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, Pietermaritzburg Campus has a vacancy for an Information Specialist.**

**Duties and Responsibilities**:
**Management of the Writing Centre (Writing Centre Administration)**
- Manage the day-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.
- Liaises 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.
- Prepares reports related to Information Centre and information services.
- Develops and maintains a hybrid information collection.
- Edits, classifies, index information sources and distributes new materials for cataloguing to the information Centre Manager.
- Supervises the assistant staff and student assistants.
- Assists with the provision of information services in a digital environment.
- Assists with managing all auxiliary services such as copying, reproduction and digitization.
- Manages and controls good conduct in learning spaces.
- Monitors the performance of all functions of Information Centre systems.
- Liaises 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.
- Ensures that The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE) Policies and Procedures are adhered to.
- Provides feedback to the Information Centre Manager and Head: Academic on all Information Centre related issues.

**Provision of Information Services and User Information**
- Conducts class visits and live interactive training sessions for students and lecturers.
- Facilitating and supporting learning by teaching information literacy skills to students and staff, within classrooms and virtual learning environment.
- Assists students with Academic writing, referencing and search skills.
- Trains students and lectures 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.
- Conducts presentations during Student Information sessions/ Digital Literacy Classes and Lecturer Information briefings.
- Provides guidance to students on academic writing and referencing styles.
- Support academic staff with literature searches using research databases, printed resources and the internet.
- Addresses user enquires.
- 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**
- Measuring research impact and develop best practices for use of information.
- Postgraduate research support to students by educating and providing academic support.
- 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 produce research output and activities.

**Information Centre Resources Marketing**
- Designs posters and Information Centre packs to market Information Centre resources on the campus.
- Arranges monthly displays according to the calendar set out by the Information Centre Manager and the Student Relations Manager, so as to align themes.
- Innovative marketing and promotion of information Centre resources.
- Market, promote and co-ordinate awareness campaigns pertinent to the Information Centre.

**General Administration**
- Maintains records for payment of invoices.
- Monitor the performance of all functions of Information Centre automated Information Centre systems.
- Update new books on the Sirsi Dynix to ensure accurate record keeping.
- 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 communications 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 o