Library group manager

Guildford
Permanent
Surrey County Council
Manager
Posted: 16 June
The role

Description

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

The starting salary for this role is £38,090 per annum for working 36 hours per week.

We are excited to be hiring a new Libraries Group Manager based at Guildford Library and also responsible for Horsley and Cobham Libraries.

If you enjoy working in a challenging ever-changing environment, then this role is for you!

Our Offer to You

  • 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service (prorated for part time staff)
  • Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
  • A generous local government salary related pension
  • Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
  • Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
  • An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
  • Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
  • Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
  • A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

    • About the Role

    This position puts you at the heart of our communities, providing you with the opportunity to lead Branch Managers, Library Assistants and Volunteers to create a dynamic library service that continually evolves to meet the needs of local communities.

    As a Libraries Group Manager, you will be responsible for managing a team of Branch Managers across several locations ensuring that high level customer service is delivered at all levels in your libraries. You will work alongside nine other Group Managers and the senior management team to deliver a diverse range of services aimed at enriching the lives of all those who work, live, study and visit Surrey.

    In this key role, your responsibilities will include

  • Playing a lead role in delivering an inclusive and active library service that encourages learning and supports local health and wellbeing
  • Overseeing how your libraries perform against their key performance indicators in relation to book issues, visitor numbers, income, and membership
  • Using excellent communication and networking skills to build partnerships with the local community to develop cultural activities. These could include author talks, arranging theatre activities, or creating a temporary dance space
  • Managing and presenting projects to the senior leadership team
  • Following Surrey County Council policies, including Health and Safety, to ensure that team members feel supported in their roles

    • Your Application

    In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with

  • Experience of managing and supporting teams through change
  • Ability to work effectively with peers at a management level
  • Relationship building skills with the ability to develop internal and external partnerships
  • Creative problem solving skills with a proactive approach to take appropriate action
  • Excellent IT skills
  • Resilience, positivity, and the ability to motivate and inspire

    • To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions:

  • Please tell us about your motivation for applying for this role.
  • What qualities, experiences, and leadership approaches would make you an exceptional Group Manager?
  • What do you think are the core values in creating and maintaining partnerships, both internal and external?
  • Group Managers have to prioritise competing demands on a daily basis, problem solve and take action. Please outline what experience you bring that would support you with this.

    • Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our to get an insight into working at Surrey.

    If you can match our energy for creating exceptional community spaces, we really want to hear from you.

    Contact Us

    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. Please contact Becky Cuffe via teams or email.

    The job advert closes at 23:59 on 21/06/2026, with interviews to follow shortly after.

    We look forward to receiving your application,

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