UWCSEA has a vacancy for August 2026 at its East Campus for a Head of Libraries - Teacher Librarian.

The Head of Libraries is a dual-role leader and educator responsible for both the strategic evolution and operational excellence of the East Campus libraries. This role centres on our vision: to connect our community with the world through pages, people, and perspectives.

We have two libraries on East Campus, and the successful candidate will take over the role of Grade 6-12 Teacher Librarian in addition to leading our campus-wide library provision. The postholder will be responsible for both operational and strategic leadership, ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of all library functions, whilst championing innovative approaches to school librarianship and enhancing libraries into future-forward hubs that support the holistic learning programme.

The Head of Libraries oversees a pivotal component of our commitment to Teaching for DEIJ: the curation of our library collection. This ensures that diversity in the collection extends beyond representation to include intellectual, cultural, historical, and ideological breadth, and that our key commitment to deliberate diversity is reflected in the Library collection. A second major key focus is leading the community through the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), ensuring the library remains the heart of inquiry, academic integrity, and human connection.

Core Vision & Values

The Head of Libraries will lead the team in delivering these strategic pillars:

• Curate: Through collaborative and thoughtful design, we curate high-quality, relevant, and future-forward collections and spaces.
• Advocate: Advocate for the rights of readers to discover their own stories.
• Cultivate: We cultivate diverse services and resources to enhance human connection, empowering learners to explore and engage with the world around them.

Main Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Innovation

• Visionary Strategy: Iterate upon and implement our compelling vision for the future of East Campus libraries as innovative learning spaces.
• AI Integration & Leadership: Lead the campus in navigating the intersection of AI and information literacy. Proactively explore how AI can enhance research and curation while developing frameworks for its ethical use.
• Innovation Advocacy: Drive innovative approaches to library services to explore new ways of connecting people and ideas.
• Inter-Campus Collaboration: Establish a strong strategic partnership with the Dover Campus Library Team to ensure alignment and shared professional growth across the College.
• Engage with our parent community - ensuring the Library is a central feature of our campus community.

Teaching, Learning & Academic Integrity

• Academic Integrity: Act as support person for our community as we seek to maintain the highest levels of academic integrity. Lead the development of resources that help students navigate citation, attribution, and the ethical use of information.
• Professional Learning: Lead professional development for staff, empowering teachers to integrate advanced research skills and innovative library resources into their subjects.
• Coaching: Collaborate and support Learning Coaches and Heads of Department in ensuring high levels of engagement with meaningful literature is embedded within units. Coach and support teachers and students with specific requirements of TOK and the Extended Essay.

Curation & Space Design

• Future-Forward Collections: Oversee the curation of a diverse, high-quality collection (physical and digital) that reflects a wide array of perspectives and prepares students for a complex future.
• Space Evolution: Collaboratively design library environments that are inclusive, flexible, and conducive to both deep focus and human connection.
• Discovery: Ensure the library is a space where readers feel empowered to discover their own stories and the stories of others.

Operational Management

• Team Effectiveness: Foster a culture of creativity, high expectations, and professional wellbeing.
• Professional Support: Line-manage and mentor the library team,
• Budget & Resource Stewardship: Manage library budgets and resources with transparency and strategic alignment to campus goals.
• Communication: Set a tone of effective, proactive communication with all stakeholders (students, parents, and staff).

Expectations and Standards

• Follow the UWCSEA Professional Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Code of Conduct.
• Teach in line with the UWCSEA Teacher Standards

Person Specifications

• Masters degree in Library Science/Information Management OR a degree with a professional teaching qualification and significant library leadership experience.
• Proven track record of driving innovation in a library or educational setting.
• At least 5 years of experience in school libraries with a track record of successful leadership and innovative practice.

Knowledge & Skills

• Information Literacy: Deep understanding of the evolving role of AI in education and its implications for information literacy and academic integrity.
• Collaborative Style: Outstanding interpersonal skills; a "listener" who leads by influence and builds consensus.
• Adaptability: The ability to thrive and remain innovative in a rapidly evolving work environment.
• UWCSEA Values: A commitment to the UWC mission, including a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Leadership Capabilities

• Vision and Strategy: Supports the Mission and Values of UWCSEA through clear goal setting and planning.
• Innovation: Displays and encourages creative approaches to curriculum planning and library services.
• Empowerment: Leads by influence, fostering an environment where team members' creativity can flourish.
• Personal Attributes: Demonstrates honesty, integrity, humility, and a good sense of humour.
• Commitment to Professional Development: Demonstrate curiosity and a deep commitment to development of yourself and your team.

Applications

The UWC Mission is to make education a force to unite people, nations and culture for peace and a sustainable future. We are committed to creating a community in which all members feel safe and secure, and know that their authentic selves and individual differences are accepted with respect and care. At UWCSEA, we acknowledge that diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) is an ongoing and evolving process and strive to create and sustain a sense of belonging for all members of our community, past, present and future. All qualified applicants, including those who identify as a part of marginalized group(s) and individuals with (dis)abilities are all encouraged to apply. Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the students in our care and expects all applicants to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices and all appointments are subject to interview, satisfactory references, identity and criminal record checks.