Deputy Head of Library Services
Job introduction
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Do you enjoy creative projects such as developing new libraries for the future?
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Are you a good leader, able to inspire diverse teams to collaborate in delivering excellent services?
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Do you have a talent for business management and creating opportunities for income generation?
We are seeking someone with strong leadership skills and business acumen to take up this new position, supporting the Head of Library Services with the strategic leadership of Library Services across this diverse city.
As Deputy Head of Library Services, you will have an opportunity to develop your leadership skills within Libraries and as a senior manager within the Directorate. Your wide-ranging responsibilities will be both challenging and rewarding, as they are essential to the success of libraries and their positive impact on local communities.
Libraries are at the heart of our community, playing a vital role in promoting literacy, delivering digital access and support, and providing a safe and welcoming place where residents can access information and participate in learning and culture.
Provisional interview dates are being arranged for the week beginning 14th November.
For an informal discussion please contact: Sally McMahon Tel: 07919 044951 or email: sally.mcmahon@brighton-hove.gov.uk
About the role
You will support the Head of Library Services in service-wide planning and effective management of staffing, finance, buildings, stock, and ICT. You will lead business development in libraries, maximizing income generation and commercial opportunities, and ensure effective business processes.
You will be responsible for contract and project management to deliver continuous improvement in services, and for performance monitoring and reporting. You will lead digital and IT developments in the service, managing the Library Services’ IT, digital and communications staff.
See the Library Services web pages for more information.
We are constantly seeking to improve our services to address the diverse nature of local communities and to make our service more accessible to everybody.
About you:
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You have a good head for business and income generation to benefit the library service
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You are a strong people manager with a focus on quality customer service
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You thrive on effective systems and procedures to manage complex workloads
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You have excellent digital and IT skills
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You have good communication and negotiation skills and can work collaboratively with people inside and outside the council
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You have strong planning, logistical and project management skills
We offer:
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Flexible and hybrid working, and competitive pay
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Local Government Pension scheme
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Opportunities to develop your leadership experience deputising for the Head of Service
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Support for developing your professional skills
We care about our staff, providing a continuous programme of leadership, management and peer led support. You will have access to a wide range of welfare and wellbeing resources, including membership of self-managing staff forums and networks such as the BME Workers Forum and the Disabled Workers and Carers Network.
Please read our Apply for a job at the council (brighton-hove.gov.uk) pages carefully. They give you all the guidance you need to complete your application as well as information on what will happen after you’ve submitted your application and at interview.
As part of your application, you will need to upload your CV and answers to some shortlisting questions. Your answers to the shortlisting questions are the most important part of your application as they will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (CV guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) and Shortlisting questions guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process.
Additional information
Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only.
Work Permits: We may be able to obtain a Work Permit for this post but this is subject to meeting the requirements of the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Points-based Immigration System. Please see Gov.uk for more information on the Skilled Worker Visa.
For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us (brighton-hove.gov.uk)
Company information
Encouraging a diverse workforce
Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.
Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).