Relief Mobile Library Officer

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Bury Resource, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 7AY or Waterloo centre, Leiston, Suffolk IP16 4HE or Saxon House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 0UH - Community based
• Salary: £14.82 per hour
• Hours: No guaranteed hours. As and when required
• Contract: Casual contract

At Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Community Libraries we are focused on making a meaningful difference to communities across Suffolk. How? By listening to our people learning from what they say and creating a culture of mutual respect, where everyone works together to achieve great things. As a Relief Mobile Library Officer you’ll be as keen to collaborate and build a bright future as we are. So, to make a positive impact, connect with us and connect with a fantastic career.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

As a Relief Mobile Library Officer, you will play a key role in delivering a vital outreach service that connects communities across Suffolk with access to books, information and support. You will drive a mobile library vehicle to a range of locations, taking ownership of the day-to-day running of the service at each stop and creating a welcoming, inclusive environment for all customers. Acting as a visible ambassador for Suffolk Community Libraries, you will provide excellent customer service, respond to a wide range of needs, and promote reading and community engagement. Working both independently and as part of a wider outreach team, you will ensure the safe operation of the vehicle, manage stock and resources, collect service data, and use initiative to provide a flexible and high-quality service that meets the needs of rural communities.

You will need

• a strong commitment to delivering excellent customer service
• confidence communicating with a wide range of people including customers, colleagues and community groups
• ability to work independently and as part of a team, using initiative to solve problems
• experience or understanding of working with digital tools such as Microsoft Office
• good organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks and manage responsibilities
• awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion and the ability to respond to different customer needs
• a calm and professional approach when dealing with challenging situations
• attention to detail, including handling cash and maintaining accurate records
• flexibility to work across different locations, including evenings or weekends if required
• a Category C1 driving licence (essential for driving the mobile library vehicle).

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP), which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.

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 will work as a team of Outreach workers delivering our mobile Library offering to Suffolk communities. The team collaborates closely with library staff, volunteers, community groups, and other council services to deliver safe, welcoming, and well-maintained vehicles for all users. By delivering the day-to-day operations, the team helps promote inclusive access to learning, information, and community engagement to our most rural parts of the county.

Empowering Everyone

We are big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We are 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 Elise Jeffries for a casual conversation. You can contact them by emailing: elise.jeffries@suffolk.gov.uk

How to apply

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

1. Tell us about a time when you delivered excellent customer service to people with different needs. What did you do and what was the outcome?
2. Describe a situation where you used digital tools or systems to support your work and provide an efficient service.
3. Tell us about your experience of driving large vehicles, and the health and safety procedures you followed to ensure a safe environment for yourself and others.
4. Tell us about a situation where you had to deal with a challenging customer or incident while working alone. How did you handle it and what was the outcome?

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.

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at: recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 2 July 2026.

Interview date: 10 July 2026.

Promoted as SPJ (Standard Plus Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

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