Information Specialist

Location:	Port Elizabeth
Education level:	Degree
Job level:	Junior/Mid
Company:	Varsity College

Direct reporting line:
Head: academic

Varsity College is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE). The IIE is recognised as a leader in private higher education in South Africa and is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to offer accredited higher education qualifications through the Council on Higher Education (CHE).

The IIE’s Varsity College, Nelson Mandela Bay Campus, has a vacancy for an information specialist.

Duties and responsibilities

Management of the writing centre (writing centre administration)

• Oversee the daily activities of the information centre in an academic setting
• Manage the routine operations of inter-information centre loans and requests
• Supervise facility usage, including computers, and ensure the proper administration of periodicals
• Liaise with departments within The IIE’s Varsity College to provide assignment support
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with academic staff, students, and external bodies such as suppliers
• Prepare reports related to the information centre and its services
• Develop and maintain a hybrid collection of information resources
• Edit, classify, and index information sources, distributing new materials to the information centre manager for cataloguing
• Supervise assistant staff and student assistants
• Assist with the provision of information services in a digital environment
• Manage auxiliary services such as copying, reproduction, and digitisation
• Maintain good conduct in learning spaces
• Monitor the performance of all information centre systems
• Liaise with the capacity management and timetabling centre to ensure lecturers have the necessary academic material, including sourcing teaching resources from publishers
• Ensure compliance with The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE) policies and procedures
• Provide feedback to the information centre manager and head: academic regarding all information centre-related issues

Provision of information services and user support

• Conduct class visits and live training sessions for students and lecturers
• Support learning by teaching information literacy skills to students and staff in both classroom and virtual settings
• Assist students with academic writing, referencing, and search skills
• Train students and lecturers on the use of the information centre database for research and information access, including platforms such as Ebscohost, Juta Law, and HeinOnline
• Deliver presentations during student information sessions, digital literacy classes, and lecturer briefings
• Provide guidance on academic writing and referencing styles
• Support academic staff with literature searches using research databases, printed materials, and the internet
• Address user queries
• Stay updated on developments and innovations within the information centre sector and participate in professional groups and networks

Research output and academic support

• Measure research impact and develop best practices for information use
• Provide postgraduate research support to students through academic assistance
• Support academic staff with research needs
• Assist students in locating research material and addressing research-related queries
• Actively engage in research and produce outputs

Information centre resource marketing

• Design posters and resource packs to promote information centre services on campus
• Arrange monthly displays in collaboration with the information centre manager and the student relations manager to align with campus themes
• Market and promote information centre resources through innovative campaigns

General administration

• Maintain payment records for invoices
• Monitor the performance of all automated information centre systems
• Update the Sirsi Dynix system with new books to ensure accurate record-keeping
• Manage the collection development, maintenance, and organisation of information centre resources
• Recruit and train student assistants
• Conduct a bi-annual stocktake and prepare a report

Competencies required

• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Coaching and mentoring abilities
• Problem-solving skills and time-management skills
• Friendly, organised, and able to work accurately under pressure
• Information and digital fluency skills
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Understanding of library-related technology (e.g. law online databases, Sirsi Dynix, Emerald, Ebscohost, Sabinet)
• Multi-literacy skills
• Innovation and energy
• Research capability

Minimum qualification requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in library and information science or equivalent

Minimum experience requirements

• At least three years’ experience in an academic library
• Professional registration with LIASA

Working hours

• Monday to Friday: 8am-5pm or 7am-4pm
• One Saturday shift per month from 8am-1pm, with adjusted hours on the preceding Friday (8am-12pm)

Salary

• Competitive salary based on experience

Benefits

• Lifelong learning opportunities via LinkedIn Learning subscriptions
• Staff and family discounts on educational programmes
• Incentive bonus based on performance
• Provident fund contributions, including death and funeral cover
• Birthday vouchers
• Generous annual leave allowance

Application response:

Due to the high volume of applications, personal contact will be made with candidates whose qualifications align closely with the position requirements.

Technical support:

For technical issues with your application, visit: https://hire.simplify.hr/ContactUs

The IIE's Varsity College is an equal opportunity employer. Preference will be given to underrepresented groups in accordance with the South African Employment Equity Act.

Posted on 08 Oct 09:49, Closing date 13 Oct