Please note we are awaiting confirmation of funding for these roles and we expect to be notified by the middle of August. If you register an interest in this role then we will ensure you know the status of the funding before the application deadline.

Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £31,346 pro rata

Location: Home-based or based in a named West Yorkshire Library service, with frequent travel

Duration: Fixed term contract ending on 31 March 2022

Reports to: Project Manager / Library Service Head of Service

Main purpose: To ensure the successful delivery of the Digital West Yorkshire Programme

Main activities: You will be responsible for the successful delivery of the West Yorkshire Digital Project in one of the West Yorkshire Library Services. You will work as part of the library service as a bridge between the Project/Workstream Leads and the library service staff, members and stakeholders. You will be responsible for the engagement of the library service staff, arranging and delivering Digital Champion training and events as well as embedding the learning into the library service, and supporting sustainable funding.

Application deadline: We do not yet know the outcome of our funding bid so cannot specify a deadline for applications. You will have at least a week to submit your application following confirmation of funding.

Interviews: TBC - these will be conducted virtually.

Working hours: This role is full time. Standard full time 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 12 noon, 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. 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. Libraries Connected 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 to 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 & 4 weeks half pay
• More than 5 years’ service: 8 weeks full pay & 8 weeks half pay.

Introduction to West Yorkshire Digital Libraries  

More than 10 million people in the UK are restricted in their access to government services, health care, education, and employment opportunities through limited digital access. This may be down to skills and education, to the cost of equipment and network connections or to cultural and language barriers to access.

Since 2001, public library services have supported these people – and others – through the people’s network. This is the provision of free public access computers throughout the library networks and has had a massive impact for those who would not otherwise be able to get online.

As we begin to recover from Covid-19 we have seen a greater shift of activity online, which has further marginalised these people. West Yorkshire Digital Libraries is our strategy to take the next step in encouraging and supporting digital inclusion across the region.

Your role

• To develop a plan for your library service with the other library service leads
• To ensure your library service delivers against its plans and targets
• To develop and secure long term funding for your library service
• To support the delivery of the workstream activities within your library service
• To report to the project manager.

Key relationships

• Works with external contractors as appropriate
• Works with the network of participating libraries to ensure they can deliver in line with the identified project proposals
• Liaises with library managers within the library service
• Works with the partner agencies
• Works with the workstream leads
• Works with the Project Manager to ensure workstream delivery, and that issues are effectively escalated if necessary
• Works with the Communications Manager to ensure that all external communications about the programme are accurate and show impact.
• Works with our project partners and stakeholders as required.

About you: Person specification

Experience

• Experience of coordinating and managing projects with dispersed delivery teams, and ensuring they are effectively delivered, in line with agreed plans and outcomes
• Experience of undertaking regular project reporting and monitoring
• Experience of managing expert contractors
• Experience of writing concise and engaging reports
• Experience of managing budgets and reporting to funders
• Experience of supporting and reporting to project boards
• Experience of line managing staff
• Experience working within an area related to the workstream area.

Knowledge/qualifications

Essential:

• Strong project management skills
• Understanding of the public and/or cultural sector
• Ability to absorb new areas of knowledge quickly
• General knowledge / interest / understanding of the purpose and role of libraries

Desirable:

• Experience of working with or within the library sector with a strong understanding of the sector and the part it plays in digital inclusion
• Experience of co-production and facilitation techniques

Behaviours/competencies

• Communicating and Relationship Building - Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to build effective working relationships across a diverse group of stakeholders
• Solutions focused – Takes a highly organised yet pragmatic approach to project management, always focused on solutions and problem solving.
• Planning and Organising – Self managing with the ability to manage multiple strands of work, effectively prioritising activities and time Excellent organisational skills, with a keen attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build consensus among a varied group of stakeholders.

Professional skills

• Confident user of Microsoft Office Tools, especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Confident use of Basecamp (or equivalent) as the project communication platform
• Research and analytical skills, including gathering evidence and compiling brief reports and reviews
• Project management skills (may have a formal qualification).

Circumstances

• Travel within the UK will be required (with appropriate consideration for staff and public safety)
• This role can be home-based or based in our Islington office (though please be aware this office is not currently open, and our team are all home based for the moment)
• It is possible to negotiate flexible working across the week.

How to apply

• Please email your CV and a covering letter, setting out relevant experience and how you fit the person specification in this role description to commercial@LibrariesConnected.org.uk by midnight at the end of 25 August 2021.

About Libraries Connected

Libraries Connected (formerly called The Society of Chief Librarians) has 20 years of experience as the professional body representing the 177 Heads of Library Services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Libraries Connected 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.

The role of Libraries Connected 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.