Senior Executive Librarian

The Candidate The post of Senior Executive Librarian is a professional post requiring a degree and postgraduate qualification in librarianship or degree in librarianship. The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated person, with drive and commitment to delivering quality public services and continual professional development who can demonstrate clear knowledge and understanding of: • Local authority services, its key stakeholders and relationships • Local government structures and its democratic role and mandate • National and international public library policy and strategy

The ideal candidate will: • Have experience and skills in leadership and management ability; • Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills; • Have experience in people management and team membership skills; • Have experience in change management and project management skills; • Have knowledge of current issues and the future direction of libraries and Local • Government; • Be committed to the public interest; • Have satisfactory IT skills including knowledge and understanding of relevant technical ICT packages; • Have a current, full, clean, Class B drivers licence and access to own car.

The ideal candidate will also demonstrate through their application form and at the interview that they: • Have a commitment to modern and innovative library service delivery; • Are able to work within, and where necessary lead multi-disciplined teams and have the ability to motivate, empower and encourage staff under his/her control to achieve maximum performance; • Have excellent experience in community and stakeholder engagement and be capable of working in partnership with other Kildare County Council Sections and with outside agencies; • Have relevant administrative experience at a sufficiently high level; • Have a career record that demonstrates a high level of competence in the management of staff; • Have a strong understanding of the professional role of the librarian and of 21st century library services; • Have a satisfactory knowledge of public service organisation in Ireland; • Understand the changing environment in which Kildare County Council operates and be capable of adapting to change in order to deliver quality services to our citizens; • Have the experience of planning strategically to manage and implement initiatives to enhance library services, infrastructure and collections • Are motivated to achieve maximum performance by supporting the current

Performance Management and Development System (PMDS); • Have strong interpersonal, communications, networking and advocacy skills; • Have the ability to manage financial resources within a budgetary control framework; • Have an ability to lead in the provision of excellent customer service • Have a good understanding of the role of digital technologies in the delivery of public library services; • Have experience of engaging with and leveraging emerging technologies in library services and operations • Have good knowledge and awareness of Health and Safety Legislation and Regulations, the implications for the organisation and the employee, and their application in the workplace; • Have a thorough knowledge of Local Government in Ireland or a demonstrable ability to quickly acquire same; • Have the ability to deputise at a senior level.

Duties and Responsibilities The Senior Executive Librarian is a senior management post within Kildare Library Service. The job profile is likely to evolve as the service changes and develops to meet the changing needs of the public. The Senior Executive Librarian works closely with staff at all grade levels and reports directly to the County Librarian. The post requires a high level of professional library and management skills, which include strategic and operational roles. Responsibilities and duties include but are not limited to:

Strategic Role: • Working with the senior library management team to plan and deliver the local authority library development programme. • Contribute to forward planning, capital development and policy formulation. • Leading change across the library service to enable delivery of quality services to the public. • Participation in both national and local council committees for the development and implementation of new, innovative services. • Development of community engagement and roll out of strategic programmes for service development. • Development and management of effective marketing and public relations campaigns to deliver strategic targets. • Planning and oversight for Budgets, Procurement and ICT. Operational role: • Branch library development, including collections, services and facilities. • Cultural programming and liaising with local authority, local community and key stakeholders. Management of administrative functions, including HR, Finance, ITC and eServices. • Supervise and Participate in the Performance Management Development System Library Team Plan development and roll out to branch network. • Management and good governance of library buildings, health and safety, child protection, data protection, sustainable development and business continuity in accordance with Council policies. • Any other duties that may be assigned from time to time. • Deputising for the County Librarian as requested.

The duties shall be such as may be assigned to the officer from time to time by the local authority and shall include the duty of deputising for other officers of the local authority, when required, and such duties as may be assigned to him/her in relation to the area of any other local authority

Qualifications Character: Each candidate must be of good character.

Health: Each candidate must be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Education, Training and Experience etc.: Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms: a) Hold a degree (level eight on the National Framework of Qualifications) in the area of Library and Information Studies, b) Have satisfactory experience of library work including satisfactory experience at a management level.

Candidates must also: • Have the knowledge and ability to discharge the duties of the post concerned; • Be suitable in all other relevant respects for appointment to the post concerned;

Please supply copies of any certificates, diplomas or degrees you may have with the application form. Particulars of Employment The Post The post is wholetime (i.e., 35 hours per week) and appointment will be permanent.

