Branch Manager

The starting salary for this role is £18,593 per annum for working 24 hours per week (two-week rota basis). The full-time equivalent salary is £27,897. You will be working at both Caterham Hill Library and Caterham Valley Library.

If you enjoy working in an ever-changing environment, then this role is for you!

We are excited to be hiring a new Branch Manager to join our fantastic team. This position puts you at the heart of our communities, providing you with the opportunity to lead staff and volunteers in creating a dynamic library service that continually evolves to meet the needs of local communities.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Team

Surrey Libraries hold a unique place in our communities. They provide universal access through a programme of reading, learning digital, health and wellbeing activities.
Our vision is for our libraries to become hubs of the community that all are proud of. With excellent customer service at its heart, we need people who share this passion to become more successful.

About the Role

As a Branch Manager, you will be responsible for managing a team of staff ensuring that excellent customer service is delivered at all levels in your libraries. Making use of your communication skills, you will ensure that team members feel supported in their roles. You will provide training and development opportunities to staff while continuing to broaden your own knowledge.

Our Branch Managers play an integral role in helping us achieve an inclusive and active library service partly through the planning of cultural events. This could involve organising an author talk, arranging theatre activities, or facilitating the creation of a temporary dance space. Using your networking skills to build local partnerships, you will encourage learning, and support local health and wellbeing.

You will also oversee day-to-day activity in the library, which involves dealing with property issues, ensuring health and safety policy is adhered to, and managing customer comments, compliments, and complaints. Enthusiastic about sharing books and information with others, you will have the IT skills required to use the library management systems and the resilience to deal with a broad range of customer queries.

Shortlisting Criteria

We want to find out how you will create an inclusive environment for staff and customers and ask that you answer the following questions as part of the application process (along with uploading your CV):

1. What are your motivations for applying?
2. Why do you think our libraries are important to the community?
3. How would your previous experience make you a successful Branch Manager?
4. Library Branch Managers have to juggle various priorities on a daily basis. What experience would you bring to support you with this?

Rota

Please note that the above rota is subject to temporary or long-term revision, when required, to meet the needs of the library service, including occasionally covering until 7pm.

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 12/05/2024. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interviews to be held on Thursday 23/05/24. The main questions will be provided in advance of the interview, though follow up questions may also be asked should further information or examples be required.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.
We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.