Senior Manager for Libraries and Place Making

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Job Description

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX - Hybrid working
• Salary: £72,329 per annum (pro rata if part time)
• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
• Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, we're reimagining what local government can achieve. As a Senior Manager for Libraries and Place Making in the Public Health and Communities directorate, you'll help shape Suffolk's future through innovation, collaboration, and community impact. If you're ready to make a real difference, we're ready to support your journey.

Your role and responsibilities

You'll be leading and shaping a diverse portfolio of functions that collectively contribute to healthier, more inclusive, and resilient communities across Suffolk. As a Senior Manager, you'll provide strategic oversight, ensure effective delivery, and drive the continued development of four key service areas:

• Creative Health - Championing the integration of arts, culture, and creativity into health and wellbeing strategies, strengthening Suffolk's cultural infrastructure
• Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) Sector - Support robust VCFSE infrastructure that underpins community resilience and collaboration
• Housing, Planning and Natural Environment - Leading healthy place-making by influencing planning policy, housing strategies, and environmental design including Local Plans and Section 106/CIL
• Library Services - Oversee the day to day running of the service and support the service to evolve to meet community needs, including digital inclusion, health literacy, and positioning libraries as key community assets

You'll play a central part in developing services and assets by place - working across multiple departments internally and externally with partners to improve wellbeing outcomes across Suffolk.

You will need

We're looking for a strategic leader who can navigate complex challenges and drive meaningful change across services.

You'll have proven experience leading major service improvements in local government or similar large organisations. We need someone who understand service transformation and can manage complex programmes that make a real difference to communities.

We hope you'll bring:

• Strong track record in senior leadership roles with evidence of innovation (Library knowledge/experience desirable)
• Experience managing budgets and resources in complex organisations
• Success in multi-partner negotiations that improved public services
• Political awareness and ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (Word).

If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

You'll be joining the Public Health and Communities directorate, where our mission is 'working in partnership to build the foundations for Healthy People, Healthy Places and Healthy Futures, and safer, stronger, more resilient communities in Suffolk'.

Our team culture is built on collaboration and innovation. We work as part of a wider Suffolk system, partnering with other council directorates, local communities, health partners, and the voluntary sector to improve outcomes for everyone.

Our office days are usually on Wednesday (Senior Leadership Team) plus two additional days that can be agreed flexibly. We practice hybrid working and value the balance this brings to delivering excellent services.

Empowering Everyone

We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We're always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Molly Thomas-Meyer for a casual conversation. You can reach them by emailing molly.thomas-meyer@suffolk.gov.uk.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word).

Step 2 - Click 'Apply Now' to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.

1. Describe a time when you led a high-profile strategic initiative that improved outcomes for a community or organisation. What was your vision, how did you gain buy-in from stakeholders, and what measurable impact did it have?

2. Tell us about an innovative approach you introduced to tackle a complex challenge in a public service or large organisation. How did you test and implement it, what barriers did you overcome, and what long-term improvements resulted?

3. Describe a major transformation programme you led from concept to delivery. How did you plan the change, support staff and stakeholders through the transition, and measure its success?

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date: 11.30pm, 25 September 2025.

Interview date: 7 and 8 October 2025.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

About Us

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We're driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).