The Welsh Government’s Knowledge and Library Service provides information and research services to policy and legal teams based in multiple locations. The library collection comprises print and digital resources supporting the development of policy and legislation in Wales and includes the official publications archive. The Library’s print collection is held in Cardiff although most services such as training, literature searching and enquiries are provided remotely.
Following a retirement in the Welsh Government Knowledge & Library Services team, we are seeking an Enquiry Services Manager to deliver services to Welsh Government’s policy and legal teams. The post currently line manages three librarians and task manages other team members, so experience of leading teams is essential. You’ll be working alongside two other team leaders to allocate and share resources and prioritise work.
Reporting to the Head of Knowledge & Library Services, you’ll have day to day responsibility for managing the literature search and enquiry services and helping develop these to meet changing needs. You’ll ensure customer satisfaction through effective monitoring of feedback and identify areas for improvement. You’ll also be involved in helping develop and define our training offering. As subject matter expert, you’ll also provide professional advice to support the Head of Knowledge and Library Services and the Chief Librarian.
Job overview
- Line and task management of librarians (EO) and library assistants.
- Advice, support and training to the information professionals undertaking literature searches to ensure that standards are met and maintained.
- Manage and develop the literature search service, including allocation of work, setting deadlines, and quality checking.
- Collection and analysis of statistics relating to customer experience and service delivery to inform developments.
- Manage the general enquiry service by maintaining staffing levels and developing mechanisms for knowledge sharing.
- Engagement with stakeholders, suppliers and professional groups
- Maintain an awareness of legislative developments as they relate to information and library management, including copyright, Re-use of Public Sector Information (RPSI), FoI Publication Scheme requirements and copyright.
Person specification
This is an opportunity to develop experience at HEO level. You’ll broaden and develop your knowledge of research in order to support your team and provide an effective, high-quality service to library users. You’ll also develop your management skill set as you task and line manage the library team in collaboration with the other library managers. In this role you’ll develop an understanding of the work involved in developing government policy and will be making a contribution to the development of Welsh Government policy.
The postholder will represent Welsh Government in a number of professional networks. In addition to developing a wider awareness of professional issues, involvement in the wider Government Knowledge & Information Management network will develop awareness of the sector.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Leadership
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Desk Research: Please refer to advert for more information.
- Information Literacy: Please refer to the advert for more information.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £37,111, Welsh Government contributes £10,751 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience.
Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
- In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: Experience 1. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview
- The Welsh Government library is located in Cardiff. Regular travel to the office will be expected to provide services and support, this is currently 2 or 3 days per week but flexibility will be required as this could increase.
- Experience of working in libraries or information management is required for the role. Candidates are required to hold a degree or postgraduate qualification in librarianship, information studies or information management, this is an essential criteria and details of this should be included within your CV. Evidence will be requested at onboarding stage.
- Candidates are required to submit a CV as part of their application, CV’s should be of a maximum of 2 sides detailing your work experience and qualifications – CV’s will be scored against the experience criteria
- A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
- A presentation/ test on ‘Delivering at Pace’ will be required at interview. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window).
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact
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