Senior Business Support Officer II (Manager, Information Resource Centre - Library) at icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health

Overall Purpose of the Job

The Manager, Information Resource Centre (Library) is responsible for managing library and information services for icipe’s research staff and students, including training in information literacy. The position oversees profiling and archiving of icipe research output and guides technological developments, especially in the area of electronic information services and digital libraries. The Manager is responsible for creating strategic partnerships with organizations and institutions to provide improved information services to icipe. The Manager also plays a major role in capacity building of libraries, staff and students at partner universities (‘African Host Universities’) across sub-Saharan Africa as part of the Regional Scholarships and Innovation Fund (Rsif) www.rsif-paset.org, which icipe manages.

Specific Duties
The successful candidate will undertake the following activities:

•  Manage all icipe Information Resource Centre (IRC) (library) services, including reference, acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, issuance of ISBN and electronic information services.
•  Develop IRC procedures and processes, manuals and documentation including annual plans and budgets.
•  Oversee the automation of the IRC and continue to transform the IRC to be a digital facility for efficient and comprehensive access to electronic scientific and innovation literature.
•  Develop and deliver Information literacy training for individual scientists and students at icipe and at Rsif African Host Universities (AHUs) on how to locate, evaluate, use and manage information resources effectively, with emphasis on e-resources (e-journals and e-books).
•  Develop and manage workshops for Rsif AHU librarians on management of e-resources, how to establish a successful information literacy program on campus and develop library partnerships for improved access to e-resources.
•  Develop and manage IRC content on the icipe intranet site.
•  Conduct needs assessments with icipe library users and Rsif AHU libraries to create needs-driven library services and training.
•  Promote the icipe IRC resources to users and generate e-resources usage statistics.
•  Oversee profiling of the Centre’s regular lists of publications (monthly, biannual and annual) and preparation of on-demand publication reports.
•  Manage icipe and Rsif digital repositories and update the lists and links to icipe publications online.
•  Manage access to icipe research intelligence tools and train researchers for optimal use of the tools.
•  Manage publishing of icipe aid data on IATI, an open aid platform.
•  Generate statistics and analytics of icipe and Rsif PhD scholars’ publications and respond to queries on publications.
•  Create and maintain collaborations with strategic partners locally and internationally to improve access to e-resources at icipe and Rsif AHU libraries.
•  Stay current with the latest developments in library management and information literacy.
•  The position may include travel to Rsif AHUs across sub-Saharan Africa.

Requirements/Qualifications

•  Master’s degree in library and information sciences, or similar.
•  At least 8 years progressive work experience with 4 years at senior level in library management; development of digital resources and access; information literacy training; capacity building of institutional and university libraries; creation of partnerships, nationally and internationally, for improved access to information resources.
•  Experience in library and information management, including preparing budgets, planning and strategy execution.
•  Experience in library automation, digital libraries and related technologies.
•  Experience in developing and delivering training in information literacy and library management.
•  Experience in managing digital repositories and websites.
•  Experience in academic publishing and reporting scientific output.
•  Experience in creating and developing strategic partnerships, nationally and internationally, for improved information access and use.
•  Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
•  Excellent interpersonal skills, organizational skills and pays great attention to detail.
•  Excellent presentation skills.
•  Action-oriented and resilient in a fast-paced environment.
•  Ability to manage a complex and varied workload and work under pressure.
•  Ability to work with multi-disciplinary groups.
•  Strong relationship building skills and ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
•  Knowledge of digital library systems.
•  Strong IT skills and familiarity with the use of databases.
•  Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite.
•  Working knowledge of French would be an added advantage.

Other Desirable Attributes

•  Make decisions for library activities with latitude for discretion within established and defined policies.
•  Carry out and supervise the activities of a functional area/unit and supervise staff within the IRC.
•  Preparation of the IRC budget and day-to-day use of the budget for IRC operations, with approval of the Head of Capacity Building and Institutional Development.
•  Contribute to research publications, and publications that promote icipe and the Rsif.
•  Contribute to proposals that include development of information resources and information literacy capacity building; and contribute to Centre’s research output reporting for donor funding.
•  Create and maintain strategic partnerships with national and international information resources organisations, academic and research organisation libraries, publishers, and capacity building/training partners, for the benefit of icipe and Rsif partner African universities.
•  Represent icipe at national and international information resources/library meetings/workshops/conferences.
•  Maintain active membership with strategic organisations for improved, cost-effective access to information resources, including Kenya Libraries and Information Services Consortium (KLISC).

Reporting
This position reports to the Head, Capacity Building and Integrated Sciences.