Job Purpose and Information Under the direction of the Library Services Directorate, reporting to the Head of Service (South and East region), the Deputy Head of Service will be responsible for leading and managing a range of services in a geographical area, including Belfast Central Library, and service wide and/or specialist functions. The postholder will be responsible for operational delivery and policy development and implementation. They will contribute to the development and implementation of Libraries NIs corporate strategy and work with the Libraries NI Services Committees. The postholder will be a member of Libraries NIs Senior Leadership Group and of Services Team and as such will contribute to the corporate leadership and strategic direction of Libraries NI. The postholder will provide visible leadership, internally and externally, and maintaining high standards of governance and accountability. The postholder will deputise for Head of Services as required. Job Description: Under the direction of the Head of Service 1.Lead and manage the delivery of effective public library services in a designated geographic area in line with Libraries NIs vision, aims and objectives, ensuring that services meet statutory requirements and are relevant to the needs of local communities. 2.Support the work of the Heads of Service and Senior Management Team Directors, ensuring that all strategic proposals are connected in a manner that promotes a consistent and co-ordinated approach to the delivery of services. 3.Support the work of the Heads of Service and Senior Management Team in ensuring effective integration of the corporate and business plans with the resource allocation model. 4.In conjunction with the Heads of Service and Senior Management Team develop and implement appropriate performance indicators, benchmarks and standards to measure the quality and impact of services. 5.Monitor performance against business, service and local plans and report to the Heads of Service, Senior Management Team and Board of Libraries NI, as required. 6.Develop and implement Service and local plans for the geographic area in line with Libraries NIs Corporate and Business Plans, which incorporate agreed Departmental targets and performance indicators; monitor progress against the Plans and take necessary action where appropriate to bring about improvements. 7.Manage and direct the work of staff in the designated geographic area, ensuring appropriate levels of delegation of responsibility and accountability and the establishment of clear standards and targets for performance. 8.Ensure that the skills, competencies and knowledge of staff within the geographic area are developed to support service priorities. 9.Ensure the provision of professional library expertise in all capital development programmes. 10.Lead and manage processes for consulting and communicating with both current and nonservice users. Ensure the development and delivery of customer-focused services that are responsive to community needs and achieve a high level of customer satisfaction. 11.Lead and manage processes to engage with statutory, voluntary, community and private sector organisations to enhance the services available. 12.Represent Libraries NIs interests on Community Planning Partnerships and other local planning forums. 1.Work collaboratively with other senior officers of Libraries NI to advance the vision, aims and policy objectives of Libraries NI. 2.Lead the development of policy in relation to service-wide and/or specialist functions. 3.Advise and support the Libraries NI Board and its committees on the formulation, development and implementation of policy. 4.Manage and direct the work of designated staff working on the designated service-wide and/or specialist functions, ensuring appropriate levels of delegation of responsibility and accountability and the establishment of clear standards and targets for performance. 5.Facilitate effective consultation on policy. 6.Develop relevant and timely implementation plans; monitor, review and evaluate policy implementation and use the information to inform future developments. 7. Manage multiple and/or complex projects 8. Act as a senior point of contact with stakeholders, politicians and the public in support of Services Team. The postholder will be required to represent Libraries NIs interests with a wide range of stakeholders and to engender sound and productive internal and external relationships in support of Libraries NIs business. 9.Promote Libraries NI within the local, national and international library profession. Share best practice and expertise and look for opportunities to work collaboratively to support more effective and efficient service. 1.Provide visible leadership internally, ensure compliance with corporate governance for Libraries NI and maintain high standards of governance and accountability. 2.Support the Head of Service as the budget holder for services within the geographic area and for service wide/specialist functions, ensuring that resources are deployed in pursuance of Libraries NIs objectives and be accountable for effective financial monitoring and control. 3.Lead the development and implementation of risk management strategies within the geographic area and ensure the maintenance of relevant risk registers. 4.Lead and manage processes for ensuring continuous improvement in services and ensure that they are embedded in the geographic area and specialist/service wide functions. 