Job Title: University Librarian and Director of Library Services
Reporting To: Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Location: 6 York Street, Dublin 2
Contract type/duration: Permanent
Closing date for applications: 24th May 2026
About the post
RCSI is seeking to appoint its next visionary leader to the position of University Librarian and Director of Library Services. This post is a senior, permanent appointment within RCSI reporting to the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
This mission‑critical role drives the ongoing innovation and delivery of library services, collections, and infrastructures that enable the delivery of RCSI undergraduate, postgraduate and professional education programmes, RCSI translational research goals, and the stewardship of RCSI heritage collections.
The person appointed will have extensive senior management level experience in a university or a similarly sized health sciences library, and a comprehensive understanding of the role and purpose of library services in academic and clinical health sciences environments. They will be a strategic, tactical, and creative thinker with the drive, determination and ambition to lead the library team in developing and delivering future‑focused library services, responsive to user needs, and will have a clear vision for RCSI Library services in the age of AI and the strategic position of university library services as a critical component in RCSI institutional infrastructure(s).
Job Responsibilities
Providing visionary, strategic and operational leadership and management for RCSI Library, including RCSI Heritage Collections based in Dublin and will collaborate effectively with our library services in RCSI campuses in Bahrain, Malaysia and China where necessary.
Playing a leading role in the strategic development of institutional policies in areas such as open science, open access publishing, research data management, open education resources, and AI literacy.
Being the lead advocate and negotiator for continued investment in library staffing, technologies, facilities, and collections in all formats, necessary to enable institutional education, research and clinical objectives.
Actively positioning library services within, and as a critical component of, RCSI academic and research infrastructures.
Fostering and maintaining collaborative internal and external relationships critical to delivering library services to diverse user groups and providing excellent user experiences in person and online.
Advising RCSI senior management on library‑related issues which have, or could have, a major impact on, or within, the University, e.g., any major financial impacts, national open access developments; risks to RCSI heritage collections, etc
Representing RCSI on national and European consortia including but not limited to CONUL (Consortium of National and University Libraries), IReL (Irish Research eLibrary) Directors Group, SCONUL (The Society of College, National and University Libraries of UK and Ireland), LIBER European Research Libraries and AAHSL (Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries).
Leadership
Develop, communicate and oversee the implementation of a compelling vision for RCSI Library that aligns with RCSI Strategy and sub‑strategies for Engagement, Arts and EDI while also being cognisant of the library mission to preserve RCSI history.
Ensuring RCSI Library expert services, collections, IT infrastructure, spaces and facilities are fit for purpose in a growing AI environment, continually evolving in response to user needs and are actively contributing to student success and wellbeing, impactful RCSI research, and clinical practice.
Active horizon scanning and pro‑actively responding to key trends in libraries & information science, cultural heritage, academic publishing, open science, healthcare education and training, and higher education that impact the delivery and development of library services and heritage collections in an academic and health sciences environment.
Resource Management
Overall responsibility for financial planning and prioritisation of expenditure of the library budget and demonstrating return on that investment.
Ensuring appropriate policies, procedures, and systems for data capture and reporting are in place to support operational efficiency, evidence‑based decisions, and internal and external reporting requirements.
Oversee the strategic and operational development of library spaces, digital and physical, in response to evolving user needs/behaviours and technological advances.
People Management
Lead and direct a team of technical and information specialists and leverage their collective knowledge and skill sets to enable RCSI strategic objectives in education, research, public engagement, art and society.
Manage direct reports, currently Associate Librarians, Heritage Collections Team and Library Administrator.
Work collaboratively with the library management team to foster and promote a culture of proactivity, innovation, customer services excellence and continuous quality improvement.
Ensure adherence to the Library Team Agreement in support of a collaborative, respectful and inclusive workplace.
Oversee workforce planning, business case development, recruitment, and the professional performance and development of staff
Actively advance RCSI’s equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) strategy and RCSI Sustainable Development goals within the team and in informing services delivery online and onsite.
Strategic Relationship Management
Developing and maintaining internal and external relationships critical for the success of RCSI Library and RCSI including but not limited to
RCSI senior management team, Heads of Schools, academics, students, researchers, professional services, and alumni
RCSI clinical teaching sites especially major teaching hospitals in Dublin
Library teams and senior management at RCSI international campuses in Bahrain, Malaysia and China
HSE Library senior management
National and international library consortia and professional associations
Knowledge & Experience – (Essential)
Primary degree and a post graduate qualification in Library and Information Science, or a cognate equivalent with demonstrated experience relevant to the role of university librarian
Significant management and leadership experience in a research‑intensive, academic or health sciences library, environment
Strategic and operational planning, policy development, human and financial resource management experience
Experience of leading, managing and motivating teams to high performance
Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills
Strong understanding of current trends and issues impacting academic and health sciences libraries, such as scholarly communication, Open Science, content licensing, information costs, artificial intelligence, open press publishing etc
A collaborative, consultative management style and the ability to work in partnership across the institution
Visionary thinking with the ability to articulate a clear vision and secure institutional commitment to it.
Record of leading successful organisational change with library services.
Strong service orientation and a commitment to providing high‑quality services
Creative approaches to developing existing and new library services.
Excellent management/administrative/negotiating/organisational and analytical skills.
Commitment to personal and professional development through membership of appropriate professional associations, e.g., LAI, CILIP, MLA, ARA.
Persistence, resilience, flexibility and adaptability. Able to manage risks and make data‑driven decisions in a fast‑changing information landscape and to take responsibility.
A broad understanding of the HE, healthcare and health education environment, the impact of government legislation and external and economic forces on the University, and an ability to position the University Library effectively within this context
Experience working in a multi‑cultural context and commitment to EDI
We are all too aware that imposter syndrome and the confidence gap can sometimes stop fantastic candidates putting themselves forward, so please do submit an application – we’d love to hear from you.
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