INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.
Job title: Senior Librarian Collections & Heritage
Salary: SO2 £36,124 - £37,938
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Central library
Do you have a passion for heritage collections and for making them accessible?
Do you have an understanding of collections management, including the preservation of rare book material?
Can you take a lead role in developing the Leeds Libraries heritage offer, ensuring all our communities are engaged and fully represented?
We are looking for a Senior Librarian to lead on Special Collections and Heritage for Leeds Libraries. Your focus will be on improving access and widening engagement with heritage collections and services, including the Special Collections. You will lead on projects with local and national partners and collaborate with colleagues across the Library Service to encourage communities across the city to connect with heritage material. You will be responsible for the preservation and safeguarding of the Special Collections, ensuring that appropriate polices and processes are in place. Identifying teaching and research opportunities is key to this role and will require a commitment to developing your own knowledge of the collections.
This role will be based in Central Library and will line-manage the Local History/Special Collections Librarians, deputising for the Principal Librarian where required. You will work closely with the Delivery Team and other Senior Librarians to ensure a cohesive and sustainable library offer.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
- You are able to demonstrate a passion for the role of public libraries and an ability to advocate for the library service among partners and stakeholders
- You are a leader and a highly motivated team player, able to energise and support the wider library staff team
- You are able to persuade, influence and negotiate with a wide range of people
- You are able to inform the development of the service, e.g. through the business planning process
- You have experience of managing / supervising others either through employment, or project based work
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role contact Rhian Isaac email Rhian.isaac@leeds.gov.uk
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job purpose
To play a key role in ensuring the development and delivery of high quality library services. As a committed library leader you will support the implementation of the Library Strategy through:
- developing and maintaining specialist knowledge in a specific field
- providing leadership and management to relevant staff and/or project teams
- working collaboratively with others to make a positive contribution to the annual business planning process
- leading the development and management of one or more key areas of library activity, ensuring best practice is embedded in approaches to service delivery
- efficient and effective management of the delivery of library services
This is a generic job description and you will also be expected to deliver on one of the key service areas detailed below:
Service Support
- Ensuring policy and procedures are embedded across the service
- Management of library systems, e.g. Library Management System OR
- Library acquisitions, financial and administrative support
OR
Service Delivery
- Management of staff teams delivering library services in community libraries and central library
- Ensuring the delivery of core activity across a range of library programmes including both adult and children’s services
- Liaison and co-ordination of activity with Community Hub colleagues
OR
Service Development
- Responsibility for the development and delivery of creative and innovative service initiatives / core programmes of activity and the development of relevant partnerships, for one or more of the following specialist areas
- Audience engagement
- Digital engagement
- Local & Family History
- Information & Research, including the Business & Intellectual Property Centre
- Special Collections
- Stock & Reader Development
- Culture
- Arts & Music
- Studio 12
- Children & Young People
- School Library Service
- Management of relevant central library departments and staff teams
Responsibilities
- You will be required to actively manage stock/resources and advise on procurement to meet service requirements. This will include responsibility for the performance of your area of specialty.
- You will keep up to date with the latest developments and initiatives in your field ensuring the implementation of best practice within the service
- You will develop and maintain relevant partnerships
- You will identify funding opportunities and secure external funding as appropriate
- You will contribute to the development and delivery of promotional campaigns to increase audience engagement across the Service.
- You will creatively promote and publicise activity to all sectors of the community both within the library and through outreach work
- You will be proactive in ensuring a level customer experience
- You will apply HR policies and procedures consistently, including managing attendance, special leave, improving performance, disciplinary and grievance.
- You will follow LCC financial procedures and regulations.
- You will deputise for managers and colleagues in a variety of forums and duties as required, commensurate with grade.
- You will be required to carry out risk assessments and implement safe systems of work.
- You will be responsible for your personal health and safety and that of other people who use the library service. You will be expected to be vigilant for the safety of the building, opening and closing as required. Completing the duties of fire marshall, fire warden and emergency incident officer as assigned. There may be occasions when you are working on your own.
- You will carry out the role of duty manager as assigned
- You will work within multiple teams and at other venues as required, be flexible in working hours within your contracted hours and work evenings and weekends as required, including events outside of library opening hours. The work is physical and involves standing, lifting and carrying.
- You will carry out duties in accordance with the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy and other policies which respect the rights and needs of customers and colleagues
- This post involves direct work with the public in an open access setting, the post holder will need to display resilience to some demanding situations
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
- Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD programmes.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
- Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Qualifications
- You will have a degree / postgraduate degree in Library and Information Science or a degree in a relevant field and / or are able to evidence relevant experience of public library management
Personal Specification
Method of assessment will be through one or more of the following application form, test, interview, and certificate.
Essential requirements
It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
Skills required
- You are able to demonstrate a passion for the role of public libraries and an ability to advocate for the library service among partners and stakeholders
- You are able to inform the development of the service, e.g. through the business planning process
- You are able to manage projects, set objectives, priorities and targets
- You have excellent digital skills, are confident with using new technology and maximising its benefits
- You have good communication skills, both written and verbal
- You are able to persuade, influence and negotiate with a wide range of people
- You are committed to customer service excellence, able to deal positively with feedback and challenging situations
- You have highly developed organisational and decision making skills and can evidence excellent attention to detail
- You are a leader and a highly motivated team player, able to energise and support the wider library staff team
- You are skilled and proactive in customer engagement
- Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate. 
Knowledge required
- You have a detailed knowledge and understanding both of the role libraries play in society and best practice public library sector initiatives
- You will have a degree / postgraduate degree in Library and Information Science or a degree in a relevant field and / or are able to evidence relevant experience of public library management
- You have a good knowledge of your specialist field and are able to demonstrate awareness of current trends and initiatives within it
Experience required
- You have experience of managing / supervising others either through employment, or project based work
- You will have experience of planning, ensuring the delivery of actions on time and within budget
- You will have experience of delivering learning sessions to groups or individuals
- You will have experience of assessing customer information needs and using a variety of accredited resources to support
Behavioural and other Characteristics required
- Committed to continuous improvement.
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development
- Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.
