger Digital Services department and works closely with other teams within the department to deliver excellent customer service.

The successful candidate will have specific responsibilities for supporting medical education, including the discovery and use of learning resources and will need to be familiar with digital tools to effectively perform their duties. As one of the librarians in the team, you will work alongside other members of the Teaching and Learning Support team to provide training and information skills support to all students, researchers, and staff, but specific responsibility for the medical school. You will be expected to contribute to curriculum development and provide training sessions for the Medical school.

You will also respond to enquiries via the online ‘helpdesk’ system and provide support for digital technologies.

Purpose of the Job

The Teaching and Learning Officer – Medical Librarian’s role is to maximise the development of academic, library and information skills to support the teaching, learning, and research needs of the new medical school at Bangor. As a member of the multi-skilled support team, you will play a pivotal role in coordinating and assessing user requirements within the Medical School. You will contribute to the ongoing development and provision of relevant digital and print resources. Additionally, as part of the Teaching & Learning Supporting team, you will use the teams’ expertise in information skills, study skills, and learning technology to deliver exceptional customer/client service and support, in line with the University’s strategic goals.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain partnerships with Medical School academics and professional services colleagues to ensure the users get the maximum benefit from Digital services and library collections.
• Collaborate with the library collections team to develop and implement a collection development plan that aligns with the Medical School’s curriculum and research priorities.
• Identify, select, and acquire new and existing resources, including electronic materials, databases, and software.
• Promote and provide access to the Medical School’s library resources to students, faculty, and staff.
• Develop and deliver educational programs and workshops on the use of library resources.
• Conduct research and assess the effectiveness of the Medical School’s library resources.
• Working closely with colleagues to ensure that library systems, tools and services are flexible, responsive, user-focussed and at the leading edge of best practice within the profession.
• Demonstrate sound pedagogical approaches within own teaching to empower students to become independent and successful learners.
• The role holder will be expected to develop innovative approaches to the delivery and promotion of such resources and services.
• Develop and promote pedagogical approaches to support the use of online reading lists as a driver for student engagement and learning.
• Use relevant technologies to support the university’s digital first and learning and teaching strategies.
• Work with Degree Programme Teams across the University to design, deliver and embed information skills within the curriculum and at all levels of learning, exploiting the full range of teaching and learning methods and online technologies to support such delivery.
• Work with staff in developing relevant resources for their Blackboard VLE sites.
• Manage referrals for specialist advice, training, and support in a variety of formats (drop-ins, online, one-to-one appointments etc.) in a prompt and professional manner.
• Work with Programme Teams in the development of student reading lists and to ensure the effective use of the University’s digital reading list management system.
• Take a proactive role in the development and monitoring of customer plans and in assessing user needs and expectations.
• Respond to relevant queries via the online “helpdesk” system answering general queries directed to the team which will include support of digital technologies.
• Represent the Service at formal and informal University and external meetings, and at internal and external quality assurance and validation events.
• Actively promote, develop, and market library collections, services and activities and work with other library teams using a range of appropriate feedback mechanisms, to ensure that requirements are known, and the impact assessed and documented.
• Lead cross-service and University projects to deliver on developments enhancing the student experience, service delivery and provision.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Policy and the Welsh Language Standards.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for him/her self and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by his/her actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their posts.
• To undertake other duties as may be necessary or may be determined by the line manager consistent with the responsibilities of the grade.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

Have a degree, or postgraduate qualification (or near completion) or be working towards a library or information science qualification.

Have proven commitment to continuing professional development including attendance at relevant courses and conferences (e.g., Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals).

Experience or qualification in Medicine or a related field.

Desirable

Have a relevant teaching qualification or be willing to work towards a qualification.

Membership of the Higher Education Academy or willingness to achieve membership.

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

Experience in information and subject support and service planning in a medical library environment.

Knowledge of current developments in teaching, learning and research in Higher Education.

Experience in exploiting digital services, such as Virtual learning environments, Office 365 apps, and library tools and systems (e.g., Talis, Primo,).

Experience of the preparation and delivery of information literacy skills teaching.

Evidence of motivational skills with a team. A good understanding of information literacy and methods of teaching.

Working knowledge of marketing and promotion activities.

Desirable

Experience of information resources development and exploitation of digital and print collections.

Experience in data analysis or interpretation.

Awareness of legal and professional requirements relating to information service provision.

Contribution of new knowledge to a field relevant to the post – through external networks and/or contribution to conferences/workshops.

Experience of using Blackboard, Panopto, Talis, Primo, Reference managing software.

Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools, including the desire to learn how to exploit the additional productivity tools, booking apps and Power Bi.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

Open mindedness and innovative thinking.

Ability to be self-motivated, adaptable, flexible with the ability to work alone or as part of a team.

Excellent library systems skills, especially in relation to resource discovery.

Excellent verbal, written and presentation communication skills.

Excellent evaluation, decision making and time management skills with the ability to work to deadlines.

Ability to take on an analytical role in determining user requirements.

Able to liaise effectively with academics and senior staff.

Desirable

Project management skills or a willingness to develop project management skills.

The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role. If applicants are not able to speak / write in Welsh at present, there are many opportunities to learn if the successful candidate wishes to do so.

General

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds.  We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.

We are a member of Advance HE’s Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Bronze award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University’s policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references. 

All candidates must meet the requirements of UK ‘right to work’ requirements *** If you require Home Office permission to work in the UK, or need to switch your visa status in order to take this job  we recommend you use the following link to information about the routes into employment and to check eligibility requirements:  https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

Please note that we are unable to employ anyone who does not have the right to live and work in the UK legally.   When applying for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will be able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful.

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University’s Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.