Library Services Coordinator

Salary: £26,642 to £27,344 with progression to £28,879 per annum, pro rata

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 10 January 2025

The Role 

Newcastle University Library is a multiple-award winning service. We are the only University Library in the UK to have received the Charter Mark five times and now hold the Customer Services Excellence award which replaced it. This award illustrates our dedication to delivering a friendly, professional and efficient service to all our customers and putting them at the heart of everything we do. To find out more about us, please click here. 

This is a place-based role in a busy vibrant campus.  You will play a key role in ensuring the delivery of high-quality frontline customer focused services across the Library’s extensive opening hours. We are looking for people who can co-ordinate and supervise colleagues as well as take responsibility for the secure operation of our Library services across all library sites. 

We have 6 posts available: 

Post 1 – open-ended, based in the Philip Robinson Library, part-time, 24 hours per week 

Post 2 – open-ended, based in the Philip Robinson Library, part-time, 28 hours per week 

Post 3 – open-ended, based in the Walton Library, full time 

Post 4 – open-ended, based in the Walton Library, part-time, 18.5 hours per week 

Post 5 – fixed-term until 31st August 2025, full-time 

Post 6 – fixed-term until 31st August 2025, part-time, 32 hours per week 

The work patterns of most of these posts will include some evenings, weekends and some Bank Holidays. Hours may vary during some University vacations. 

To apply, please upload an up-to-date CV and a letter of application (no more than one page) which outlines your fit for this role and any relevant experience to the key accountabilities listed below.  Please note, you are only required to complete the mandatory application fields. 

In your letter of application, please indicate which post(s) you wish to be considered for. 

Any queries, please contact Anne Middleton at Anne.Middleton@newcastle.ac.uk. 

Key Accountabilities 

• Co-ordinate and supervise the running of Library frontline services.  This includes arranging rotas and cover, allocating duties, and participating in service delivery

• Working with colleagues at other Library sites to ensure effective deployment of our teams

• Allocate and direct work; ensuring this is completed in line with agreed policies, practices and procedures

• Support the teams with all aspects of HR related matters, such as absence management; recruitment; training and coaching; performance reviews and management

• Co-ordinate and assist in the planning, review and development of specific areas of library service delivery (for example circulation, enquiry services, health & safety)

• Contribute to the development and implementation of Library policy and procedures, in accordance with external standards and best practice

• Respond to customers in an appropriate and professional manner. To undertake enquiry work at different Library service points. This includes answering face-to-face, email, telephone and online enquiries 

• Ensure security of the Library, with operational responsibility for emergency evacuations and liaison with University Estate and Security Services during out-of-hours periods 

• Assist with routine safety and building checks, testing of emergency equipment and reporting defects. Providing first aid, following appropriate training 

• Responsible for monitoring the condition of the public areas of the Library, ensuring that incidental cleaning and replenishment of supplies take place when necessary 

• Responsible for ongoing self-development including keeping up to date with best practice 

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience 

• Experience of customer focused environments and excellent customer care skills 

• Experience of supervising and motivating staff 

• Excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills 

• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills 

• Ability to work independently using own initiative and to work effectively in a team 

• Ability to work under pressure 

• Good IT skills including experience of using MS Office 

• Experience of planning and delivering on-the job training 

• Experience of planning and developing service processes and procedures 

• Demonstratable experience of coaching to support people and improve performance 

Attributes and Behaviour 

• Demonstrates energy and commitment to the delivery of excellent services 

• Builds team spirit and working across teams 

• Confident in adopting a range of team roles 

• Gets involved in team tasks 

• Identifies quickly what is important and prioritises accordingly 

• Effective at monitoring and controlling the workflow of the team 

• Uses own and others’ time effectively 

• Maintains flexibility in work plans to allow for changing circumstances 

• Tailors content of information to the audience, changing style, tone and format appropriately. 

• Understands how best to appeal to the other person/group, correctly interpreting the right way to approach a situation 

• Develops and implements new ideas 

• Is supportive of others during change 

Qualifications 

• Educated to A level or equivalent standard or significant relevant work experience 

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 27848

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