Society of Chief Librarians

Transcription

1 Society of Chief Librarians Role: Programme Manager Application deadline: Monday 23 April 2018, 5pm Applicant information 1. About us: The Society of Chief Librarians The Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) has 20 years of experience as the professional body representing the 151 Heads of Library Services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. SCL takes a leading role in the development of public libraries, through sharing best practices, advocating for continuous improvement on behalf of local people, and leading the debate on the future of the public library service. Our vision is an inclusive, modern, sustainable and high quality public library service at the heart of every community in the UK. We believe modern public libraries should be the cornerstone of the community and should deliver a diverse spectrum of local needs around information, learning, literacy, employment and digital skills, health, culture and leisure. SCL s role is to: Represent the public library sector nationally, regionally and locally and to communicate the value of libraries to decision makers and to a limited extent to the general public Connect partners to local libraries, by brokering national partnerships with a wide range of partners around the delivery of services and for the attraction of funds, by working together and making optimal use of resources Improve the provision of local public library services by developing and disseminating standards of best practice, provide training and development for library staff, facilitating a network of library leaders across the UK Drive innovation and new thinking around the important role of libraries in a modern society. With an impressive track record of developing policy, sharing best practice, and acting as the voice of the public library sector both nationally and internationally, the organisation is embarking on an exciting new chapter in its evolution. Following an organisational review and the recent NPO funding award of the Arts Council the organisation is on a new trajectory to become a Sector Support Organisation and provide a stronger voice for the public library sector and to develop support for the pivotal role libraries occupy in the heart of their communities. SCL is making a number of key appointments to a new permanently established operational team under the leadership of a newly appointed CEO, and this is an opportunity to join the organisation at this transformational stage in its development and to contribute to an exciting future vision. Successful applicants will have excellent relationship management skills to fit a membership led organisation, be flexible to work effectively within a minimum of infrastructure and support, and able to thrive in an innovative, entrepreneurial third sector, small team set-up.

2 2. About the job: Job description Job title: Programme Manager Location: London Job type: Full time, 37.5 hours per week, flexible working possible Salary: up to 40,000 per annum Reports to: Chief Executive Main purpose: The Programme Manager has the overall responsibility for delivering the major programmes of work within the SCL business plan. The Programme Manager works closely with the Chief Executive Officer and Advisory Committee to define the scope of each programme in the SCL business plan, develop a project plan, oversee any external resource required to deliver the workplan and assess the success and implications for new areas of work from the outcomes of each project. SCL utilises a test-and-learn approach to its new role as a Sector Support Organisation and the Programme Manager will be responsible for working with the Chief Executive Officer to ensure all programmes are effectively evaluated and all learning is used for new areas of work, and/or to adjust the business plan accordingly. The Programme Manager also supports the CEO in putting together funding bids for new programmes and will be primarily responsible for managing any resource that may be required to deliver these programmes. Main activities: Define the parameters/approach/scope of the programmes within the business plan, together with the CEO and Advisory Committee. Conduct small-scale desk research to explore best practice, existing models for programme delivery and any new or innovative approaches that should be considered to deliver programmes effectively. Develop a project plan and resourcing proposal for each programme, tracking progress against the project plan and reporting back to the CEO, Advisory Committee and Board of Trustees on progress against the plan. Establish and develop relationships with members participating in programmes, and those members leading initiatives and expert areas. Manage any external resource required to deliver each programme, including external agencies and freelancers and voluntary support from Task and Finish groups recruited by the Advisory Committee. Undertake direct project delivery where appropriate and where there is capacity to do this, e.g. recruiting and managing the workforce skills review panel, delivering the universal offers review together with the CEO and Advisory Committee etc. Work with the Administrator to ensure the secretariat function to any Task and Finish groups is effectively conducted and that Task and Finish groups are adequately supported. Prepare papers on programme progress and key learnings for the CEO, Board of Trustees and Advisory Committee as required. Work with the CEO, Advisory Committee and Member Engagement Manager to design bursary and funding opportunities for the sector as needed.

