Executive Librarian

Clare County Council/ Comhairle Contae an Chláir is the authority responsible for Local Government in County Clare. The corporate headquarters are located at Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis and there are four Municipal Districts (Ennis, Shannon, Killaloe, and West Clare) which are supported through area offices in Ennis, Scarriff, Shannon, Ennistymon and Kilrush. There are 28 elected members, approximately 990 staff and an annual operating budget of €204 million in 2026.

Clare County Council provides a diverse range of services across a large geographic area. Key services areas include Planning, Placemaking & Economic Development, Rural & Community Development, Housing Services, Housing Activation & Delivery, Capital Infrastructure Delivery, Land Activation, Derelict Sites and Property, Transportation, Mobility and Health & Safety, Climate Action, Environment & Water Services, Fire Service, Building Control & Major Emergency Management, Tourism, Festivals & Events, Libraries, Arts & Cultural Services, Enterprise and Investment, along with and sports & amenities. These operations are supported by internal services which include ICT & Digital Services, Corporate Services & Governance, Finance, People, Culture and Organisational Development functions.

There is a diverse demographic across urban and rural communities with tourism bringing seasonal changes in population and activity in the county. The Shannon estuary, Shannon Airport, industrial zones, and geographic location between larger urban areas, coupled with the unique landscape and heritage add to the diversity of activity in the County. Local democracy is strengthened through the Municipal Districts and changes in legislation and regulation have placed greater emphasis on the role of the Local Authority in driving economic activity, ensuring accountability, accessibility and innovation while placing the customer and the community to the fore of service delivery.

Clare Libraries is headquartered in Ennis and manages and supports a network of fifteen public libraries strategically located across the county including a Local Studies Centre based in De Valera Library. The library service is constantly innovating and diversifying in a dynamic and changing environment, taking advantage of technological advancement to deliver a wide and varied range of front-line services to customers.

The Library Service has a cultural remit within the Tourism, Recreation, Libraries and Cultural Services Directorate which also includes the management of the Arts service, the County Museum and the County Archives. Library staff have a collaborative and supporting role in the day-to-day management of these other cultural services.

Clare County Council invites applications from suitably qualified dynamic, creative, and motivated individuals who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel for Executive Librarian from which permanent and temporary vacancies may be filled.

The Executive Librarian is a professional managerial role at Grade VI level and is central to the delivery and development of frontline services in Clare County Council. Successful candidates are assigned responsibility for the management of a public library or section within the local authority area, including managing resources, staff, buildings and programmes.

Libraries services are provided over a six-day week, and shift work will be required in line with public opening hours, including late evenings and Saturdays.

The ideal candidate for the position shall:

• Have a career record that demonstrates a high level of experience and competence in leading, managing and supervising teams.
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Have relevant administrative experience at a sufficiently high level.
• Have excellent people management and team membership skills.
• Have experience in change management and project management.
• Have a good knowledge of national and local strategies and the future direction of libraries and Local Government.
• Have strong decision-making skills.
• Have excellent IT skills including knowledge and understanding of relevant technical ICT packages.
• Have a strong understanding of the professional role of the Executive Librarian and of 21st century library services.
• Have experience of planning strategically to manage and implement initiatives to enhance library services, infrastructure and collections.
• Have the ability to deputise for colleagues if needed at a senior level and represent Clare Libraries and Clare County Council.
• Be committed to the public interest.
• Have a current, full, clean, Class B drivers’ licence and access to their own car.

The duties to be assigned include the following although this list is not exhaustive and may be reviewed from time to time as organisational needs require.

The duties will include but will not be limited to the following:

• Direction and day to day running of a busy branch library or an administrative department within Library HQ – including lending services, information & reference, cultural and community engagement for adults, history events, literacy supports, study facilities and activity programmes for children.
• Planning for the future development of the branch library, or relevant department of Clare Libraries, within current Council policies and strategies.
• Supporting the Senior Library Team in the implementation of work programmes and initiatives to deliver the National Public Library Strategy, Clare Libraries Development Plan and Clare County Council’s Corporate Plan.
• Ensuring good governance in respect of health and safety, human resources and staffing matters, child protection, data protection, business continuity, report writing and other relevant matters, in accordance with Council policies.
• Managing, motivating and empowering staff to maximum performance.
• Participate in national and local committees and working groups to advance new and innovative services.
• Deputising for the Senior Executive Librarian as and when required.
• Forging strong links and partnerships with colleagues in Clare County Council, the wider community, education and business sectors.
• Preparing budgets and ensuring that all expenditure, and income, in their area of responsibility is managed in accordance with Council policies and regulations.
• Providing specialist assistance and support in the delivery of projects as required.
• Promoting and marketing library services across traditional and digital platforms to include, but not limited to, press releases, newsletters, social media campaigns and website developments.
• Performing stock selection, cataloguing and collection development duties as required.
• Identifying opportunities for improvements in service delivery using key performance indicators or other performance indicators effectively as appropriate.
• Supporting the Line Manager to communicate, implement and manage all change management initiatives within the relevant area of responsibility.
• Undertaking any other duties of a similar level and responsibility, as may be required or assigned from time to time.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

1. Character 

(a) Each candidate must be of good character. 

2. Health

(a) Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

 3. Education, Training, Experience, etc.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

(a) hold a degree (level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications) in the area of Library and Information Studies.

AND

(b) have satisfactory experience of library work.

AND

(c) hold a full driving licence for class B vehicles free from endorsement 

Failure to input and upload proof of essential criteria in your application form will deem you ineligible for this competition.

 *Non-Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications, overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular. Where the appointee has been serving elsewhere in the public service in an analogous grade and pay-scale and will be moving without break to another part of the public sector at an analogous grade, the appointment may be made at the appointee’s current point of scale. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Starting pay for new entrants to the sector will be at the minimum of the scale.

The current salary scale applicable to the post (June 2026): €58,474, €59,869, €61,570, €64,767, €66,677, €69,051 (LSI1), €71,437 (LSI2)