Coordinator Library Operations

Wollongong City Council; Wollongong City Council; Hybrid; AUD 123,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

35-hour work week

Rostered days off

Five weeks annual leave

Job summary

Wollongong City Libraries, part of the Wollongong City Council, seeks an experienced library operations leader to deliver frontline and home library services across multiple sites. You will lead a diverse team, support Team Leaders and guide the library through a period of growth with a strong customer focus.

You will manage operations across locations, support change initiatives, and collaborate with community stakeholders while ensuring an inclusive, safe environment for staff and customers.

Qualifications

• You hold a degree or higher qualification in a relevant field.
• Experience working within a library service environment.
• Ability to lead teams in busy, customer-focused settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support library employees and Team Leaders to deliver high-quality, customer-focused services across multiple library locations.
• Coordinate day-to-day library operations, ensuring services remain responsive and inclusive.
• Support frontline library operations, community programs and home library services.
• Build a positive team culture through coaching, mentoring and capability development.
• Navigate complex people matters and workplace challenges with professionalism and fairness.
• Collaborate with colleagues to contribute to strategic initiatives and service improvements.
• Support change initiatives and help teams adapt to evolving service models and expectations.
• Monitor service delivery outcomes and apply insights to improve customer experience.
• Foster relationships with community groups, stakeholders and Council teams.

Skills

Library operations

People leadership

Stakeholder management

Change management

Customer service

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor degree

Job description

At Wollongong City Council, we continuously strive to create an Extraordinary Wollongong for our community. We focus on the delivery of exceptional services, infrastructure and facilities for our community. Our aim is to work toward the community’s goals in the Our Wollongong Our Future Community Strategic Plan 2035.

Wollongong is a great place to work, live and play! Together, our responsibility is to create an inclusive community where everyone is welcome, valued and belongs. Our strength is the diversity of our people.

We lead with courage, openness and curiosity and believe our employees are the key to our success. Learn more about us here.

The Opportunity

You will play a key leadership role in delivering library services that connect communities, support lifelong learning and create positive customer experiences across Wollongong's southern library network. Working as part of the library leadership team, you'll lead operational service delivery across multiple locations, support Team Leaders and employees, and contribute to the broader direction of Wollongong City Libraries.

This is an opportunity to bring your library operations expertise, people leadership skills and sound judgement to a role where no two days are the same. You'll support a diverse team delivering frontline library services, home library services, community programs and customer experiences that make a genuine difference to the community. You'll work closely with employees, library leaders, community stakeholders and Council colleagues while helping guide the team through an exciting period of change and growth.

This is a 35 hour per week, term contract position for 1 year with the possibility of extension, offering a salary from $122,715 up to $138,237 per annum plus superannuation. (Salary will be assessed based on skills, experience and qualifications.)

As library services are delivered across multiple locations, you will be willing and able to work across library sites within the Wollongong Local Government Area as operationally required. Occasional evening and weekend work may also be required. Applicants should also be physically capable of undertaking the duties outlined in the Position Description.

This is a child-related position and requires a NSW Working With Children Check.

Under Part 2, Section 6 of the Child Protection (Working With Children) Act 2012, this position has been designated as requiring a paid Working With Children Check.

What you will be doing

• Lead and support library employees and Team Leaders to deliver high-quality, customer-focused services across multiple library locations.
• Coordinate day-to-day library operations, ensuring services remain responsive, inclusive and aligned with community needs.
• Support the delivery of services including frontline library operations, community programs and home library services.
• Build a positive team culture through coaching, mentoring, performance support and capability development.
• Navigate complex people matters and workplace challenges with professionalism, fairness and sound judgement.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Wollongong City Libraries to contribute to strategic initiatives, projects and service improvements.
• Support change initiatives and help teams adapt to evolving service models and community expectations.
• Monitor service delivery outcomes, analyse information and apply insights to improve customer experience and operational performance.
• Foster strong relationships with community groups, stakeholders, library partners and Council teams.
• Promote a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for customers, employees and volunteers.

About you

You are an experienced library operations leader who enjoys supporting people, solving problems and delivering services that positively impact the community.

You hold a degree or higher qualification in a relevant field and bring experience working within a library service environment. You understand what effective library operations look like and can confidently lead teams in busy, customer-focused settings.

You are equally comfortable supporting employee development, managing performance matters and making informed operational decisions. You build trust through your communication style, adapt your approach to different situations and remain focused on achieving positive outcomes for both customers and employees.

You also bring:

• Experience leading and developing teams in a library, community, customer service or similar service delivery environment.
• Confidence managing operational priorities across multiple locations or service areas.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills.
• Experience supporting teams through change, challenges and evolving service requirements.
• A collaborative approach and commitment to working as part of a broader leadership team.
• Sound judgement and the ability to navigate complex employee, customer and operational matters.
• A genuine commitment to inclusion, belonging and exceptional customer experience.
• Embed child safe practices in library services and programs, supporting Council’s commitment to being a child safe organisation
• Alignment with Council's values of Respect, Integrity, OneTeam, Sustainability and Courage.

Why you’ll love working at Wollongong City Council!

• True work-life balanceWe know you work hard, and we make sure that effort is rewarded with real flexibility. Our hybrid work options, flex-time, and rostered days off mean you can maintain balance while delivering great outcomes.
• Great working conditionsEnjoy a 35-hour work week or a 9-day fortnight with a regular rostered day off (RDO).
• Career growth and recognition

We are committed to supporting your personal and professional development. Our initiatives include a reward and recognition program, corporate learning opportunities, study assistance, and leadership development programs to help you grow and succeed.

• Generous leave provisionsBenefit from five weeks of annual leave per year (pro rata) and access long service leave after just five years.
• Health, safety, and wellbeing
  We prioritise a safe workplace for everyone, every day, everywhere. Our wellbeing programs support mental, physical and social wellbeing of our people to be at their best and include an Employee Assistance Program, skin and hearing checks and discounted gym memberships.
• A vibrant social cultureJoin our Social Club for monthly activities, an annual trivia night, and fantastic Christmas events!

Participate and engage in meaningful work, and contribute to our extraordinary community, where together we make a difference.

Applications close 11:59pm, Sunday 25 October 2026.