About the job Job summary The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army. The Army Library and Information Service (ALIS) provides library and information services to Army Personnel, regular and reserves worldwide. ALIS supports information needs required for operations, defence engagement and professional development. The Senior Librarian is in charge of the development of the library and information services to support the professional development of Serving Army Personnel. The post offers the developmental opportunity of leading and managing people over a geographically disperse network and providing the strategic direction for the provision of an information service to the benefit of Army personnel. The role will require you to periodically travel to other ALIS locations in the South of the UK. This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. Job description Responsibilities will include: Develop and implement plans to deliver, sustain and continually improve ALIS outputs Ensure ALIS delivery is matched to Army strategic aims and intent Establish and maintain a stakeholder and customer network Plan, manage and forecast the ALIS budget Quality assure ALIS outputs including maintaining the ALIS benefits realisation and risk management strategies and plans Business Change Manager for the generation of library and information service policies to support initiatives Subject Matter Expert for library services for the Army Functional lead for library and information services to ALIS staff Lead, manage and develop ALIS staff Specific duties: Write, implement and evaluate ALIS Management Plan, to include Reports & Returns Conduct reviews (as needed) of library and information service provision to ensure it is aligned to need and delivering value for money Establish a strategic vision of Army library service provision Liaise with Army stakeholders to ensure that ALIS provision is matched to future Army needs Conduct annual financial cycle: produce and submit financial bid, report monthly on financial expenditure, carry out 6 monthly expenditure audit, submit In Year bids as required Evaluate reporting statistics and measures of performance Ensure that ALIS Quality Assurance processes and procedures are fit for purpose Chair quarterly ALIS Management Board Work co-operatively with other library and information service providers Ensure that ALIS Marketing Strategy supports ALIS strategy Responsible for ensuring that ALIS electronic information provision is developed to meet Army stakeholder and customer need Oversight and responsibility for the delivery and development of library and information services from Prince Consorts Library, Services Central Library, ALIS Support Unit, Overseas library provision (Cyprus, Falklands) and Army owned library provision (Tidworth Leisure Centre, Warminster, Colchester, MCTC, Brunei, Nepal) Person specification Essential: You must have a Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals approved qualification or an equivalent recognised qualification Alternatively, you will have achieved certification and have equivalent experience of professional information work or have an NVQ level 4 (or equivalent) in library and information studies plus experience of professional information work. As a Senior Librarian it is expected that you would be a chartered librarian of Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and are/or intending to re-validate your Chartership on a regular basis in order to maintain and develop the ALIS capability that supports the professional and personal learning of members of the Armed Forces and enhances operational effectiveness You should have experience of Information Literacy delivery within a Library & Information Service in order to potentially be able to drive change forward within ALIS in this area You should have some experience of leading diverse teams to maintain Library & Information services as well as be able to initiate, manage and evaluate change. You should be able to communicate clearly & effectively both face to face and via online means You must be comfortable with dealing with multiple stakeholders at all levels, both military and civilian You should have good MS Office experience in order to exploit data to determine organisational performance and manage various records and catalogues. An understanding of Library and Information service commercial practise will be beneficial when dealing with budgetary responsibilities and contributing to multiagency contacts with suppliers of e-journals Qualifications You must have a Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals approved qualification or an equivalent recognised qualification. Alternatively, you will have achieved certification and have equivalent experience of professional information work or have an NVQ level 4 (or equivalent) in library and information studies plus experience of professional information work. As a Senior Librarian it is expected that you would be a chartered librarian of Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and are/or intending to re-validate your Chartership on a regular basis. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Seeing the Big Picture Changing and Improving Leadership Communicating and Influencing Managing a Quality Service Delivering at Pace We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form: Seeing the Big Picture Changing and Improving Leadership Delivering at Pace Benefits Alongside your salary of 44,590, Ministry of Defence contributes 12,917 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance. Other benefits for Army civil servants include: 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years service. A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Personal and professional development of skills Alternative working patterns for many roles Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Enhanced parental and adoption leave 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities. Free parking Coffee Shop Gym Learning and Development Discover My Benefits - Civilian (mod.gov.uk) We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body as part of your role. Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period. Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed. Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts. Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/. The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments. MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience. Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (Word count - 500) Applications will be sifted on all Behaviours, but in the event of a significant number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the lead Behaviours: (Leadership). In this instance the remaining elements will be tested at interview. At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and Statement of suitability and the following: Seeing the Big Picture Changing and Improving Leadership Delivering at Pace At interview, you will be assessed against the following: Seeing the Big Picture Changing and Improving Leadership Communicating and Influencing Managing a Quality Service Delivering at Pace When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected. Application sifting is scheduled to take place withinone week of the closing date. Interviews will take place at Army Headquarters, Ramillies Building, Andover, Hampshire SP11 8HJ within three weeks of the sift results. A minimum of 2 full working days notice will be provided for interviews. We endeavor to keep to these dates, but these are subject to change around business needs. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3mod.gov.uk. As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil 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 This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Lt Col Barltrop Email : stuart.barltrop697mod.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3mod.gov.uk Further information Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: infocsc.gov.uk.