3 Manage evaluation resource effectively; including working with Evaluators and the Communications Manager to ensure evaluation reports are available for publication and overseeing the development of an overarching evaluation framework. Oversee the specification of any digital solutions/databases for managing the evaluation data that will be collected from the sector and working with the Member Engagement Manager to ensure this is useful and transferable Manage the programmes budget and ensuring programmes are delivered on budget and that resources are deployed in a cost-effective way. Support the CEO to identify funding opportunities, write funding bids and design programmes and project management processes to support those bids. Resources: Responsible for managing the programmes budget. Responsible for managing any external resource deployed to deliver projects, including any contract in-house evaluation resource. Key relationships: Works with the Chief Executive Officer and the Advisory Committee to ensure effective programme specification and delivery. Works with the Communications Manager to ensure that all communications about programme launches and findings are clearly and accurately presented. Works with the Member Engagement Manager to ensure that members are up to date with the progress of key programmes and are engaged at appropriate moments with the programmes, including supporting the collection of evaluation data from the sector which will be led by the Member Engagement Manager. 3. About You - Person Specification Experience Essential: Experience of managing multiple medium-to-large scale programmes (up to 500k) and ensuring they are effectively delivered, on time and to budget Experience of managing external suppliers, freelancers and agencies to deliver key elements of programmes including specifying tenders, conducting tender processes, managing contracts and keeping track of budgets and spend Experience of conducting, overseeing or supporting programme evaluations Experience of writing reports for funders, stakeholders or similar Experience of working with and influencing stakeholders to achieve support for programmes. Desirable: Experience of working in and/or with the public library sector Experience of writing charitable funding bids and/or pitching for investment Experience of advising senior staff members and/or committees about how to deliver effective programmes Experience of conducting desk research into evidence or best practice to inform programme design Experience of people management. Knowledge/Qualifications Essential: Knowledge and understanding of the public library sector

4 Excellent programme design and programme management skills Excellent analytical and research skills Excellent communication skills and ability to build consensus among stakeholders Degree-level education or equivalent (e.g. 3 years experience at a strategic/ development role within a library service) Basic numeracy and accounting skills. Desirable: Knowledge of the wider cultural sector Understanding of evaluation techniques and methodologies Project Management qualifications e.g. PRINCE2, agile project management or other. Behaviours/Competencies Communicating and Influencing - Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to influence and build consensus with stakeholders, formal panels and committees etc. Programme Management Takes a creative and innovative approach to programme design, which is built on analysis of evidence of what works and of new practices that are being adopted in the sector and more widely Teamworking - Takes a collaborative and open approach to working with others, actively participating in team meetings, works flexibly on projects with other team members Results Orientation - Works effectively under pressure to meet deadlines, able to manage own workload and set own priorities Planning and Organising - Ability to project manage multiple complex programmes independently, including effectively managing budgets and workflows within projects Problem Solving and Decision Making - Strong analytical skills, including pulling out key learning from research and evaluation reports, ability to make recommendations for future programme design based on the learning from previous programmes Commercial Orientation - Entrepreneurial approach and ambition to grow SCL s grant income base through winning new grant funding for new or existing programmes. Professional skills Confident user of MS Office Tools, especially Word, Excel and Powerpoint Confident user of MS Project or similar project management software Basic research skills, including online keyword searches, snowballing and following up leads from individuals and networks, assessing quality of evidence and compiling brief evidence reviews. Circumstances Some travel within the UK will be required While this role is office based, it will be possible to negotiate flexible working. 4. How to apply Please your CV and a covering letter, setting out relevant experience and how you fit the person specification in this role description to societyofchieflibrariansjobs@gmail.com by 5pm on Monday 23 April If you have any questions about the role you can the address above or call Katie Pekacar on

5 Society of Chief Librarians: Pay and benefits Salary: up to 40,000 per annum Working hours: Standard working hours are 37.5 per week, and a standard work pattern of 9am to 5.30pm with an hour for lunch. Flexible working arrangements are possible if agreed in advance, with core hours of 10am to 12pm, and 2pm to 4pm. Holidays: 25 days per year, and holiday year from April to March. For employees joining part way through a year, a pro-rata entitlement applies based on two days holiday for each completed month in the holiday year. SCL reserves the right to nominate up to four days between Christmas Day and New Year s Day as designated holidays which employees are required to take from their holiday entitlement. Carry over of holiday from one holiday year to the next is only allowed in exceptional circumstances and if agreed well in advance. Pension: Employees will be auto-enrolled in an approved pension scheme that is managed under a Pension Master Trust arrangement. SCL will contribute 5% of qualifying earnings and match employee contributions of 5%. Sick pay: Arrangements for payment during periods of sickness absence are as follows: 0 6 months service: Statutory Sick Pay only 6 months to 2 years service: 4 weeks full pay 2 years to 5 years service: 4 weeks full pay and 4 weeks half pay More than 5 years service: 8 weeks full pay and 8 weeks half pay.