Head of Library (1,0 FTE)

The library of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics is part of the Max Planck Society (MPG) and participates in the MPG’s consortium agreements. The library team is part of our administrative departments and supports our researchers in their information-seeking activities through a wide range of analogue and digital resources. The library’s collection and its remit are closely aligned with the Institute’s research interests. The library team comprises two members: the Head of Library and a Library Assistant.

Your Tasks

Leadership tasks:

• Management of the library, including financial planning and organisation of the library 
• Conceptual and strategic development of the library
• Representing the library internally: collaboration with the Library Committee, the Press Office, Research Coordination, IT and the Directorate
• Representing the library externally: within the Max Planck Society and in the Dutch library and information sector
• Organising informative events on library-related topics (e.g. induction sessions for new staff)

Library tasks:

• Consulting on open access and open science
• Management of publications by our researchers in the Max Planck Society repository (MPG.PuRe)
• Maintaining the internal and external library websites
• Point of contact for bibliometric enquiries
• Active participation in audits
• Assistance with all standard library tasks as part of a supportive team environment (e.g. building up the physical and digital collections, acquisitions, interlibrary loans, archiving the institute’s publications)

Projects: 

• Migration from Aleph 500 to a new library management system in collaboration with other MPG institutes and service units (e.g. MPDL)
• Further development and configuration of our Discovery System (Vufind) in collaboration with other MPG institutes and service units

Your Profile

Required:

• A degree in library and information science, or a comparable scientific or non-scientific qualification 
• Several years’ experience in academic librarianship and/or publishing
• In-depth knowledge of the structure and operational processes of library administration
• Experience with library-specific tools and digital information services
• Familiarity with scientific methods
• Ability to manage staff
• Very good command of German and English

Desirable:

• Experience in system administration of library systems
• Technical understanding of library systems and resource discovery systems
• Experience in the Dutch library and information sector
• Interest in developments in Open Science and library-related AI tools
• Confident presentation skills
• Good command of Dutch

Your regular workplace is Nijmegen. Although hybrid working is possible, we believe this role is best performed with frequent on-site presence.

Why the MPI?

In this position, you will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to our mission to enable ground-breaking research and scientific excellence. We offer a position in a truly international organisation, within an inclusive and safe context with respect for each individual’s background and culture, and with room for individual development. A job in a dynamic environment, where every day is different, with freedom to take initiatives and express ideas, and with motivated and open colleagues that will be pleased to welcome you to our Institute.
The salary is in accordance with the German collective labour agreement TVöD (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst) and is classified in salary group E11. Depending on the experience of the applicant, the salary is between EUR 4.269,64 and 6.326,77 gross per month (for full-time employment), plus a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross salary. This equates to EUR 55.334,53 to 81.994,94 per year, including holiday allowance. Our offer contains a one-year contract with intention for permanent employment, pension scheme, 30 holidays and multiple training opportunities.
The position is to be filled from 1 September 2026 or by mutual agreement.

Ready to apply?

Please submit your CV and a short motivation letter in English before 25 May 2026 directly via this link on our recruitment portal. 
We aim to have first and second round interviews (in English and/or German) completed before the end of June. We’d love to hear why you’re interested and how you’d contribute! 
For more information about the role of Head of Library, please contact our Head of Library Karin.Kastens [at] mpi.nl (Karin[dot]Kastens[at]mpi[dot]nl). For more general information about our Operations Department and our institute, please contact the Chief Operations Officer Cedric.Gertzen [at] mpi.nl (Cedric[dot]Gertzen[at]mpi[dot]nl).

About our institute

The Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics is a world-leading research institute devoted to interdisciplinary studies of the science of language and communication, including departments on genetics, psychology, development, neurobiology and multimodality of these fundamental human abilities.
We investigate how children and adults acquire their language(s), how speaking and listening happen in real time, how the brain processes language, how the human genome contributes to building a language-ready brain, how multiple modalities (as in speech, gesture and sign) shape language and its use in diverse languages and how language is related to cognition and culture, and shaped by evolution.
We are part of the Max Planck Society, an independent non-governmental association of German-funded research institutes dedicated to fundamental research in the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and the humanities.

The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunities employer. We recognise the positive value of diversity and inclusion, promote equity and challenge discrimination. We aim to provide a working environment with room for differences, where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Therefore, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Our institute is situated on the campus of the Radboud University and has close collaborative links with the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and the Centre for Language Studies at Radboud University. We also work closely with other child development researchers as part of the Baby & Child Research Center.
Staff and students at the MPI have access to state-of-the art research and training facilities.
 

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