JOB DESCRIPTION. 4. DEPARTMENT: Learning and Information Services. 5. ORGANISATION CHART: Reporting to Assistant Director (Libraries)

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1 JOB DESCRIPTION 1. JOB TITLE: Site Librarian Shrewsbury 2. HRMS REFERENCE NUMBER: HR ROLE CODE: STLBLR 4. DEPARTMENT: Learning and Information Services 5. ORGANISATION CHART: Reporting to Assistant Director (Libraries) 6. JOB PURPOSE: To manage the range of services and front-line IT support provided at the Guildhall library Shrewsbury and to manage the team of staff working at the library Helpdesk. The role holder will collaborate with colleagues at other University LIS libraries to ensure effective circulation of stock and efficient stock management. The role holder will work closely with faculties and departments on the acquisition of relevant resources to support the teaching and research needs of academic staff and will provide user education for staff and students. On-going liaison with departments and faculties is a key aspect of this role 7. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: University of Chester library provision includes the Seaborne and Riverside Libraries at Chester, the Broomhead Library at Warrington and Faculty of Health and Social Care libraries at Clatterbridge in Wirral and Leighton near Crewe. In addition the Faculty of Health and Social Care has a number of service level agreements in place across the region. The Thornton campus formerly Shell Technology Centre outside Ellesmere Port was acquired by the University in March 2013 and provides accommodation for the faculty of Science and Engineering. The new library at Shrewsbury supports the academic staff based in Shrewsbury and students studying a wide range of programmes. 8. WORK PERFORMED AND/OR KEY RESULT AREAS: 8.1 Communicating Effectively The role holder is responsible for answering routine first line enquiries at the Helpdesk on a daily basis and will escalate IT issues when necessary. The role holder will regularly be the point of referral for more complex and detailed enquiries; this may involve oral or written communication. The role holder ensures that any

2 LIS incidents at Shrewsbury are recorded on Supportworks (the Helpdesk software) accurately and promptly. In terms of faculty and departmental support the roleholder liaises with staff and students on a daily basis both formally and informally face-to-face, by , phone and at meetings. 8.2 Leadership and Working Collaboratively The role-holder is expected to line manage a small team of staff based at the Guild Hall library. This involves setting objectives which align with the department and working collaboratively with other teams across the different sites. 8.3 Liaison and Networking The role-holder liaises with the departments and faculties on a daily basis and participates in any committees, working groups requisite to the role. Networking within the academic and community is essential for the development of this new role. The role-holder will attend Faculty meetings such as Board of Study, Staff Student Liaison and departmental meetings. 8.4 Delivering a High Quality Standard of Service The Site Librarian is expected to fully promote and develop the wide range of library and IT services and to ensure a high level of customer services is delivered to all students, staff and external users both on and off site. The role-holder is expected to take a lead role in implementing new initiatives to enhance the service and to deal with any user or system issues in a proactive manner and to seek resolutions or refer on if appropriate. The Site Librarian will work closely with the Customer Services Manager to ensure that an excellent standard of service is delivered at all times. 8.5 Effective Decision Making The role-holder will take independent decisions on how to deal with staffing issues that may arise within the team and to contribute to decision-making within the wider department. The role-holder will make collaborative decisions with team members to effect change to routine operational procedures and processes. The role-holder will liaise with members of the faculty to inform decisions about budget and to ensure value for money in terms of use of resources. 8.6 Planning and Organising Self and Others The Site Librarian is responsible for the planning and organising of the day-to-day work of the dedicated Helpdesk team to ensure that there is adequate staff cover throughout core opening hours. This will also involve ensuring that all supporting LIS tasks e.g. trolleying, shelving, tidying, university card processing, acquisitions duties and journals support are carried out in a timely and systematic way. 8.7 Innovation and Improvement (Effective Problem Solving) The role-holder is expected to use initiative to resolve daily problems and issues e.g. staff absence and to refer more complex problems to senior managers as appropriate e.g. Customer Services Manager or the appropriate senior manager. The role-holder is expected to keep up-to-date with developments within the discipline in order to inform and enhance resource provision.

