Vacancy -- Head of Library Services

Working for the Civil Service

The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

Vacancy Details

Permanent Secretary's Group
Information, Library & Archives
SEO - £41,700 - £49,370
£40,100
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Fixed term
2 years
Pan Wales
'Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location, but requests will be taken into consideration.
TBC

Purpose of Post:

The Welsh Government’s Library provides information and research services to policy and legal teams based in multiple locations.

We are seeking a qualified librarian with experience of managing library services to become our new Head of Library Services. 

You’ll lead a team of 15, including our specialist legal information service, who provide a high quality fast paced research service as well as other services to all Welsh Government staff.  You will have overall responsibility for ensuring that a high quality and comprehensive service is provided by our team of librarians and that this service can adapt to changing organisational needs. You’ll use your professional skills and knowledge to:

  • Ensure that the service complies with UK information management legislation such as the re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations (2015), Copyright, licensing agreements and open access as well as FOIA and DPA/GDPR.
  • Develop services to meet challenges of remote working.
  • Deputise for the Head of Information & Archives (Chief Librarian) on library related matters and support to the KIM profession.
  • Oversight and strategic planning of selection, acquisition and renewal of electronic resources.
  • Financial reporting, planning and monitoring. 

 

Key tasks:

  • Responsibility for the library teams including direct line management of 3 library managers (MB2/HEO). The role will include overall responsibility for professional development within the library. 
  • Oversee the effective selection, development, management and maintenance of library acquisitions and resources.
  • Co-ordinate and develop a plan for the marketing and promotion of library resources.
  • Liaise with Welsh Government policy teams and other business areas to assess their information needs and gain feedback on the Library service.
  • Represent Welsh Government on CDL and other library forums.  Participation in other formal and informal networks as directed.  Deputise for Head of Information & Archives as required.
  • Accurately monitor records of expenditure on resources held in the Library and complete reports as required.
  • Ensure the effective evaluation and procurement of services.  Manage supplier contracts and monitor supplier performance to ensure agreed standards are met.
  • Respond to copyright, re-use of PSI and information rights queries and develop a culture of compliance and advise on best practice.
  • Provide additional support on research and enquiries as required.
  • Responsible for reviewing, developing and implementing appropriate desk instructions and operating procedures, ensuring they align with Welsh Government information and records management policies and comply with GDPR.
  • Take a leading role in projects and tasks as directed.
  • Develop, evaluate and review library services ensuring they meet user needs and continue to adapt to new ways of working.

Development opportunities:

The post provides an opportunity to work with a wide range of stakeholders and gain an understanding the information needs of policy colleagues and law making in a government setting.  This is a fast changing environment as the service deals with high profile issues such as Covid and the addition of new functions post-Brexit. Agile thinking and horizon scanning are key success factors. The post will enable individuals to widen their range of library and information management skills. 

The postholder will represent Welsh Government in a number of professional networks. In addition to developing a wider awareness of professional issues, involvement in the wider Government Knowledge & Information Management network will develop awareness of the sector.

The post will be a Fixed Term appointment of 2 years with the possibility of extension or permanency, although this cannot be guaranteed. 

Closing Date:

15/11/2021, 16:00

Eligibility

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

Equality and Diversity

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

Disability Confident

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Welsh Language Requirements

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

Not necessary to undertake the duties of this post

Social Partnership

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

Competencies / Job Specific Criteria

Competencies;

Changing and Improving

  • Be willing to meet the challenges of difficult or complex changes, encouraging and supporting others to do the same.

Seeing the Bigger Picture

  • Be alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact or benefit own and team’s work.

Managing a Quality Service

  • Work with team to set priorities, goals, objectives and timescales.

Delivering value for money

  • Work confidently with performance management and financial data to prepare forecasts and manage and monitor budget against agreed spend.

Job Specific Criteria;

GKIM skill 1 - Using and exploiting knowledge and information. Exploits opportunities for the organisation to derive maximum benefit from its library services and librarian expertise. 

GKIM skill 2 - Acquiring, managing and organising knowledge and information. Develops strategies and policies for library services that meet business needs and are in line with the legal and policy requirements.

GKIM skill 3 - Information Governance.  Understands the legislative and regulatory regime within which the library needs to operate and develops services to ensure compliance.

 

Assessment Process

The interview will include competency based questions and an assessment of knowledge and information management skills in the form of a knowledge test and some skills based questions. The interview will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.


Other Information

  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
  • For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.
Emma Harvey-Woodason - Emma.Harvey-Woodason@gov.wales - 03000 250381

How to apply

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have an impairment which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to an impairment in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Grievance and Complaints

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.

This vacancy is closed to applications.