Evening Assistant at The Centre for Research Collections

Reference
1098822

Branch
University of Edinburgh

Start date
02/09/2025

Duration
12 Months

Hours and days
4 hours per week, between 15:00-19:00 on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

Dress code
Not Applicable

Rate of pay
£14.10

Holiday rate
£2.55

Role
The University of Edinburgh is currently offering a part-time opportunity for two students to join The Centre for Research Collections (CRC) Team as Evening Assistants at The CRC in The Main Library. The Centre for Research Collections comprises the University’s cultural and heritage collections, including archives, art, manuscripts, musical instruments and rare books. Within this role, you will provide front-line customer service to users of the University’s Heritage Collections. This is a great opportunity to develop your communication and customer service skills, whilst gaining experience working in the heritage sector.

The successful students can expect to start work on the 2nd or 3rd September 2025 and work until the 30th August 2026. The students can expect to each work 4 hours per week between 15:00-19:00 either on a Tuesday or Wednesday in The Centre for Research Collections, located in the Main Library, George Square. During this position you will be paid £14.10 per hour plus £2.55 per hour holiday pay. Payment is one month in arrears, meaning your first payment date (should this position start when expected) will be the 28th October.

Duties and responsibilities

• Providing customer service for the reception desk at the Centre for Research Collections, including introductions for new users, registrations, catalogue searches and guidance on CRC rules and procedures. Providing guidance on the use of CRC equipment, including microfilm and microfiche machines;
• Invigilating the reading room and performing daily closing routines;
• Providing access to restricted Inter-Library Loans and University theses;
• Responding to enquiries and processing orders for reprographics work;
• Keeping an accurate track of issues for consultation of Heritage Collections material and providing accurate statistical information on the use of Heritage Collections material;
• Ensuring the safety and security of Heritage Collections material is maintained by adhering to the CRC Operational Manual and handling guides;
• Collecting and re-shelving material (books, archives, objects) for reader requests, if you unable to fulfil this specific responsibility, then we still welcome your application, and would make reasonable adjustments if you are successful in being offered this role.

Skills and experience
Essential criteria:

• A current University of Edinburgh student (this post is designated for the purposes of student employment; therefore, you must be a matriculated student for the duration of your employment) You also must not hold the position of ‘Resident Assistant’;
• Based in the UK for the duration of the work, able to work on campus when required (we cannot accommodate individuals working overseas due to tax and legal implications), and able to attend a Right to Work Check in person if needed;
• Demonstrable experience of delivering high quality customer service in a front-line role;
• Proven ability to work independently as well as in a team;
• Evidence of good verbal and written communication skills;
• A proven ability to support users when accessing a service, such as helping them to feel confident when accessing a resource (for example heritage collections) for the first time;
• Evidence of an accurate and methodical approach to work, and a flexibility to deal with problems as they arise;
• A proven interest in the University’s heritage collections.

Desirable criteria:
• Knowledge of a relevant computer system, e.g., archives catalogue, library management platform.

Location
The Centre for Research Collections, located in the Main Library, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LJ.

Benefits


• Being part of a welcoming community of over 150 ISG Student Workers with opportunities to network, whilst working in a supportive and nurturing environment with a strong emphasis on work/life balance;
• Pay rate and holiday entitlement equivalent to that of UE04 permanent staff, access to NEST pension scheme if applicable;
• As a staff member, you can join the University's Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Groups (Staff Networks);
• Access to a range of excellent staff training content and resources from the Digital Skills Team.

Additional information
To apply for this role, please upload a CV and covering letter, clearly stating how you meet the criteria for the role. Please ensure you've read the top bullet points in the criteria: you must be a University of Edinburgh Student, and you must not hold the position of 'Resident Assistant' (Res Life) during your employment. If you encounter any issues when applying, please e-mail unitemps@ed.ac.uk well in advance of the deadline, as we will only respond within office hours (9-5, Monday to Friday). Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. We recommend reading our short application tips document for guidance on creating a strong cover letter and CV.

Interviews will take place on the 14th August 2025.

The University of Edinburgh is committed to providing a positive employment experience for all students. To support students in combining work with studies, we strongly advise you do not exceed the University’s recommended number of working hours per week:

• 15 hours for undergraduate students (up to 35 hours during vacation).
• 15 hours for postgraduate taught students (all year round).
• 9 hours for postgraduate research students (all year round).
Please note, these recommendations apply to the total number of hours you are employed across all posts.

PLEASE NOTE: This advert may close early if sufficient applications are received prior to the closing date which is 23:59pm on the 21st July 2025.
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