Senior Executive Librarian

The Role of the Senior Executive Librarian

The post of Senior Executive Librarian is a professional post requiring a degree and postgraduate qualification in librarianship or degree in librarianship. The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated person, with drive and commitment to delivering quality public services and continual professional development who can demonstrate clear knowledge and understanding of:

• Local authority services, its key stakeholders and relationships

• Local government structures and its democratic role and mandate

• National and international public library policy and strategy

The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience and skills in leadership and management ability

• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Have experience in people management and team membership skills

• Have experience in change management and project management skills

• Have knowledge of current issues and the future direction of libraries and Local Government

• Be committed to the public interest

• Have satisfactory IT skills including knowledge and understanding of relevant technical ICT packages

• Have a current, full, clean, Class B drivers’ licence and access to own car

The ideal candidate will also demonstrate through their application form and at the interview that they:

• Have a commitment to modern and innovative library service delivery

• Are able to work within, and where necessary lead multi-disciplined teams and have the ability to motivate, empower and encourage staff under his/her control to achieve maximum performance

• Be capable of working without supervision and working on one’s own initiative

• Have excellent experience in community and stakeholder engagement and be capable of working in partnership with other Louth County Council Sections and with outside agencies

• Have relevant administrative experience at a sufficiently high level

• Have a career record that demonstrates a high level of competence in the management of staff

• Have a strong understanding of the professional role of the librarian and of 21st century library services

• Have a satisfactory knowledge of public service organisation in Ireland

• Understand the changing environment in which Louth County Council operates and be capable of adapting to change in order to deliver quality services to our citizens

• Have the experience of planning strategically to manage and implement initiatives to enhance library services, infrastructure and collections

• Are motivated to achieve maximum performance by supporting the current Performance Management and Development System (PMDS)

• Have strong interpersonal, communications, networking and advocacy skills

• Have the ability to manage financial resources within a budgetary control framework

• Have an ability to lead in the provision of excellent customer service

• Have a good understanding of the role of digital technologies in the delivery of public library services

• Have experience of engaging with and leveraging emerging technologies in library services and operations

• Have good knowledge and awareness of Health and Safety Legislation and Regulations, the implications for the organisation and the employee, and their application in the workplace

• Have a thorough knowledge of Local Government in Ireland or a demonstrable ability to quickly acquire same

• Have the ability to deputise at a senior level

Post of Senior Executive Librarian

Louth County Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the above competition. Louth County Council will, following the interview process, form a panel for the post, from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This panel will exist for 12 months and may only be extended at the discretion of the Chief Executive.

Essential Criteria

1. Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

2. Health

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 eight on the National Framework of Qualifications) in the area of Library and Information Studies,

b) Have satisfactory experience of library work including satisfactory experience at a management level.

Candidates must also:

• Have the knowledge and ability to discharge the duties of the post concerned.

• Be suitable in all other relevant respects for appointment to the post concerned.

Candidates, if successful, will not be appointed to the post unless they:

• Agree to undertake the duties attached to the post and accept the conditions under which the duties are, or may be required to be performed.

• Are fully competent, available to undertake, and fully capable of undertaking, the duties attached to the position.

Assessment Procedure

Key Competencies for the post include the following and candidates will be expected to demonstrate sufficient evidence within their application form of competence under each of these. Please take particular note of these when completing the application form as any short-listing or interview processes will be based on the information provided by candidates:

Particulars of Post

Duties

The Senior Executive Librarian is a senior management post within Louth Library Service. The job profile is likely to evolve as the service changes and develops to meet the changing needs of the public. The Senior Executive Librarian works closely with staff at all grade levels and reports directly to the County Librarian.

The post requires a high level of professional library and management skills, which include strategic and operational roles. Responsibilities and duties include but are not limited to:

Strategic Role:

• Working with the senior library management team to plan and deliver the local authority library development programme.

• Contribute to forward planning, capital development and policy formulation.