5.Ensure that services provided demonstrate Libraries NIs commitment to the promotion of equality, inclusion and diversity and that policy is developed and implemented. This job description is intended to indicate the broad range of responsibilities and requirements of the post. It is neither exhaustive nor prescriptive. Libraries NI reserves the right, in consultation with the postholder, to amend the job description to meet the changing needs of the organisation.Main Duties and Responsibilities Geographic Area Service-wide and/or Specialist Functions Governance and Accountability Person specification/Terms and Conditions: Essential Criteria Applicants must provide evidence that by the vacancy closing date, they meet the following essential criteria: 1.Qualified to degree level with evidence of continuous professional development. 2.Have at least five years experience in the development and delivery of library services. Plus, provide evidence of experience in; 3.The development and implementation of new services or new approaches to service delivery and any associated policies and procedures. 4.Problem solving at an operational and strategic level. 5.Successfully prioritising and managing a diverse range of tasks within a demanding work environment, to required timeframes and quality thresholds. 6.The management and supervision of staff. 7.Acting as a role model, leading and developing teams and empowering staff. 8.Partnership working to deliver customer focused services 9.Applicants must have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Libraries NI business) or other suitable form of transport which will enable the successful candidate to fulfil the requirements of the post to the satisfaction of Libraries NI. 1.Hold a professional library qualification. The above essential criteria will be used for shortlisting purposes. However, Libraries NI reserves the right to enhance criteria at the shortlisting stage. If deemed necessary criterion 2 above may be enhanced to seven years.Qualifications Experience Other Requirements and Constraints: Desirable Where a competition identifies more appointable candidates than there are available vacancies, a Reserve List may be created in order of suitability for further appointments within Libraries NI. This may be used for up to 12 months to fill the same or like vacancieswith a similar job description and personnel specification and on the same salary scale, without further testing of merit. Closing Date for receipt of applications is 23:59 onSunday 15 June 2025. LIBRARIES NI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITES EMPLOYER Application Process It is essential that applicants provide sufficient details in their application form, using examples and dates where appropriate to demonstrate that they meet the requirements. It is not sufficient to simply list duties and responsibilities. Libraries NI will not make assumptions from the title of the post or the nature of the organisation as to the skills and experience gained. If you fail to provide sufficient detail, including the appropriate dates needed to meet the essential criteria, your application will be rejected. Application forms should be completed in conjunction with the Notes of Guidance for Applicants which may be downloaded with the application pack from Libraries NI staff Intranet: Selection Process Shortlisting Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the information provided against each specific criterion as presented on the application form. Applications will first be considered against the essential criteria. Where necessary enhanced and or desirable criteria may be applied. Interview Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview and will be expected to demonstrate at interview their knowledge and skills in the following key areas and draw on their personal qualities to support their answers. Key Areas: Current thinking in librarianship as it relates to public libraries Change Management People development Achieving Quality Outcomes Risk and Resource Management Strategic Planning. Terms and Conditions This is a permanent appointment. The successful candidate will be employed on NJC terms and conditions of service and membership of the Northern Ireland Local Government Pension Scheme is automatic for persons eligible to join. Further information about pensions is available on the NILGOSC website Annual leave entitlement for the full leave is 28 days increasing to 34 days after five years service. In addition, there are 12 statutory holidays. Where applicable the appointment will be subject to satisfactory completion of all procedural and pre-employment checks. Where applicable the successful candidate will be subject to a probationary period of six months. An unpaid meal break of 30 minutes will normally be taken by employees who are contracted to work 4 hours or more per day. Travelling and Subsistence Travel expenses at rates approved by Libraries NI will be paid in respect of approved journeys necessary as an employee of Libraries NI. Mobility Clause The post will be located in an agreed location, or at any alternative premises as may be reasonably required and may be subject to change following consultation with the post holder. Excess Fares If you are in receipt of excess fares, this provision will cease on appointment.