HMRC - Senior Librarian

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 19th August 2024

About SOLS:
Across Solicitor's Office and Legal Services (SOLS) we provide legal services to the whole of HMRC.
This includes:
• The conduct of independent reviews of decisions made by HMRC which are requested by customers under the legislative provisions.
• The conduct of tribunal and civil litigation on a full range of services.
• Work on new legislation.
• Drafting of statutory instruments and other legal documents.
• Legal advice to ExCom and staff.

SOLS also provides technical accountancy and forensic services to HMRC, are head of the Compliance Accountants’ and Insolvency Professions as well as handling Ministerial Correspondence and Freedom of Information requests for HMRC.

We are pleased to be able to offer this senior librarian post, providing the successful candidate with an exciting opportunity to work in the SOLS Knowledge Management (KM) and Library team.

The KM and Library team is part of the SOLS People & Professionalism (P&P) team which provides advice and support to the SOLS’ business including Knowledge Management, Library services, Learning, Specialist Recruitment, Professionalism, Staff Engagement and Diversity & Inclusion.

Job Description
The librarian has primary responsibility for the day-to-management of the SOLS legal library.

Manage a quality library service.

Working to the KM and Library senior leadership team, you will provide an efficient and effective library service to SOLS, predominantly focusing on supporting colleagues providing legal services. You will have continuous improvement at the forefront of your mind. You will also be required to develop related strategies, plans, and policies.

Stakeholder engagement.

Your stakeholders will be at all levels up to and including the SOLS Director General and his SLT so you must be comfortable and confident in dealing with people.  There will also be external stakeholders including other government departments (e.g., Government Legal Department, The National Archives) and external subscription service providers, publishers, and professional organisations.

Exploit digital products and AI.

You will monitor advances in digital products and technology, especially AI, help pilot and exploit this to enhance the library service offering, demonstrating value for money and business benefits.

Upskill others.

You will develop and deliver learning products to upskill staff e.g., in developing legal research skills.  You will develop the Library Team, taking over line management in due course and ensuring processes and library knowledge and information is developed and maintained.
So, if you can work as part of a small team; are adaptable and enthusiastic about your work and enjoy supporting others we would encourage you to apply.

This vacancy is only available at the specified locations, alternative locations are not available.
Your office location is contractual so if you are successful, there is an expectation that you will attend that office location as required by the business (currently a 60% in the office expectation). You need to consider how you will meet this requirement before you apply and discuss any concerns with the vacancy holder before accepting any role.

There is an expectation that there will be some, possibly frequent at times, travel to other SOLS locations.

Person specification

Key duties, which are subject to change depending on workflow and business priorities are listed below.  

• Develop and implement a service strategy, business plans and policies for the SOLS legal library.


• Act as the recognised and visible authority within SOLS for library services, providing expert advice and recommendations to senior leadership and demonstrating the organisational benefits of investing in library services.


• Actively promote library services and products and maximise usage of these, particularly paid for subscription services.


• Manage the digital and hard copy legal library service including:
  
  
  
  • oversight of collections,
  
  
  • acquisitions,
  
  
  • licensing requirements,
  
  
  • understanding of library management systems,
  
  
  • cataloguing and classifying information,
  
  
  • and the library budget.
  
  
  
  


• Lead the development of legal research skills and deliver wider library user education and engagement across SOLS.


• Line management responsibility for the two library staff, demonstrating effective leadership in support of their ongoing professional development.


• Ensure effective and efficient use of limited library resources and seek opportunities for continuous improvement.


• Horizon scan and evaluate library products and services, including uses of AI, to ensure SOLS supports user needs whilst demonstrating value for money.


• Develop and maintain links within HMRC and the wider library profession (for example in the Government Legal Department, the National Archives, law firms and the GKIM profession).

Essential Criteria : Confirmation that you have either:

• A degree or postgraduate qualification (preferably CILIP accredited) in Library or Information Studies or an equivalent, or


• Demonstrable experience of working in a professional library e.g., in law, tax or education.

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service


• Communicating and Influencing


• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

Technical Question - You will be asked to deliver a 5 - minute presentation (-further details will be provided to candidates invited to interview).

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,618, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £11,506 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

 We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

 Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 27% of their salary.