Branch Manager

This role has a starting salary of £17,323.25 per annum, based on a 21 hour working week. The full time equivalent salary is £29,697 per annum.

We are excited to be hiring a new Branch Manager in a newly created position to join our fantastic team. The team is based in Woking Library, and this post will work between and manage Addlestone, Chertsey and Woking libraries. Part of our area are Knaphill and West Byfleet where you may also be asked to work as the service requires.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave subject to manager's approval
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Role
As a Branch Manager, you will be responsible for managing a team of staff ensuring that excellent customer service is delivered at all levels in your libraries. Making use of your communication skills, you will ensure that team members feel supported in their roles. You will provide training and development opportunities to staff while continuing to broaden your own knowledge.

This position puts you at the heart of our communities, providing you with the opportunity to lead staff and volunteers in creating a dynamic library service that continually evolves to meet the needs of local communities.

Our Branch Managers play an integral role in helping us achieve an inclusive and active library service, partly through the planning of cultural events. This could involve organising an author talk, arranging theatre activities, or facilitating the creation of a temporary dance space. Using your networking skills to build local partnerships, you will encourage learning, and support local health and wellbeing.

You will also oversee day-to-day activity in the library, which involves dealing with property issues, ensuring health and safety policy is adhered to and managing customer comments and complaints. Enthusiastic about sharing books and information with others, you will have the IT skills required to use the library management systems and the resilience to deal with a broad range of customer queries.

Shortlisting Criteria
We want to find out how you will create an inclusive environment for staff and customers and ask that you answer the following questions as part of the application process (along with uploading your CV):

1. What part of the job profile attracted you most to apply for this role?
2. How do you think you could make libraries more important within their communities?
3. How would your previous experience make you a successful Branch Manager? What would make you stand out as a manager from others?
4. Library Branch Managers must juggle various priorities daily. What experience would you bring to support you with this?

The role profile attached to the bottom of this advert provides a detailed list of what you might encounter while working as a Branch Manager. We recognise transferable skills and are committed to providing training.

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 4th August 2024 with interviews to follow.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Our Commitment
Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.