- Take responsibility for the design and delivery of a research information service, focusing on ways in which research information can underpin and enable
research, learning and teaching activities across the University, through the implementation and development of systems and infrastructure as well as policies and advice, guidance and training.
- Lead on the development of relevant policies to support the University’s research strategy that advises also the learning and teaching activities, including open access and a research data management policy for the University, working with relevant internal stakeholders, and ensuring that policies meet the requirements of Research and Higher Degrees Board and the Academic Board and other external funders.
- Act as the University expert on scholarly communication issues, such as the management of and access to research outputs and research data including funders data policies, requirements, open access developments, research ethics, copyright, intellectual property, freedom of information, metrics, etc.).
- Work with other stakeholders to ensure that appropriate research and learning data can be selected, stored and preserved for long term access and made available (where appropriate) to external researchers. This will involve consulting (on an ongoing basis) key stakeholders across the University to develop a researcher-centric service.
- Develop and improve working practices, procedures and systems to ensure efficient data curation practices and develop project plans and business cases to develop and enhance support and infrastructure in line with University requirements.
- Work to ensure that research information systems are integrated with other University-wide and external systems wherever possible to improve the user experience for the researcher and the learner. This includes making sure that the appropriate software tools are in place to facilitate the effective storage, management and analysis of research outputs and data. This will involve liaison with technical experts across the University and externally (e.g. University Records Manager, software vendors, data storage experts, software developers) to review, recommend and implement other research management systems and/or research data archives. It will also include (but is not limited to) the linking of research data and research outputs to the University’s staff profiles and other internal and external tools that increase the visibility of researchers and their research.
- Put in place standards and tools to ensure effective access to and retrieval of research and research data over the long-term in line with best practice in the sector including metadata policies, authentication mechanisms, data curation techniques etc, and considering the specific requirements related to access to potentially sensitive research data.
- Take responsibility for managing liaison with Faculties that raises awareness of scholarly communications issues, and highlights the significance of non- compliance and benefits of compliance to the University and to individuals.
- Facilitate the comprehensive collection of research outputs and research data and address the varying needs of research, teaching and learning data management across different disciplines.
- Collaborate with the collections teams in the development of library collections (online) that will support research, learning and teaching activities. Ensure that
decision making is evidence based and that value for money is central to the provision of materials and management of the learning material budget.
- Lead on the provision of training and support for researchers, particularly new researchers, on how best to manage and store their research outputs and data. This will include promoting resources, support and the role of the repositories in the research process, as well as assisting researchers with formulating Data Management Plans and fulfilling the Data Management Planning obligations of funders.
- Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Research Support team. Manage performance through continuous review and annual appraisal and other relevant mechanisms, including personal development plans, and lead, develop and advise on the provision of in-house and external training to meet current needs and future developments in the service.
- Work closely with the Deputy Director, Library & Learning Management and other senior members of the directorate to develop services in a coherent and holistic manner, as well as action plans and budget planning, taking the lead on specific projects, as agreed.
- Keep a watching brief on developments in scholarly communication / research information management and advise on their application in the University as appropriate. This will include collaboration with colleagues in national and international data centres, advisory and funding bodies and other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) over research, learning and teaching data management issues and policies.
- Demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development by attending conferences and appropriate training courses to keep up to date knowledge and expertise within the sector.
- Undertake any other duties and specific projects as may reasonably be required by the Deputy Director, Library & Learning Enhancement.
