Senior Area Supervisor

Overview

Buckinghamshire Libraries are looking for a highly motivated Senior Area Supervisor to join our friendly team supporting libraries across the Amersham area. We are seeking someone who shares our passion for customer service, community engagement and the vital role libraries play in enriching people's lives.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced supervisor or team leader to take a key role in supporting the delivery of library services, leading staff and volunteers, and championing the continued development of Library Flex across Buckinghamshire's libraries.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

Buckinghamshire Libraries deliver a modern library service through 29 libraries across the county, operating a mixed model of staffed, volunteer-supported and volunteer-led libraries.

Our libraries are much more than places to borrow books. They are community hubs that support residents through access to digital services, health and wellbeing initiatives, cultural programmes, learning opportunities and council services.

Library Flex is transforming the way residents access library services, providing enhanced self-service access and extending opening opportunities for customers. As a Senior Area Supervisor, you will play a key role in ensuring the success and ongoing development of this service.

About the role

This is a customer-facing role which requires a regular presence across library locations within the Amersham area and wider Buckinghamshire library network as required.

This is a part-time position working 32.75 hours per week with the following working pattern:

 

Tuesday

8.30am – 5pm

Wednesday

8.30am – 5pm

Thursday

8.30am – 5pm

Friday

8.30am – 5pm

Saturday (alternate)

9.30am – 4pm

Saturdays will be worked on an alternating basis (one week on, one week off) with a consistent pattern.

As a Senior Area Supervisor, you will work across multiple library sites in collaboration with Area Managers to support the delivery of high-quality library and community services. You will provide operational leadership, supervise staff and volunteers, and help develop libraries as thriving community hubs.

The area covered by this role will include the libraries of Amersham, Beaconsfield, Burnham, Chesham, Gerrards Cross and Iver Heath. Travel is therefore an essential part of this role. It will require the ability to travel to all parts of the county, including the ability to move flexibly between multiple sites throughout the working day.

The role includes:

• Working flexibly and adaptably between roles and locations, supporting the Area Supervisors and deputising for the Area Manager wherever necessary.
• Providing management support to library staff across the area, as well as providing senior support across the wider county on Saturdays.
• Maintaining a staffing rota, responding to changing staffing levels and priorities to ensure consistent service delivery across the area.
• Managing customer enquiries, feedback and complaints, including resolving more complex issues.
• Line managing staff across a mixture of county and community-supported libraries, carrying out performance and development reviews and supporting the recruitment, induction, and other HR processes related to these posts.
• Assisting with the recruitment, training and support of library volunteers.
• Managing relationships with library partners including local community stakeholders, volunteers and friends’ groups.
• Managing and supporting the day-to-day delivery of library services, including Library Flex services, at any location required.
• Supporting the delivery of health and wellbeing initiatives, digital inclusion activities and cultural programmes.
• Monitoring service performance and ensuring accurate reporting and administration.
• Contributing to service improvement projects and initiatives across the library network, taking ownership of timescales, budgets and outcomes.

Fixed

As a ‘fixed’ worker, you’ll spend most of your time in the same location, which will likely be a fixed office or location where your role is performed. Typically, you’ll be based in the same location as the rest of your team, because you provide a particular service from that fixed location or need access to information there.

 

About you

We are looking for someone who is passionate about libraries, community engagement and supporting residents to access services that improve their lives.

You will have:

• Significant experience of line managing and developing staff.
• Experience leading and motivating teams through periods of change.
• Experience supervising customer-facing services.
• Strong customer service skills, including handling complex customer enquiries and complaints.
• Experience managing a physical site, including health and safety responsibilities and building management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience working collaboratively with community partners and stakeholders.
• Strong organisational and planning skills with the ability to prioritise effectively.
• Good ICT skills, including Microsoft Office applications and experience using digital systems.
• Excellent literacy and numeracy skills with strong attention to detail.
• A commitment to supporting the development of colleagues, volunteers and community partnerships.

Essential Qualifications

• GCSEs (or equivalent) including English and Maths.
• Educated to NVQ Level 3, HNC standard or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Full driving licence and access to transport to support travel between library locations.

Other information

Please see the attached Job Summary for full details of the role and person specification.

Number of positions available: 1
Interview type: In person

If you would like an informal conversation about this opportunity, please contact Rob Bellingham: [email protected].

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Communities directorate works across the county to deliver a number of the key customer-facing services that our residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day.

This directorate includes a wide range of services, including:

• collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
• maintaining our roads and Rights of Way network and parking
• ensuring the delivery of school transport, and supporting sustainable travel including public bus services and School Crossing Patrollers
• managing Country Parks
• leisure facilities, museums, theatres and libraries, as well as developing our Cultural Strategy
• Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards
• Cemeteries and Crematoria

The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture and special environment.

We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious and committed individuals to join our team and help us to continue to make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work and visit. This is an exciting time for us as we bring together the services previously run by five separate councils before Buckinghamshire Council was created. Whilst making major changes to contracts affecting residents across Bucks, we continue to focus on delivering great customer service. You will join us on our journey of continuous improvement - whether that’s through developing strategies and ways of working or delivering services on the ground, every person in Communities is a valued member of the team.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/