Head of Special Collections & Archives, UCC Library

Permanent Whole Time Post

UCC Library is looking for an exceptional leader to join our team as Head of Special Collections & Archives to provide strategic leadership in the development, preservation, discovery, and promotion of UCC Library’s distinctive collections. Collections include rare books, manuscripts, archives, photographic collections and other unique or historical materials. This role is pivotal in supporting the University’s teaching, learning, and research priorities through stewardship of these resources and by fostering their integration into teaching, learning and research activities.

The Head of Special Collections & Archives will lead a team of specialist staff and will contribute to strategic planning, service innovation, and major projects for the area. With a focus on enhanced access, engagement, and long-term preservation, the role will collaborate across the Library and wider University to ensure that Special Collections & Archives remain visible, relevant, and accessible to diverse audiences, now and in the future.

How will you contribute to our Team?

You will:

• Lead on the preservation and stewardship of the Library’s rare, unique and distinct collections, including strategic collection development and policymaking.
• Lead on a digital transformation agenda within Special Collections and Archives to ensure a modernised, responsive, dynamic service to meet user needs and enhanced accessibility of collections.
• Lead on the prioritization of collections for digitization to facilitate online public access to Special Collections and Archival materials in collaboration with colleagues in the Library’s Digital Systems team.
• Lead a comprehensive and innovative outreach programme the promotes engagement with the collections including organising exhibitions and events.
• Identify and develop opportunities to integrate Special Collections and Archives with the research priorities of the University.
• Lead on the integration of Special Collections and Archives into the teaching and learning activities within the University.

About UCC Library

The University’s Library is at the heart of the University and plays a pivotal role in supporting the learning and research activities of University College Cork community. UCC Library comprises a distinct unit that resides under the Vice-President for Teaching & Learning. Library staff work in partnership with the University community to provide access to high quality information resources and research collections, tailored programs of student and researcher support, and a first-class learning environment.

The Library has entered an exciting period of transformation with the development of a new library vision and plan that will support the UCC Strategic Plan 2023-2028 ‘Securing our Future’ and the broader University aspirations under the direction of a new University Librarian.  

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.

For an information package including full details of the post, selection criteria and application process see https://ore.ucc.ie/.   The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Liz Jolly, University Librarian at ljolly@ucc.ie.

University College Cork is committed to being a fully inclusive global university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are core values under our UCC Strategic Plan 2023-2028. UCC holds a Silver Athena SWAN award  in recognition of our commitment to advancing equality in higher education. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of age, care-giving status, disability, ethnicity, gender and/or gender identity or expression status, nationality, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion/creed, and/or sexual orientation. We are committed to supporting all staff through flexible working schemes, family-friendly policies, training and development, and staff networks. We value the enrichment that comes from a diverse community and seek to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of each individual in line with equality legislation. We encourage applicants to consult our Dignity and Respect Policy and learn more about our EDI related initiatives .

Appointment may be made on the Admin I Salary Scale: €83,586 - €110,109 (Scale B) / €80,711 - €104,602 (Scale A).

Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.

We encourage you to reach out to us directly should you require assistance or reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process.

Please note that interviews will take place online via MS Teams in the first instance. Candidates may be required to attend UCC for an in person interview. Candidates will be advised as appropriate.