Information Specialist

Direct Reporting Line: Head: Academic Varsity College is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE). The IIE enjoys the reputation of being at the forefront of private higher education in South Africa, and is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to provide higher education qualifications accredited by 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)

Manage the day-to-day activities of the Information Centre in an academic environment.
Manage the routine operations of the inter-Information Centre loans and request service.
Manage and control facility, computer usage and ensure effective administration of periodicals.
Liaise with departments within The IIE's Varsity College to ensure efficient support, i.e. assignment capacity.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with academic staff and students, as well as external bodies such as suppliers.
Prepare reports related to Information Centre and information services.
Develop and maintain a hybrid information collection.
Edit, classify, index information sources and distribute new materials for cataloguing to the Information Centre Manager.
Supervise the assistant staff and student assistants.
Assist with the provision of information services in a digital environment.
Assist with managing all auxiliary services such as copying, reproduction and digitization.
Manage and control good conduct in learning spaces.
Monitor the performance of all functions of Information Centre systems.
Liaise with the Capacity Management and Timetabling Centre to ensure that lectures have all the academic material they require for presenting lectures including sourcing teaching resources from publishers.
Ensure that The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE) Policies and Procedures are adhered to.
Provide feedback to the Information Centre Manager and Head: Academic on all Information Centre related issues.

Provision of Information Services and User Information

Conduct class visits and live interactive training sessions for students and lecturers.
Facilitate and support learning by teaching information literacy skills to students and staff, within classrooms and virtual learning environments.
Assist students with academic writing, referencing and search skills.
Train students and lecturers on how to use the Information Centre database to enable them to do research and access the information required, e.g. Ebscohost, Juta Law and HeinOnline.
Conduct presentations during Student Information sessions/Digital Literacy Classes and Lecturer Information briefings.
Provide guidance to students on academic writing and referencing styles.
Support academic staff with literature searches using research databases, printed resources and the internet.
Address user enquiries.
Keep up to date with new developments, innovations in the Information Centre sector and participate in professional groups and Professional Learning Networks.

Research Output and Academic Support

Measure research impact and develop best practices for use of information.
Provide postgraduate research support to students by educating and providing academic support.
Provide research support to academic staff.
Assist students to find academic research material and provide support on research related queries.
Play an active role in research by performing own research and producing research output and activities.

Information Centre Resources Marketing

Design posters and Information Centre packs to market Information Centre resources on the campus.
Arrange monthly displays according to the calendar set out by the Information Centre Manager and the Student Relations Manager, so as to align themes.
Innovate marketing and promotion of Information Centre resources.
Market, promote and coordinate awareness campaigns pertinent to the Information Centre.

General Administration

Maintain records for payment of invoices.
Monitor the performance of all functions of Information Centre automated systems.
Update new books on the Sirsi Dynix to ensure accurate record keeping.
Manage collection development, maintenance and management of Information Centre resources.
Recruit and train student assistants.
Conduct bi-annual stocktaking project and compile a report.

Competencies Required:

Interpersonal and communication skills
Coaching and mentoring skills
Problem-solving skills & Time management skills
Best suited to a friendly, organised person who works accurately and is able to handle pressure
Information & Digital Fluency Skills
Digital literacy skills
Working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Understanding of library related technology (e.g. Law online databases, Sirsi Dynix, Emerald, Ebscohost, Sabinet, etc.)
Multi-literacy Skills
Innovative and Energetic
Producing own Research

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

Minimum of Bachelor's Degree in Library and Information Science.

Minimum Experience Requirements:

Minimum of 3 years experience in an Academic library.
Must have professional registration with LIASA.

Working Hours:

Monday to Friday 8:00-17:00 or 07:00-16:00.
The Information Specialist may also be required to work one Saturday shift a month from 08:00 to 13:00 (timing of this monthly Saturday shift will be determined by the Head: Academic). In the week where the IS works the Saturday shift, the Friday working hours will change to 08:00-12:00 accordingly.

Salary:

Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

Benefits:

Lifelong learning opportunities through LinkedIn Learning subscriptions.
Staff and family discounts on educational programs within our brand portfolio.
Incentive bonus structure based on performance and achievement of goals.
Provident fund contributions, including Death & Funeral Cover, to support your financial well-being and future planning.
Birthday vouchers to celebrate your special day.
Competitive annual leave allowance for well-deserved time off and rejuvenation.

Application Response:

Due to the high volume of CVs received, please note that personal contact with all applicants may not be feasible. Only candidates whose qualifications and skills closely align with the position requirements will be contacted for interviews.

Technical Support:

Should you experience technical difficulties applying for the position, kindly use the following URL for further assistance: Technical Support.

The IIE's Varsity College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. However, preference will be given to previously underrepresented groups in accordance with the South African Employment Equity Act.

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