Librarian - Volunteer & Workforce Development

Overview

This role will be responsible for the delivery and continued development of our existing volunteering offer alongside managing workforce development across the service.

Volunteers are vital to the effective delivery of Kirklees Libraries and they have been supporting the service for over 10 years. This post will play an important role in ensuring sustainability of our volunteering offer. This element of the role is very much location and community based, creating connections, building relationships and advocating for volunteering and the service.

As a diverse and multifaceted workforce, it is essential the Kirklees Libraries have a comprehensive and flexible training and development program that encompasses the differing needs of teams and individuals, staff wellbeing, supports succession planning and ensures our customers and communities experience a high quality, effective service. This post will support the provision and ongoing improvement of workforce development.

Key responsibilities

• Effectively promote the service's volunteering opportunities, increasing awareness and advocating for the value of volunteering
• Support the maintenance of a positive attitude towards volunteering within the service
• Create excellent relationships with staff, volunteers and Friends groups, providing effective communication channels, attending meetings and delivering activities
• Create new and diverse volunteer roles responding to need
• Act as initial contact for volunteering and training related enquiries/issues
• Embed a culture of learning, continuous improvement, progression and support succession planning
• Deliver an effective training program across all elements of the workforce, regularly reviewing need through engagement
• Seek opportunities to work with other services, partners and communities to maximise volunteering and training opportunities
• Keep up to date with local, regional and national priorities and initiatives and seek out innovation and best practice
• Ensure policies and procedures are regularly reviewed and updated

Skills / experience

• Experience of working within libraries essential
• Experience of working with volunteers preferred
• Experience of planning and delivering training preferred
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with an ability to develop effective relationships and work collaboratively
• Ability to work independently, use initiative and problem solve
• Motivation to constantly improve and develop services, proactively seeking out opportunities and best practice

Work Environment

This role is primarily an outreach role working in locations and communities across the whole of Kirklees but you will also spend time in the office. You need to be able to work flexibly in terms of location and working hours as you may need to attend/deliver meetings, activities and events across the whole of the service and on evenings and weekends.

Interviews will take place on Thursday 2nd April 2026