​Reader Services Team Leader x 2 (Late Shifts)

£33,510.82 – 39,928.82(Includes London Allowance)

London

1 x 0.8 FTE – 28 hours per week (salary pro rata)

1 x 1 FTE – 35 hours per week

Evening and Weekendwork

Sue Hill Recruitment Ltd are delighted to be working with SOAS as they are looking to recruit 2 x Reader Services TeamLeaders with excellent customer service skills to assist with the day-to-day delivery of a first-class service, providing a seamless and effective library experience to researchers, students and visitors.

These are Grade 6 roles within the organisation (Senior Members of the Library Team) and will work on a flexible rota basis which will include regular weekend and evening work. 1 role will be a 0.8 FTE for 28 hours per week whilst the other 2 positions are 1 FTE for 35 hours per week.

You will lead a team of Reader Services staff and Collections Assistants (2-3 staff) and work collaboratively with other Team Leaders within the Library

The role is worked on a 4 weekly shift pattern of weekdays and weekends (3 in 4 weekends) hours are weekdays 3:30pm – 11:30pm and weekends 2:30pm – 10:30pm.

Main Responsibilities

•Leading a team to provide a well organised service at all library service points and off- counter administrative tasks such as inter-library loans, DCS and disability user support.

•To understand and administer LMS circulation procedures and activity.

•To organize training of the team. Communicate and build understanding of the work of Reader Services

•To monitor problems with users, including procedures for dealing with defaulters and seriously overdue books and to conduct interviews with users as appropriate.

•To liaise with the Finance Department on all payments by patrons

•To work with Security Supervisors and teams to ensure a consistent approach to management of the library spaces in providing and outstanding service to our users

•To liaise with the Student Disability team and other student services to implement services to users with disabilities and other special educational needs.

•Contribute to the formulation of policies and procedures and apply a detailed understanding of established, School systems, processes or procedures to analyse and resolve related problems.

•To undertake description of material on the library catalogue as guided by the responsible subject or regional librarian

•To liaise and disseminate information within and between other teams, directorates, departments to facilitate exchange of information for purposes of effective working.

•Undertake short term projects within own area/section or contribute as part of larger department-wide project team, to support the achievements of project objectives.

•Deliver, or oversee, a range of service support tasks, advising and assisting colleagues, staff, students and others on specific systems or processes, procurement of goods and services to ensure service quality, efficiency and continuity, operating within defined regulations and statutory requirements.

•Allocate resources and tasks to operational support staff in order to ensure work objectives are met and may contribute information about future physical resource requirements e.g. equipment for the resource planning process within their area and carry out planning for short term projects in own area, or as may be required to contribute to planning for their Department.

•Assists the senior managers by responding to oral and written enquiries (internal and external) and manages the flow and quality of responses made by more junior staff.

•Oversee area/s of work, taking responsibility for co-ordination of activities allocating resources and ensuring procedures, processes, etc. are followed and that work objectives are met. To deal with queries referred on from more junior staff and acting as a filter for issues referred to more senior staff, to provide immediate support and problem resolutions.

•Provide evaluation of information or workflow processes, highlighting any issues for further investigation and preparing reports to support decision making and oversee the circulation of information/findings to ensure awareness of key issues/data.

Person Specification:

•Educated to degree level or equivalent in any subject. A library qualification would be beneficial although not essential

•Experience of working in a library with an understanding of the academic environment and trends within Higher Education libraries

•Practical experience of using a Library Management System (LMS)

•Proven communication, interpersonal and presentation skills including the ability to influence others’ thinking, sometimes at a senior level

•Excellent customer service skills

•Ability to provide timely and comprehensive advice and guidance to others

•Capable of effective transfer of skills/ knowledge to others

•Well-developed analytical and problem solving capability

•Ability to motivate, encourage and support others

•Experience of using online resources for research, library catalogue, databases

•Strong staff management skills, including a proven record of managing, motivating and developing staff/diverse team

•Ability work flexibly including evenings and weekends