3 8.8 Analysis and Research The role-holder is responsible for ensuring that data collection systems are in place e.g. occupancy counts, gate count and to interpret all relevant data. Management of any site specific projects e.g. annual straw polls, CLA data gathering will be a key part of the role. 8.9 Sensory and Physical Demands Standard for office work Work Environment The role-holder will be responsible for Health and Safety within the LIS area and will refer any concerns or issues to senior managers. On-going liaison with Facilities, Housekeeping, Portering and Security staff is an essential part of this role Pastoral Care and Welfare As a manager the role-holder will be the first point of contact for staff and student welfare issues within the LIS environment. More complex or specialist issues e.g. health, finance will be referred on to the relevant department Team Development The role-holder will be line manager for the helpdesk team and the subject team this will involve induction, staff development and PDR. The line manager will motivate the team by setting objectives in line with service development and the wider department Teaching and Learning Support The role-holder will routinely provide front line teaching and learning support at the Helpdesk e.g. demonstrating how to use the library catalogue, MFDs and other library equipment. The role holder will provide both formal and informal user education and literacy skills programmes e.g. searching key databases, using the VLE and searching effectively Knowledge and Experience The role holder is expected to have a degree and professional library qualification. The role holder will be expected to demonstrate commitment to continuing professional development by attending relevant staff development events and acquiring and updating skills requisite for the role General To undertake any other duties commensurate with your grade, and/or hours of work, as may reasonably be required of you. To take responsibility for upholding and complying with the University s Equality and Diversity policies and for behaving in ways that are consistent with fair and equal treatment for all. To comply with all University Health and Safety policies. Early morning and evening duties are essential requirements of this post.

4 Job Title: Site Librarian PERSON SPECIFICATION Department: Learning and Information Services Criteria Qualifications: First degree Professional library qualification Master s degree or working towards Master s degree ECDL or equivalent Proven Experience: Significant experience in a staff management role Experience of working in a higher education library environment at an appropriate level Experience of managing change Delivering academic and service excellence: Experience of providing high level customer care Experience of delivering range of IT literacy programmes Strong interpersonal skills Subject knowledge in at least one of the programmes delivered Managing self and inspiring others: Ability to set team priorities in line with LIS strategy Proactive approach to team management Working together: Ability to manage projects effectively Ability to work flexibly and to encourage flexibility and agility within the team Desirable Desirable Method of identification Organisational and stakeholder awareness: Ability to make effective decisions

5 Requirements are those, without which, a candidate would not be able to do the job. Applicants who have not clearly demonstrated in their application that they possess the essential requirements will normally be rejected at the shortlisting stage. Desirable Requirements are those that would be useful for the post holder to possess and will be considered when more than one applicant meets the essential requirements. Method of identification is where the selection panel will match the candidate s skills and abilities to the required criteria outlined (i.e. application for

6 UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER TERMS & CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT LEARNING AND INFORMATION SERVICES SITE LIBRARIAN SALARY SCALE University Scale OS8, points 27-30, 28,695-31,342 per annum payable monthly in arrears. RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT It is a requirement of this post that within 12 months of appointment, the post-holder should live within a 30 mile radius or within a one hour travelling time by public transport from the University. HOURS OF WORK 36.5 hours per week to be worked as follows:- Monday to Thursday 9.00am pm Friday 9.00am pm (less one hour for lunch each day) One early morning and one evening duty are requirements of these posts. A flexible approach to work will be required as there may be occasions when it would be necessary for you to work additional hours as dictated by the workload. HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT 22 days per annum (pro-rata during the commencement and cessation years), rising to 27 days after five years' continuous service. Two extra statutory days per annum during the Christmas period. MEDICAL EXAMINATION Successful candidates will be required to complete an Occupational Health questionnaire, and may be required to undergo a medical examination. ESSENTIAL CERTIFICATES Short-listed candidates will be asked to bring to interview, proof of qualifications as outlined on the Job Description and Person Specification provided. Upon appointment, copies of essential certificates will be required by HRM Services. PENSION SCHEME The University operates two pension schemes for support staff: The default scheme is the Higher Education Defined Contribution Scheme (HEDCS), which is administered by Friends Life. The Cheshire Local Government Pension Scheme, to which the University is an admitted body. All support staff are entitled to participate in one of these schemes. Some staff will be automatically enrolled into a scheme, depending on their age and earnings, but if they do not wish to remain a member of the scheme, they will be entitled to opt out after enrolment. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES The University has a policy of equal opportunity aimed at treating all applicants for employment fairly. SMOKING POLICY The University operates a No-Smoking policy.

7 PROBATIONARY PERIOD A nine months' probationary period applies to all University posts. CLOSING DATE Candidates should apply for this vacancy via our online recruitment website ( by Tuesday 7 th April 2015 quoting reference number HR14285.