Position reference: 50140900
Directorate: Public Health and Communities | Service: Libraries
Salary: £35,412 - £38,220
Working Arrangements: Four week rota including evening and weekends
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Fixed term until 25th April 2027
We are happy to talk flexible working arrangements with you, please get in touch.
Suitable for Secondment: Employees wishing to be considered for secondment should agree with their head of service before submitting an application form.
See our range of Employee Rewards: Employee rewards and benefits
Closing date: 6/04/2026 at 23:59
This post requires an Enhanced DBS Check
If you are currently living overseas or have lived overseas in the last five years please be aware, if you are the preferred candidate for the post, you will be required to apply for an overseas criminal records check from the country/countries you have resided in. If you experience difficulty in obtaining an overseas criminal record check please email dbs@barnsley.gov.uk
When applying, please ensure you are prepared to start work with all the necessary legal documents, such as a valid visa, relevant to the type of work you will be undertaking. Please be aware that our organisation does not possess a Home Office license and, as a result, is unable to provide sponsorship for anyone seeking a visa as a skilled or temporary migrant worker.
At Barnsley Council you can start a career that makes a real difference to people’s lives, helping our council and residents to be the best they can be.
We’re an award-winning council and one of the biggest employers in the borough, supporting around 243,000 people. We put people at the heart of everything we do, and that includes our employees. As part of the team, we offer lots of benefits and rewards to support you to thrive and grow, like flexible working, employee discounts, support for your health and wellbeing, and opportunities for training and development to grow your career and develop your skills.
There’s so much happening in our thriving borough, and now’s the perfect time to join our excellent Libraries team as we work to make Barnsley the place of possibilities.
- We’re an award-winning team and one of the biggest employers in the borough supporting around 243,000 people.
- Working at Barnsley Council means being part of a team that makes a real difference to people’s lives, where you can develop the skills you need to make change happen.
- If you join the team you’ll receive great pay alongside an excellent pension scheme. With flexible working we’ll also support your work/life balance, helping you to adjust your hours and take time off when you need it.
- We’ll help you to develop your career and grow your skills with opportunities for training and development.
- There’s so much happening in our thriving borough and your talent and skills will help us make Barnsley the place of possibilities.
- Key to our success is working with our residents, partners, businesses and organisations and building these partnerships to bring about change in Barnsley.
About the Post:
We invite applications for the position of Library Manager, providing operational leadership for the Library@Lightbox located in the Glassworks square. This role offers an excellent opportunity for colleagues wishing to broaden their skills, extend their responsibilities, and gain experience in delivering effective operational management within a highly performing and supportive environment.
The postholder will lead a team of library staff, ensuring clear direction, effective workload management, and consistent communication. Responsibilities include managing staff absences, supporting recruitment processes, identifying and addressing training needs, contributing to staff development, and upholding expected standards of conduct and wellbeing. A key aspect of the role is helping the wider management team to foster a positive organisational culture and ensuring effective communication across the service.
The successful candidate will support the development and delivery of a varied programme of activities, outreach, and events. This includes working with community groups, partners, schools, and other public services. The postholder will also act as lead champion for one or more national Universal Offers, contributing to service innovation and continuous improvement.
Additional responsibilities include supervising volunteers, analysing customer feedback and performance data, supporting stock management processes, contributing to funding applications, and responding professionally to complex or escalated customer enquiries.
The role requires strong organisational skills, sound judgement, and the ability to work proactively in a busy and evolving environment. The postholder must ensure compliance with relevant legislation, health and safety requirements, and Council policies and procedures.
This fixed-term opportunity is well-suited to colleagues seeking to develop managerial skills, broaden their operational experience, and contribute to the continued success of our public library services.
In addition to the attached job profile, this role will lead on the delivery of projects to improve the service, be it through externally funded initiatives supporting council or external agencies such as Arts Council England or assisting the wider management team to improve internal processes and introduce new initiatives including delivering associated training.
If you wish to discuss this opportunity, please contactmatthewholdroyd@barnsley.gov.uk
Please use the documents below to help support you with your application form.
Job Profile: Library Manager Profile.docx
Vacancy Exposure Profile: Exposure Profile.docx
Help with your application form
Please ensure you view the job profile for this role, as you will need to demonstrate in your application form how you meet the required criteria.
We welcome the opportunity to have a chat about the role and are happy to address any questions you may have about flexible working arrangements, including as a result of caring responsibilities.
We're committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued and everyone truly feels able to be themselves. If you have any support needs during the recruitment process, please let us know.
CV's are not accepted for this role.
At Barnsley Council, we believe in second chances and value diversity. Our recruitment process is inclusive, and we welcome applicants with past convictions. We're committed to fairness and do not discriminate. Join us in building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. #InclusiveHiring #SecondChances"
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