NAZARENE THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

Job Description

Job Title:
Responsible to:
Location:
Full Time:
Salary:

Main Purpose of Job

Librarian
Teaching and Learning Lead
Didsbury, Manchester
35 hours
£29,500 - £31,500 depending on experience
£25,000 - £29,000 entry level

The Librarian is a key member of the college’s academic team, responsible for implementing the vision and
strategy for the College's learning spaces, information resources, and library services. This role leads the
strategic acquisition, management, and evolution of the library’s physical and electronic collections to ensure
they support the College's students, curriculum, and research.

The Librarian’s role also includes fostering a supportive learning environment. Offering a hospitable learning
space, the Librarian is responsible for providing library services to all NTC students, NTC staff, and external
members. Working as the leader of a small team the Librarian serves a crucial role in the development and
support of students’ research skills.

The College welcomes applications from qualified librarians as well as from motivated individuals who can
demonstrate transferable skills and an eagerness to embrace a librarian role within a theological college.

The College is also open to receiving applications from lecturer-librarians. For qualified individuals who also
meet the criteria for a Lecturer appointment, the role may be revised to include a defined component of teaching
and research supervision.

Background
Reporting to the Teaching and Learning Lead, you will be a people-focussed person with a passion for learning.
You will work with the Academic leaders to develop a library strategy, and you will be fully responsible for the
provision, management and development of library resources which support students, NTC staff, and external
members. Working with other departments, you will be an integral member of the College team.

Nazarene Theological College is a research-led partner college of The University of Manchester. Situated in
Didsbury, Manchester, the College is a Christian theological college and is shaped around a Christian ethos.
Founded in 1944, NTC has some 250 students (both full and part time), across undergraduate and postgraduate
programmes of study, representing a wide range of nationalities. The College also prepares candidates for
Christian ordination in the Church of the Nazarene and beyond. The College also has a partnership with a sister
Theological College for sharing NTC’s library resources, and the librarian supports this partnership.

The College currently hosts multiple book collections, including the Hugh Rae Library, the Grogan Library, and
the MWRC Library.

Main Duties / Responsibilities

The Librarian will be responsible for:

1)  Lead the regular review, development, and administration of all library-related policies (e.g., collection
development, circulation, resource access, fair use/copyright) to ensure they are forward-thinking,
digitally inclusive, and supportive of the College's mission and pedagogy.

2)  Coordinating the library management system (OPALS) and online library resources (including, Perlego,

ATLA & Religion and Philosophy through EBSCO).

3)  Acquisition of print and electronic resources that are relevant to courses and are accessible to all

students.

4)  Supporting the provision of resources for courses delivered in Manchester and NTC’s learning centres.
5)  Cataloguing a range of resources according to set library standards (MARC 21).
6)  Liaising with faculty and visiting lecturers to ensure that relevant resources are accessible to students.
7)  Developing the information literacy skills of all users.
8)  Managing the library budget: including providing regular updates to the Finance Office, and Library

Committee

9)  Administration of the Copyright Licensing Agency annual report.
10) Management of College’s archivist, volunteer library assistants, and student workers.
11) Engaging with the wider life of the College, including membership of College committees.
12) Promoting the library to those inside and outside the College.
13) Working with the Director of the Manchester Wesley Research Centre to support its specialist

collections.

14) Support for evening lectures
15) Be responsible in weekdays for the timely opening of the library

This job description is not exhaustive; the post holder may be required to undertake other duties as reasonably
required by your line manager. You are required to follow all College policies and procedures at all times and
take account of College guidance.

Person Specification

Please refer to the Essential and Desirable Skills document to see which characteristics are essential and which
are desirable.

The Librarian will:
1.
2.
3.

4.

5.
6.

Be fully committed to the aims and values of the College
Have excellent written and oral communication skills
Have strong organisational and administrative skills, demonstrating accuracy and attention to
detail
Be able to work individually and as part of a team, with a positive, adaptable and flexible
approach to work
Have excellent computer skills, with experience of using a Library Management System
Be able to be creative and solve problems, confident to contribute to the development of the
library
Have an undergraduate degree, preferably in theology or a related field
Be a professionally qualified librarian
Have experience of working in a library, preferably within an academic institution

7.
8.
9.
10.  Be able to develop effective relationships with academic staff, students and other library users

Nazarene Theological College Vision
As God’s holy people we aspire to be a learning community reflecting the love of God as Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. Dedicated to excellence in theological education we intentionally foster character formation within contexts
that are both practical and reflective.

Nazarene Theological College Employment Ethos
The College is committed to the active pursuit of an Equal Opportunities Policy which addresses the need and
right of everybody in the College to be treated with dignity and respect, in an environment in which a diversity of
backgrounds, traditions and experiences is valued.  It aims to create the conditions whereby prospective and
existing students and staff are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential, regardless of any
irrelevant distinction.

Application deadline: 31st January 2026
Interview date: early - mid February 2026
Start date: The preferred start date is mid-March 2026 but alternative dates would be considered.

December 2025