Salary £77,843
Location Edinburgh
This is a permanent, full time vacancy that will close in 23 days at 23:59 BST.
The Vacancy
As we embark on our new strategy, The Next Chapter, we are looking for an inspiring and collaborative Director of Collections Management to lead the teams who care for, preserve, describe, acquire, store and move the collections that tell Scotland’s story.
The national collections are held in trust for the people of Scotland and for users around the world. They span centuries of knowledge, creativity and evidence, from the physical to the digital, and they continue to grow every day. The Director of Collections Management will play a central role in ensuring these collections are responsibly stewarded, sustainable, discoverable today and ready for future generations.
As a member of the Library Leadership Team, you will contribute to the strategic direction of the Library as a whole, working across departments to deliver excellent services, strengthen our national and international reputation, and support ambitious change. You will lead with clarity, curiosity and purpose, building confidence across specialist teams and championing innovation in collections care, metadata, acquisitions, legal deposit processing, conservation, preservation, logistics and storage.
We are looking for a strategic leader with substantial experience in collections management or a related field, ideally gained in a library, archive, heritage, research or cultural environment. You will bring a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing major collections, including digital transformation, sustainability, access, preservation, space, systems and the responsible stewardship of nationally significant material.
You will also be a confident communicator and relationship builder, able to work with colleagues, partners and stakeholders to turn strategy into action. Above all, you will share our belief that libraries change lives and bring a leadership approach rooted in our values: integrity, inclusion, innovation and inspiration.
What we can offer you –
If you join us, you’ll become part of one of Scotland’s premier cultural institutions — a National Library that safeguards the country’s memory through its remarkable collections. You’ll have the chance to work flexibly where the service allows, and you’ll benefit from a range of training and development opportunities. We offer generous annual leave, a competitive pension scheme, and, of course, the support of a team of great colleagues.
You can contact Amina Shah, National Librarian and Chief Executive (
[email protected]) if you have any questions about the post.
The closing date for applications is 2nd August 2026. It is anticipated that interviews will be held in the week commencing 31st August 2026.
The full job description can be found below.
The National Library of Scotland
The National Library of Scotland preserves the memory of the nation with collections that span the centuries, from the earliest times to the digital age. Our collections document the influence of Scots at home and abroad, while reflecting the ideas and cultures of the world. They cover all aspects of human endeavour in multiple formats, including books, manuscripts, archives, websites, maps, music, moving image and sound.
We support education, research, business and innovation and our work enhances the reputation of Scotland as a country with a rich cultural heritage and a vibrant future. We are committed to providing easy access to our physical and digital collections and delivering services that are open and available to all. It is a place for inspiration, exploration and enjoyment, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
There are around 320 of us working at the Library who all contribute in different ways, whether welcoming our visitors, planning our events and exhibitions, developing and caring for our collections or looking after our buildings and people.
The Benefits
Flexible Working
Family Friendly
Civil Service Pension Scheme
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Health and Wellbeing
Discounts and Free Entry
Generous Annual Leave
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