Communication Officer

The Consortium of European Research Libraries (CERL) has a job opening for a Communication Officer (0,6 FTE initially for 24 months). This person will work with the management team of CERL to liaise with CERL Stakeholders, outlining the benefits of CERL membership, supporting our Working Groups and strengthening our role and profile in the field of international library organisations and academia.

We are looking for a person with experience in the field of promotion and marketing in the cultural sector who has an interest in working with early printed books, manuscripts or research libraries. We would like you to develop a portfolio of short videos for information or instruction purposes, expand our contact information for CERL members and keep it up to date, keep an overview of events organised in our community and assist with organising our events. You will be responsible for ensuring that all CERL messaging through the website, social media channels, presentations and publications is exciting, on brand and reaches the widest possible, relevant audience. Details below, deadline for sending in applications: 30 June 2026.

Letters of application, marked ‘CERL – Application for Communication Officer’ to secretariat@cerl.org.

For further information contact the CERL Executive Manager, Drs Marian Lefferts at marian.lefferts@cerl.org.

The Consortium of European Research Libraries is a membership organisation for libraries and other institutions (museums of the book, archives) with a special interest in European written cultural heritage up to the middle of 19th century (early-printed books, manuscripts). Together we develop digital resources that increase the visibility and use of our collections, thereby supporting students, scholars, researchers, archivists, special collections librarians, information professionals and cataloguers in their work. We bring together descriptions of books, information about book production (printers, publishers, bookbindings, printer’s marks) and extensive information about provenance and book ownership (such as owners’ marks, annotations, and library stamps). In this way our distributed collections are placed in a coherent context and highlight our shared European cultural heritage.

CERL is a professional network for sharing expertise, where librarians and curators discuss and develop standards (e.g. for describing provenance information and bookbindings). But we also support institutions in protecting their collections against theft and criminal damage, and we support the exchange of expertise (e.g. through the Expert Group for Manuscript Librarians and the Working Groups on Retrospective National Bibliographies and Cultural Property). Our professional network exchanges knowledge and expertise through the CERL website, seminars, conferences and published proceedings, newsletters and blog posts.

You will assist our small management team in their ongoing liaison with CERL stake holders – member libraries, working groups, partners, projects, researchers and other international (library) organisations – and will ensure that collaboration with these stakeholders is efficient and visible within the CERL community and beyond.

You will develop a portfolio of short videos for information or instruction purposes. In your role, you will make excellent use of the online platforms at our disposal (website, blogs, mailing list, You Tube channel, social media) to increase the visibility of CERL’s extensive programme of work.

Additionally, you will ensure that

• materials outlining CERL’s strengths and membership benefits are reviewed and updated regularly,
• member library portfolios, including contact information, are up to date,
• CERL delivers a programme of meetings and events that are the most impactful combination of in-person and online events, aiming to reach the widest possible audience, ensuring inclusivity and increasing our visibility,
• the network of CERL Grantees receives appropriate public exposure,
• our website is kept fresh, up-to-date and visually appealing.

Together with the Executive Manager you will work to further strengthen CERL’s role and standing in the field of international library organisations.

The preferred starting date is 1 September 2026.

The key aspects of the role are communication, awareness raising, dissemination and liaison, in CERL’s international Special Collections context. We need you to have:

• A Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent in the Social Sciences and Humanities sector, or higher
• Demonstrable communication, marketing and promotion skills in the cultural sector.
• The ability to prepare videos and other appropriate communication materials, using a variety of (software) tools and distribution channels.
• Excellent presentation skills (both while giving presentations and in preparing publicity materials).
• Excellent spoken and written English, and a good command of at least one of the following languages: German, French, Italian, or Spanish.
• A demonstrable interest in rare books, manuscripts, research libraries, or cultural institutions.

It is useful if you have

• An understanding of the digital resources created and used in the CERL community
• Experience of or interest in (Digital) Humanities research

Within CERL as an organisation we will have to be able to rely on your

• Ability to liaise effectively with colleagues in professional networks, libraries and archives.
• Open and transparent approach to working with colleagues from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and a willingness to learn.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to prioritise, organise and balance a complex workload.
• Ability to meet deadlines.

We need you to be an energetic self-starter with good interpersonal skills, who is willing to travel regularly.

The contract is for 0.6 FTE, initially for 24 months.

Your place of work will be a combination of home and office, arranged in consultation with the Executive Manager. You are expected to meet and work with the Executive Manager in person at least one day per week, in principle at the CERL office in the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, the National Library of the Netherlands, Prins Willem-Alexanderhof 5, Den Haag, although other arrangements for in-person collaboration can from time to time be agreed.

Your gross monthly starting salary for 0.6 FTE is €2,928 (equivalent to the Dutch CAO-OI scale 10.3 incl. 8% holiday bonus and 8.33% ‘December bonus’). Your annual leave will be 25 days. CERL does not offer a contribution to a pension scheme.

CERL is an equal opportunities employer.

For further information, please contact Drs Marian Lefferts, Executive Manager of the Consortium of European Research Libraries (marian.lefferts@cerl.org) – also if you want to arrange a call or a meeting in person. For more information about CERL see https://www.cerl.org.

Please send your letter of application, accompanied by your CV (both in English) and the names and contact information for two referees, to secretariat@cerl.org (please put CERL – Application for Communication Officer in the subject line).

The closing date is 30 June 2026.