Library Manager

Job Title: Library Manager - North Watford
Starting Salary: £34,434 opportunity to progress to £37,280 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37
Location: North Watford Library
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Resources

About the team

Today’s libraries are vibrant community hubs offering books, digital access, activities and support for wellbeing. Modern librarians are creative, community-minded and passionate about helping people learn and connect.

We’re looking for a manager for our North Watford Library to champion our service locally. You’ll lead a team of customer-facing staff, work with community partners and take part in outreach to widen access and participation. As part of the Area Management Team, you’ll also contribute to the wider leadership of Hertfordshire Libraries.

You’ll lead by example on the library floor, whether running children’s coding clubs, supporting older people with wellbeing resources, or organising events and activities with local partners.

We value strong communication skills, enthusiasm and the ability to manage a variety of projects. Life experience is just as important as formal qualifications. You should be proactive, organised, responsible and confident with IT. Experience in business or people management is a bonus. This role can be a stepping stone into library leadership or a fulfilling later-career opportunity to work locally and make a difference.

Please check you can work the hours on the attached rota before applying.

About the role

Hertfordshire Libraries exists to help people to live better lives for longer acting as hubs for community activities, places to access digital technology, creative spaces and gateways to reading, information and wellbeing. We are looking for someone who has the drive to develop Hertfordshire Libraries vision to deliver a high quality, sustainable service, working closely in partnership with local communities to remain relevant to diverse and changing needs of Hertfordshire residents.

The main duties and responsibilities:

• To promote the library service to the wider community, and to actively engage with local partnerships and organisations
• To act as the face of the library service in the community and lead and motivate the library team to deliver and achieve service objectives
• To undertake the role of site manager at the library with responsibility for providing a library service to the community and for the day-to-day management and supervision of its operation
• As a member of the West Area Management team, take responsibility for the development and delivery of service provision within the area.
• To contribute to the ambition of attracting more visitors through participation in outreach and promotional activities in the community, and via partnership working with relevant organisations and community groups.
• Evidence of ability to develop key partnerships and relationships with stakeholders and customers
• Evidence of transferable skills in promoting services within a local community
• Examples of skills in managing customer facing service

About you

Essential

• Experience in leading a team to develop a community service
• Experience in developing key partnerships and relationships with stakeholders and customers
• Ability to manage workload within deadlines
• Evidence of ability to develop key partnerships and relationships with stakeholders and customers
• Evidence of transferable skills in promoting services within a local community
• Examples of skills in managing customer facing service

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is Level 9. Please locate the job profile here:

Job profiles - Community services

To hear more about this opportunity please contact

Sue Donaghy– Operations Librarian, West Group 1

Tel: 07816 068819

for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: Friday 8th May 2026

Benefits of working for us
How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.