Library Support Lead (Stock & System)

About the role

Library Support Lead (Stock & System)

Permanent, Full Time

£39,944 to £ 46,993 per annum

Location: Witham*

Closing Date: 12th March 2025

*This is a hybrid-working role, with attendance in the Witham office expected to be to 2-3 days per week on average, depending on business need.

The Library Support Lead plays a pivotal role in ensuring Essex Libraries maximise the use of their physical and digital collections, creating a dynamic and customer-led library experience. The role is responsible for empowering staff to make informed stock choices based on local customer needs and community engagement, ensuring collections reflect user demand and local demographics.

Leveraging data insights and stock management tools, the role drives efficiency, improves resource utilisation, and promotes Essex Libraries as a trusted source of information and a leader in literacy and community engagement. The Library Support Lead also ensures the accuracy of the library catalogue and facilitates collaboration across Area Manager teams to align library operations with both local and national trends.

With expertise in library operations, systems, and data analysis, the role fosters a collaborative environment that supports literacy, accessibility, and the continuous improvement of the library service, and is responsible for the line management of library service support assistants.

Accountabilities

Manage all online and physical resources to ensure a customer-led, data-informed, and staff-empowered selection of stock across the library service, ensuring alignment with user demand and demographic insights. Utilise data-led analysis in collaboration with Area Managers, frontline staff, and other services (e.g., communications and data teams) to maximise resource visibility, increase usage, and promote community pride and awareness of the library service. Ensure that stock choices reflect local community demographics.

Lead the development of the accuracy of the library catalogue, ensuring it provides seamless access to stock and reflects real-time availability across all branches.

Empower staff by providing continuous support and training on stock management, resource promotion, and planning, ensuring frontline teams can make localised decisions that improve service delivery.

Oversee and optimise stock management systems, e.g. LMS and Collection HQ, while ensuring operational teams are self-sufficient in local data analysis and stock management.

Analyse stock data, customer feedback, and demographic trends to deliver actionable insights that improve stock acquisition, circulation, and overall customer satisfaction. Ensure that supplier selections align with evolving customer needs and demand-driven services.

Collaborate with suppliers, distributors, and logistics teams to ensure efficient stock management, minimising disruptions and controlling costs related to stock, such as storage and transportation.

Ensure optimal stock availability, supporting events and promotions while avoiding overstocking or shortages through effective forecasting and data-driven demand analysis.

Leverage data insights to improve resource usage, drive operational efficiency, and foster a vibrant and connected library community by promoting active collaboration across library services.

Support library refurbishment projects and service changes, ensuring stock availability and customer-driven supply and demand are prioritised during transitions to minimise service disruptions.

Support the development of innovative programmes and services that reflect national trends and community needs, promoting collections that enhance literacy, digital inclusion, and information access.

Control stock-related costs and manage the book fund in collaboration with the Area Managers, ensuring efficient allocation of resources in line with the library service’s strategic priorities.

Collaborate with Area Managers, frontline staff, and communications teams to align resource availability with event promotions and library activities, ensuring stock supports the needs of events, literacy initiatives, and local communities.

Provide detailed reports and insights on stock performance, budget usage, and resource optimisation to senior management, delivering data-driven recommendations for continuous improvement and service innovation.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Educated to Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF) Level 5 or equivalent by experience in operational management.

Evidence of continuing professional development and good knowledge in relevant professional area.

Proven ability to empower, motivate, and coach staff to make data-driven decisions on stock management, aligning team objectives with library goals to enhance performance, resource efficiency, and service innovation.

Demonstrated expertise in managing stock levels and supplier relationships, including the ability to resolve complex supply chain issues while ensuring stock is optimised to meet customer demand and service goals.

Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage and collaborate across all levels of the organisation, including Area Managers, frontline staff, suppliers, and stakeholders. Capable of driving collaboration to ensure stock choices and library initiatives reflect community needs and support service goals.

Strong proficiency in analysing stock data, demographic trends, and collection usage to identify patterns and translate insights into action that improves stock management and service delivery. Skilled in reporting insights to senior management and informing plans.

Extensive experience in managing budgets, with a focus on cost-effective resource allocation and stock-related expenses. Skilled in balancing financial constraints with the need to maintain stock availability and service levels.

Ability to identify inefficiencies in stock management and library operations, make sound, data-driven decisions, and implement effective solutions to mitigate risks such as stockouts, overstocking, or supply chain disruptions. Demonstrates a passion for continuous improvement and commitment to enhancing library services.

To read more about us please visit: Climate, Environment and Customer Services - Working for Essex

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, please apply via the Working for Essex website.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community here.

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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