E-Content Manager/Librarian

The Open University – Content Licensing and Intellectual Property

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

About the Role

The role focuses on delivering expert advice and support for library content and collections, to ensure that they meet the needs of students, course production, and academic research. It involves maintaining compliance with copyright, licensing, and accessibility requirements, while contributing professional insight to a range of library‑related projects. A key element of the position is collaborating with other library teams to strengthen operational delivery and inform future strategies.

In addition, the role is responsible for working with colleagues to purchase, licence, and manage access to online library content, fostering strong relationships with suppliers to ensure resources are cost‑effective, high‑quality, and easily discoverable. The postholder is expected to model positive behaviours that support a forward‑thinking culture and is able to work in accordance with the University’s values and relevant policies.

Key Responsibilities

• To undertake library content purchases and subscriptions, including evaluating new content and suppliers, to build high-quality collections that meet student and research needs and deliver best value.
• To build and maintain strong relationships with publishers and suppliers, negotiate contracts and licences, promote OU priorities, and influence the development of relevant content, business models and services.
• To advise library colleagues and faculties on the optimal use of Library resources, including providing guidance on copyright, licensing and Open Access.
• To monitor and resolve content access issues, working proactively with suppliers and library technical and metadata teams to safeguard access for students and staff.
• To analyse usage and performance data to assess trends, impact, value for money and return on investment, informing renewals, purchasing decisions, staffing capacity and library strategy.
• To work with the Library Research Support Team to assess Read and Publish Agreements and Open Access transitions. To assess the impact on subscriptions and budgets and inform OU input to discussion about future business models for journals.
• To collaborate with library colleagues and external partners involved in the development of the Library Management System (Ex Libris Alma & Primo). Testing updates and seeking opportunities to improve content procurement workflows to meet organisational needs.
• To understand the accessibility needs of the OU community, representing them to publishers and suppliers.
• To line manage staff, supporting ongoing professional development and delivering performance management in line with OU policies. (NB. This is not undertaken by all EContent Librarians / Managers but all might be called upon to undertake this role as needs arise).

About You

Essential criteria:

• Experience of working in a library environment with responsibility for collection management and development, including evaluating and selecting resources, managing metadata, and using library systems to support high‑quality, value‑for‑money collections.
• Clear, confident communicator able to build collaborative relationships, negotiate effectively, and represent organisational needs.
• Experience of working with library content, systems and technologies for eresources acquisition, management and discovery (ALMA/ Primo desirable).
• Experience of improving processes and streamlining workflows with high accuracy and strong organisational skills.
• Experience working with numerical/ financial data, including analysis, interpretation, and evidence-based reporting.
• Proactive problem-solver with attention to detail, able to research and share knowledge and resolve complex issues.
• Ability to carry out the role in a way that is consistent with equality legislation and University policies.
• Enthusiasm and commitment to own professional development, learning new skills and facilitating the development of others.

Desirable criteria:

• Qualification in Librarianship or related field.
• Experience of using ALMA and Primo LMS.
• Experience line managing staff.
• Awareness of the issues and opportunities in distance education.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Working Location:

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes Office, it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be 1 day per week on Wednesdays, but this could be more often if business needs dictate. Full-time working based from our Milton Keynes site is also supported if this is preferred by the candidate. Expenses associated with travel to our Milton Keynes site are not reimbursable.

Next steps in the Recruitment process

Interviews dates are still to be confirmed.

Early closing date notification

We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.

How to apply

To apply for this role please submit the following document(s):

• CV
• A Supporting Statement of up to 1000 words. You should set out in your statement why you are interested in the role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the essential criteria for this role as detailed above.

You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.