Location There are seven full-time Branch Libraries in County Kildare; Athy, Celbridge, Kildare, Leixlip, Maynooth, Naas and Newbridge. Library Headquarters is based in Newbridge. Kildare County Council reserves the right to assign you to any premises in use by the Council, now or in the future. The person appointed will be required to report to their place of work by their own means of transport and at their own expense.

Commencement Kildare County Council shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up the appointment within such period, or such other longer period as the Council in its absolute discretion may determine, Kildare County Council shall not appoint them.

Candidates, if successful, will not be appointed to the post unless they: • Agree to undertake the duties attached to the post and accept the conditions under which the duties are, or may be required to be, performed; • Are fully competent and available to undertake, and fully capable of undertaking, the duties attached to the position.

Working Hours The current working hours are 35 hours per week, The post entails a wide range of duties which require maximum flexibility, involving regular evening and weekend attendance where necessary. The person appointed may be required to work outside of normal hours on occasion. Kildare County Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time in line with Government Circulars. All hours worked are subject to and recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997, and the Organisation of Working Time Regulations, 2001. Kildare County Council requires employees to record their hours using a Clocking system.

Reporting Arrangements Senior Executive Librarian Officers report directly to the County Librarian or to any other employee of Kildare County Council such as the Director of Services or other appropriate employee may designate for this purpose. A system of regular appraisal will be operated during employment, which will involve discussions between the employee and the line manager regarding performance and conduct.

Probationary Period of Employment Where a person is permanently appointed to Kildare County Council, the following provisions shall apply – a) there shall be a period after appointment takes effect, during which such a person shall hold the position on probation; b) such period shall be twelve months, but the Chief Executive may, at their discretion, extend such period; c) such a person shall cease to hold the position at the end of the period of probation, unless during this period the Chief Executive has certified that the service is satisfactory; d) the period at (a) above may be terminated on giving one weeks’ notice as per the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts; e) there will be assessments during the probationary period.

Remuneration €57,675 per annum to €69,956 per annum (maximum) €72,460 per annum (LSI 1) (after 3 years satisfactory service at maximum) €74,978 per annum (LSI 2) (after 6 years satisfactory service at maximum) On appointment successful candidates will be placed on the first point of the salary scale. Appointment to a higher point of the salary scale may apply to candidates employed elsewhere in the public service, subject to verification of service history. Remuneration is paid fortnightly by PayPath directly to the employees nominated bank account. The current wage pay cycle may be revised during the period of employment. Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions, e.g., P.A.Y.E. and P.R.S.I. Increments are paid annually subject to satisfactory attendance, conduct and performance and national agreements. Increments may be withheld if performance, attendance and/or conduct are not satisfactory.

Superannuation & Retirement A person who becomes a pensionable employee of the County Council will be required in respect of their Superannuation to contribute to the Local Authority at the appropriate rate.The terms of the Local Government Superannuation (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 as amended or the Public Services Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 or the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme & Other Provisions) Act 2012 will apply as appropriate on appointment. Retirement age for employees is dependent on their relevant contract of employment, with due consideration being given to the rules of the Superannuation Scheme to which they belong. For appointees who are deemed not to be “new entrants” as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, retirement is compulsory on reaching 65 years of age. • The minimum retirement age for “new entrants” to the public service as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 is 65. There is no mandatory retirement age. • Effective from 1st January 2013, The Single Public Service Scheme applies to all first-time new entrants to the public service, as well as to former public servants returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks: - Retirement age is set, initially, at 66 years; this will rise in step with statutory changes in the State Pension Contributory (SPC) age to 67 years in 2021 and 68 years in 2028. - Compulsory retirement age will be 70.

Annual Leave Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangements for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and the nationally agreed annual leave scheme for the sector. The annual leaveyear runs from 1st January to 31st December. The current leave entitlement for this post is 30 days. The Chief Executive of Kildare County Council retains autonomy regarding office closures, (e.g., Christmas Office Closure), any days arising from such closure will be reserved from the employee’s annual leave entitlement. Proposed office closure days will be reviewed and advised to all employees each year.

Residence The person holding the office must reside in, or at an address convenient to the Local Authority, as approved by the Chief Executive.

Outside Employment The position is whole-time, and the officer may not engage in private practice or be connected with any outside business which would interfere with the performance of official duties.