Head of Academic Skills

Job Description

About Goldsmiths

Goldsmiths, University of London, is internationally recognized for its innovative academic approach and commitment to creativity. With a focus on academic excellence and imaginative course design, Goldsmiths offers a vibrant environment where original thinkers can flourish.

About the Library

The Library is central to academic and student life at Goldsmiths. We deliver high-quality, reliable services and are committed to continuous improvement and innovation. Our dedicated and collaborative team supports learning, teaching, and research through a wide range of resources and projects, including our unique special collections.

The Role:

Head of Academic Skills

We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking professional to lead the strategic development and delivery of academic skills support across the university. As Head of Academic Skills, you will:

Oversee the Library’s academic skills provision.

Co-lead the Academic Enrichment and Skills Development Team, working alongside the Head of Digital Skills and the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Develop and implement training programmes and resources to support academic and information literacy for students, staff, and researchers.

Work closely with academic departments and professional services to integrate skills development into the curriculum and align with the university’s priorities in teaching, learning, and research.

Play a key role in decolonising the curriculum and advancing access and participation goals.

Stay informed of emerging technologies and sector best practices.

Contribute to the strategic planning of the Library as a member of the Library Management Team.

Represent the Library in university-wide and external collaborations.

Who We’re Looking For

You’ll be a collaborative and adaptable professional with:

A background in librarianship, information science, or a related area.

Experience in supporting student learning in a higher education or research environment.

Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships across the university.

Confidence in developing both digital and face-to-face learning materials.

A strong commitment to inclusion, access, and academic equity.

Benefits

Goldsmiths offers a generous package including:

28 days of annual leave plus 6 additional closure days (4 at Christmas and 2 at Easter), in addition to all public holidays.

Agile/flexible working environment.

Defined benefit pension scheme.

Extensive support for professional development.

A variety of wellbeing and staff engagement initiatives (e.g. staff choir, running club, creative writing classes).

We are committed to equality and diversity. Applications from individuals from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds are particularly encouraged, as they are currently underrepresented at this level of the university.