• Leading change across the library service to enable delivery of quality services to the public.

• Participation in both national and local council committees for the development and implementation of new, innovative services.

• Development of community engagement and roll out of strategic programmes for service development.

• Development and management of effective marketing and public relations campaigns to deliver strategic targets.

• Planning and oversight for Budgets, Procurement and ICT.

Operational Role:

• Branch library development, including collections, services and facilities.

• Cultural programming and liaising with local authority, local community and key stakeholders.

• Management of administrative functions, including HR, Finance, ICT and eServices.

• Supervise and participate in the Performance Management Development System Library Team Plan development and roll out to branch network.

• Management and good governance of library buildings, health and safety, child protection, data protection, risk management, sustainable development and business continuity in accordance with Council policies.

• Any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

• Deputising for the County Librarian as requested. The duties shall be such as may be assigned to the officer from time to time by the local authority and shall include the duty of deputising for other officers of the local authority, when required, and such duties as may be assigned to him/her in relation to the area of any other local authority.

These duties are indicative rather than exhaustive and carried out under general guidance.

Salary

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. The holder of the office shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than his/her inclusive salary) payable to and received by him/her by virtue of his/her office or in respect of services which he/she is required by or under any enactment to perform.

The salary scale for the position of Senior Executive Librarian is:

€59,417 - €77,243 (LSI 2) gross per annum.

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In accordance with Departmental Circular Letter EL.02/2011, a person who is not a serving local authority employee on or after 1st January 2011, will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point.

Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Policy.

Location of Post

Louth County Council reserves the right to assign the post holder to any council premises, now or in the future subject to reasonable notice. Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to provide him/herself at his/her own expense with the necessary mode of travel to and from work.

Superannuation

A. Officers joining the Public Service after the 1st January 2013 will be required to join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. A Class A rate of PRSI contribution will apply. A rate of 3% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC). This includes a contribution to a Spouse’s and Children’s Scheme.

OR

B. Officers who became pensionable officers of the Public Service prior to 1st January 2013 and who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of the net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC). You will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of your pensionable remuneration to the Spouses & Children’s Pension Scheme.

OR

C. Officers who become pensionable officers of a Public Service prior to 5th April 1995 and who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required to contribute at a rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration. If an option to join a dependent scheme was made you will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% to a Dependents Pension Scheme.

Retirement

Retirement is dependent on the superannuation scheme you become a member of and details will be made available to you upon appointment.

Health

For the purpose of satisfying the requirements as to health, it may be necessary for the successful candidate, before he/she is appointed, to undergo at his/her expense a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the local authority. On taking up appointment, the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to the candidate.

Probation

Where a person, who is not already a permanent officer of Louth County Council, is appointed, the following provisions shall apply:

• There will be a probationary period of 9 months from date of employment,

• The Chief Executive may at his or her discretion extend this period,

• You shall cease to hold office at end of the period of probation unless during this period the Chief Executive has certified that your service is satisfactory.

Residence

The holder of the office shall reside in the district in which his/her duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance, thereof.

References

Applicants are required to advise the names of two responsible persons to whom they are well known but not related (at least one of the referees should be an existing or former employer).

In advance of any offer of employment, Louth County Council reserves the right to seek both written and verbal references from current and previous employers, educational institutions or any other organisations with which the candidate has been associated. The Council reserves the right to determine the merit, appropriateness and relevance of such references and referees.

Hours of Work

The working hours at present provide for a five-day, thirty-five hour working week. A flexible working hours’ system is in operation and may be availed of subject to the terms and conditions of the Flexitime Policy.

Sick Leave

The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail.

Annual Leave

Annual leave entitlement for the position will be 30 days per annum.

Louth County Council’s leave year runs from 1st January to 31st December. Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangements for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1977 (as amended).

Start Date

The successful candidate will commence on direction from Directors of Service and/or Chief Executive.

Should they fail to take up the appointment on direction, the council at its discretion may not appoint them.