Professional development and career growth

Discover opportunities for career progression, leadership developments, project management, strategic planning and professional qualifications. 

The following themes were identified as priorities for Library staff via anonymised analysis of learning development plans completed during the PDR process in 2024. Learning and development resources have been identified and made available in recognition of these areas of interest and priority for Library colleagues. 

Themes

• Identifying career progression opportunities.
• Gaining management, leadership, and supervisory skills.
• Gaining project management skills.
• Developing strategic planning skills.
• Expanding professional networks and contributing to the sector.
• Professional qualifications and courses + apprenticeships (non-role specific, e.g. Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, Library MA).

University opportunities

• Learning and Professional Development - Talent Development webpage listing the range of programmes and courses which can be accessed either via workshops or via self-directed online learning.
• Career Development - Talent Development webpage with guidance on career development for any stage of your career from writing your CV, interviewing and accepting a job offer to developing in your current role.
• StellarHE - Leadership development programme for Black, Asian, and racially minoritised colleagues working in Higher Education.
• Aurora - Leadership Development Programme for staff who identify as women (Advance HE).
• Leadership & Change Management Apprenticeships – Enable, Evolve and Empower & Data Driven Leaders, project management, Change and Transformation Professional programme.
• Manchester Gold - University mentoring programme which aims to support staff career development across the University by linking them with the support of a more experienced colleague.
• Preparing for a role in management - MyDevelopment - A 10 hour and 30 minute learning pathway (multiple courses) that will help you develop the essential skills to become an effective leader, covering communication, emotional intelligence, productivity, visibility, innovation and more.
• Project Management: Fundamentals - MyDevelopment - a 4 hour course that shares essential skills and concepts needed to manage projects effectively.
• Project Managerment: Microsoft Certification - MyDevelopment - A 15 hour learning pathway (multiple courses). By completing this you earn an industry recognised Career Essentials Certificate by Microsoft and LinkedIn.
• Secondments - University webpage - Information about secondments at the University.

Sector-wide opportunities

• Academic Libraries North (ALN).
  • Staff development events.
  • Frontline Forum.
  • ALN mentoring scheme.
  • ALN Special Interest Groups and Communities of Practice.
• CILIP
  • Careers Hub - External webpage - Resources, support and guidance to help you navigate the next stage of your career.
• SCONUL - External webpage with a range of information and professional development resources
• SCONUL - Leading Libraries
  • Aspiring Leaders - External webpage
  • Emerging Leaders - External webpage
  • Newly Appointed Leaders - External webpage
  • Established Leaders - External webpage

Library opportunities

• PDRs and Personal Development Plans.
• Introducing Agile - Agile project management training –  [Slides from SMF session for managers].
• Sustained study – Sustained study is defined as a course that lasts more than four days, irrespective of cost - Find out more. Examples of sustained study include the PGCert in Higher Education, and the MA in Library and Archives Studies.