Job Description

Salary

32,061 - 33,699

Contractual hours

37

Basis

Full Time

Job category/type

Leeds City Council

Date posted

05/11/2025

Job reference

REQ004044

INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title:

Librarian (Central Library Delivery Team)

Salary:

c3 32,061 - 33,699

Hours:

Full time (37 hours per week)

Contract:

Permanent

Location:

Leeds Central Library

Are

you passionate about delivering excellent customer service and fostering a welcoming environment?

Would you thrive

in a multi-tasking role,

managing the front line team, a grade II

listed building and engaging with the community?

Can you engage with a range of diverse audiences to champion Leeds Central Library?

As a Delivery Team Librarian, you will join a small team of librarians based in the Leeds Central Library. You will develop and deliver the highest standards of customer service, dealing with complex complaints and enquiries. You will manage, lead and motivate your team of Library & Digital Assistants to confidently work in the Central Library departments and support Community Libraries.

Adaptable and resilient, you will thrive in a busy environment, from managing the staff rotas, to delivering the monthly Kids Club, to delivering training in Emergency Incidents Processes, to ensuring the health and safety of building is maintained.

At the heart of everything you do will be sharing your passion for the modern library service, to help promote and develop services to the communities you serve.

This is a diverse role and you will need a have-a-go attitude and be keen to engage in continued professional development. You will be a good leader, a keen team-player and possess a good level of digital skills. You will work closely with other librarians and colleagues in the Central Library, ensuring the smooth running of departments, events and activities. You will also be adept at using your own initiative, creative problem solving.

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

As a Delivery Team Librarian, you will bring to the role:

You are committed to customer service excellence, able to deal positively with feedback and difficult situations and to seek positive resolution


You have excellent communication skills, listening, written and verbal. You are able to communicate clearly and appropriately to a wide range of audiences


You have well developed organisational skills and show excellent attention to detail


You are a highly motivated team player, able to both support and lead other team members


You have a good knowledge and understanding of the current climate of public libraries

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 benefitsto 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, please contact Tracy Jardine Principal Librarian. Email tracy.jardine@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 purpose

To deliver a responsive library service which increases citizen engagement with the service through:

Supporting the city with its information, reading and learning needs


Connecting communities to the opportunities and resources available through the library service


the development and delivery of core programmes of activity outlined in the Annual Business Plan


Proactive approaches to keeping current customers engaged with the service and attracting new service users


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

Responsibility for the delivery of the acquisition service


Line management of the team of Team Librarians


OR

Service Delivery

Line management of Team Librarians


Delivering programmes of activity across community libraries and central library


Management of staffing rotas in Leeds Central Library


Operational management of Leeds Central Library


OR

Service Development

To deliver the programmes of activity supporting one or more of the specialist functions either within Central Library Departments, across the community library network or in other venues across the city.

Responsibilities

You will be proactive in contributing to the development of the library service, engaging in project groups and delivering the priorities of the business plan


You will be working directly with library customers, supporting their information, reading, learning and community needs


You will creatively contribute to the design, development and delivery of exciting and innovative library events and activities, including learning sessions, for customers of all ages


You will develop and maintain awareness of sector wide best practice


You will facilitate digital engagement and assist library members with new technologies


You will assist with audio-visual and digital support for library events and activities


You will actively develop and manage stock and other resources ensuring that library resources are well maintained and attractively presented


You will contribute to ensuring that performance standards and targets are achieved


You will actively engage with library service users and potential users about services and collections in order to extend use of the service by residents. This will include delivering talks and presentations for the public


You will be contributing to the development and delivery of outreach projects and initiatives


You will develop and deliver the highest standards of customer engagement, dealing with complex complaints and enquiries


You will support the wider library staff team and deputise for managers and colleagues in a variety of forums and duties as required, commensurate with grade.


You will manage, lead and motivate your team and community hub colleagues


You will assist in the recruitment, selection and development of staff, delivering training as required


You will provide a high standard of day to day management of a specific department, collection(s), venue and/or staff


You will develop excellent book knowledge, research and information skills as well as expertise in a specialist field(s)


You will be responsible for the supervision of assigned staff, volunteers and work placements


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 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.


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 have a degree or are able to evidence relevant experience of public library work

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 have an excellent understanding of, and passion for, the role of public libraries and community librarianship


You have well developed digital skills, are confident using technology, maximising its benefits and are able to support and encourage customers to develop their skills


You can connect readily and naturally with people


You are committed to customer service excellence, able to deal positively with feedback and difficult situations and to seek positive resolution


You have excellent communication skills, listening, written and verbal. You are able to communicate clearly and appropriately to a wide range of audiences


You have well developed organisational skills and show excellent attention to detail


You are a highly motivated team player, able to both support and lead other team members


Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.

Knowledge required

You have a good knowledge and understanding of the current climate of public libraries


You have an understanding of community based working


You have a degree / postgraduate degree or are able to evidence relevant experience of public library work

Experience required

You have experience of working in the public library sector


You have experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders


You have experience of facilitating work in a community setting and of community team building


You have experience of supervising others either through employment, volunteering or project based work


You have experience of assessing information, learning and reading needs and using a variety of 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.

Desirable requirements

It is desirable 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 are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Knowledge required

You have attained a qualification relating to educating adults


You have a degree/postgraduate qualification in Library Studies or Information science

Experience required

* You have experience of working with vulnerable people in community settings and people from diverse cultural background