House of Commons
The House of Commons is a unique and exciting place to work right at the heart of the UK's thriving democratic system.
Behind the scenes, the House of Commons Service is made up of more than 3,000 employees who support and facilitate the smooth day to day running of the House. They provide professional services to Members of Parliament, their staff, and the wider parliamentary community.
Staff Benefits
In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of benefits including:
- 30 days' annual leave (increasing to 35 days after first full leave year).
- Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%.
- Access to training and development.
- Flexible working.
- Interest free season ticket loan and bicycle loan.
Introduction
The Research & Information Team (R&I) provides information resources and research and enquiry services for Members of Parliament, their staff and other Parliamentary colleagues. It is composed of the House of Commons Library and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST).
The Research Information Service (RIS) is part of the Library Services directorate within the House of Commons Library. It provides a range of information services to support the Library's eight research teams and POST. This includes the selection of information resources, provision of current awareness reports, training and support on the discovery and use of information tools and resources, reference enquiries, literature searching and bibliographic assistance for the production of briefings and publications.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our team as Senior Research Librarian. This vital role oversees the daily work of a team of embedded research librarians who work with researchers to ensure they have access to the information needed to support a thriving Parliamentary democracy.
The Role
Are you a people-focused and service orientated individual looking to make a difference in a unique library environment? Then consider a role in Research and Information at the House of Commons. This post oversees the daily operations of the Research Information Service to ensure the effective and efficient use of information tools by researchers and wider Library users. A professional qualification in library and information management is essential to this post.
Comprising around twenty people, the Research Information Service is a team of highly skilled information professionals who connect the wider Research and Information research community with the resources (physical, digital and human) they need to complete their work. The Senior Research Librarian will work closely with the Head of Service to ensure high quality service delivery in line with strategic goals and take responsibility for a range of projects.
Line management and a coaching approach are essential to this role. The postholder will be responsible for the direct line management of a group of Research Librarians in addition to deputising for the Head of Service in their absence.
Some of the responsibilities for this role include:
- Oversight of the daily operations of the department, deputising for the Head of Service in their absence and at other times as necessary.
- Acting as Senior Records Officer for the wider team, ensuring that information is maintained, accessible and archived in accordance with local policy.
- Liaison with internal colleagues on matters where Research Information Service is involved, including participation in working groups and committees as needed.
- Taking the lead on specific projects including delivering services and contributions to events.
Skills and Experience
To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:
- You will hold a CILIP-accredited degree level Library or Information Management qualification or actively seeking to obtain such a qualification.
- You meet the key information needs of your customers by showing an aptitude for enquiry work using a range of information resources and tools, including using SharePoint and other tools to organise and retrieve digital information.
- You have the ability to lead and motivate colleagues and foster a supportive work environment.
- You can develop innovative services by monitoring trends in the information landscape and the needs of your user community to analyse where existing services can be adapted and where new services need to be created.
- You collaborate on a range of projects by establishing effective relationships with colleagues to deliver projects and services, taking a leadership approach where necessary.
- You have the ability to communicate complex issues to non-specialists and a range of different audiences.
Next Steps and Additional Information
- Application Form - If you would like to apply for this role, please submit an application providing evidence against criteria 2-6 in the Job Description.
More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description.
We may close the vacancy prior to the closing date stated due to a high volume of applications.
Please note that most job offers will be made at the minimum of the salary range, other than in exceptional circumstances.
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