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 a 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, communication, 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

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.

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.

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. 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:

• Mission and Vision Contributes to the development of a corporate long-term purpose, mission, and vision for the local authority as a manager.

• Strategic Ability Displays the ability to think and act strategically to ensure their functional responsibility is properly aligned with the purpose, mission, and vision of the Council.

• Political Awareness Has a clear understanding of the political reality and context of the local authority.

• Standards, Ethics and Governance Understands and adheres to the Code of Conduct for employees and complies with all Council rules, regulations, and procedures.

• Networking and Representing Develops and maintains positive and beneficial relationships with relevant interests. Sustains a positive image and profile of the local authority.

• Bringing about Change Effectively manages the introduction of change; fosters a culture of creativity in employees and overcomes resistance to change.

• Influencing and Negotiating Brokers agreement with others to your team’s objectives. Takes a long-term pragmatic view when required.

• Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Fully implements safe systems of working in accordance with the Corporate Safety Statement.

• Problem Solving and Decision Making Can pinpoint critical information and address issues logically. Understands the context and impact of decisions made. Acts decisively and makes timely, informed, and effective decisions.

• Operational Planning Contributes to operational plans and develops team plans in line with priorities and actions for their area of operation, having regard to corporate goals, operational objectives, and available resources. Establishes high-quality service and customer care standards.

• Managing Resources Manages the allocation, use, and evaluation of resources to ensure efficiency in delivering operational plans. Drives and promotes cost reduction and minimisation of waste.

• Delivering Quality Outcomes Promotes the achievement of quality outcomes linked to corporate priorities, focusing on continuous improvement. Evaluates the outcomes achieved, identifies learning, and implements improvements required.

• Ensuring Compliance Abides by laws, regulations, policies, and procedures affecting employment and duties.

• Leading and Motivating Leads, motivates, and engages others to achieve quality results.

• Managing Performance Effectively manages performance using the PMDS process. Builds and leads a positive, diverse, and productive team. Empowers and encourages people to deliver their part of the operational plan.

• Managing Conflict Identifies and manages conflict to reach positive outcomes. Uses diplomacy and tact to manage relationships with dissatisfied staff or customers.

• Communicating Effectively Values and practices effective communication. Has strong verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.

• Qualifications and Knowledge Achieves proficiency in relevant knowledge, skills, and qualifications. Reflects critically on feedback and experience to enhance personal development.

• Resilience and Personal Well-being Remains calm under pressure and manages work-life balance. Has a strong sense of self-belief.

• Integrity Honest and trustworthy in all dealings. Fair, open, and consistent. Models high ethical standards. Demonstrates strong commitment to public service.

• Personal Motivation, Initiative, and Achievement Enthusiastic and motivated despite obstacles. Anticipates problems and acts accordingly. Takes initiative within own capability. Creates new opportunities.

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

Strategic Role:

• Plan and deliver the local authority library development programme with senior management.

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

• Lead change across the library service to enhance service delivery.

• Participate in national and local committees for service innovation.

• Develop community engagement and strategic programmes.

• Manage effective marketing and public relations campaigns.

• Oversee budgets, procurement, and ICT planning.

Operational Role:

• Develop branch libraries: collections, services, and facilities.

• Lead cultural programming and stakeholder liaison.

• Manage administrative functions: HR, Finance, ICT, and eServices.

• Supervise and implement the PMDS Library Team Plan.

• Ensure governance of library buildings and compliance with policies (health & safety, child protection, data protection, risk, sustainability).

• Deputise for the County Librarian and undertake any other duties as required.

• Duties are indicative and subject to change with general guidance.

The salary scale for the position is: €59,417 – €77,243 (LSI 2) gross per annum. Entry point and progression are in line with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Circulars. Persons not employed in a local authority post on or after 1st January 2011 will begin at the minimum point.

Salary may be adjusted per Government Policy.

The post holder may be assigned to any Louth County Council premises with reasonable notice. No disturbance allowance is payable. Travel expenses are at the post holder's own cost.

A. New entrants (post-1 Jan 2013): Join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. Class A PRSI applies. Contribution: 3% of pensionable remuneration + 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (minus twice the State Pension Contributory rate). B. Officers pre-1 Jan 2013, Class A PRSI: Contribution of 1.5% + 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration. C. Officers pre-5 April 1995, Class D PRSI: Contribution of 5%. Dependent Scheme participants contribute an additional 1.5%.

Retirement terms depend on the applicable superannuation scheme and will be detailed upon appointment.

Candidates may be required to undergo a medical exam (refunded upon appointment) by a practitioner nominated by the authority.