Head of Reference Services

Location: St Pancras
Hours: Permanent – Full time
Grade: SB4
Salary: £51,188 per annum

The British Library is seeking to appoint a Head of Reference Services to lead our team of specialists in the delivery and future development of library services both on-site in the Reading Rooms and online.

In this role, you will ensure that reference services and operations are delivered to the highest standard and that KPIs are achieved. You will continually review and update existing services and provide strategic direction for future service development, leading a range of associated projects and initiatives to deliver new and improved services. Providing strong and supportive leadership to your team you will also take an active role in the Research Services management team in setting the wider strategic direction for the department, representing and promoting Reference Services both within the British Library and externally and working collaboratively with colleagues across the Library to deliver common goals.

You must be willing to take on a range of diverse tasks, develop new skills and demonstrate the initiative and ability to thrive in a changing environment. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are a pre-requisite in conjunction with extensive staff management experience, up to date knowledge of library and information services, and strong IT skills.

Please see the Job Profile for full details.

For further information please contact BL-recruitment @bl.uk quoting vacancy ref: R00000693

As one of the world’s great libraries, our duty is to preserve the nation’s intellectual memory for the future and make it available to all for research, inspiration and enjoyment. At present, we have well over 170 million items, in most known languages, with three million new items added every year. We have manuscripts, maps, newspapers, magazines, prints and drawings, music scores, and patents. We make our collections and programmes available to all. We operate the world’s largest document delivery service providing millions of items a year to customers all over the world. What matters to us is that we preserve the national memory and enable knowledge to be created both now and in the future by anyone, anywhere.

In return, we offer a competitive salary and a number of excellent benefits. Our pension scheme is one of the most valuable benefits we offer, as our staff can become members of the Alpha Pension Scheme where the Library contributes a minimum of 28.97% (this may be higher dependant on grade. Another significant benefit the Library provides is the provision of a flexible working hours scheme which could allow you to work your hours flexibly over the week and to take up to 5 days flexi leave in a 3 month period. This is on top of 25 days holiday from entry and public and privilege holidays.

Closing date: 5 January 2025
Interview date: 20 or 21 January 2025

We are unable to provide sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker visa for this role, as it does not meet the eligibility criteria required for this immigration route.

Museum Website: https://ce0752li.webitrent.com/ce0752li_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC179GF.open?WVID=5071482BMD