The Church of England
Associate Head of Lambeth Palace Library (Innovation and Delivery)
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Job Description
Lambeth Palace Library is the historic library and archive of the Archbishops of Canterbury and the principal repository for the archives of the national bodies of the Church of England. Founded in 1610, it is freely open for public use and serves as a research centre specialising in church history, with wide-ranging archive, manuscript and printed collections dating from the ninth century to the present day, including modern archives and digital records.
The Library’s vision is to collect, preserve and make accessible the memory of the Church of England, so that its history can be explored and enjoyed by all. Alongside its long-standing strengths, the Library is developing new ways of improving access to collections and supporting research, learning and engagement.
This is a new senior role. Reporting directly to the Head of Lambeth Palace Library, the postholder will ensure that cross-Library programmes are well coordinated and delivered. This includes leading programmes and projects, supporting colleagues in complex work, and overseeing areas such as digital development, access and outreach. Working closely with the Head of Lambeth Palace Library, the postholder will help translate strategic priorities into practical delivery across the organisation.
The Library comprises around 35–40 staff working across four core teams: Printed Books, Archives, Collections Care, and Operations. The Associate Head will lead a fifth, specialist team with defined functional responsibilities, including digital preservation, imaging services and inclusive cataloguing practice, while also coordinating work that sits across and between the Library’s core teams.
This is a predominantly office-based role. Regular on-site attendance is expected to support effective leadership, collaboration, and the delivery of in-person services. Hybrid working is available, with the opportunity to work from home typically one day per week.
The closing date for this role is 06 September 2026.
Interviews will be held on 24 September in Lambeth Palace Library.
Responsibilities
This role combines senior leadership, programme delivery and people leadership. The postholder will operate at a senior level within the Library and the wider National Church Institutions, leading a small specialist team, coordinating cross-Library activity, making a significant contribution to the development of strategy, and taking responsibility for ensuring organisational priorities are delivered effectively.
Leadership, governance and delivery
- Provide senior leadership for programmes and areas of work, working in partnership with colleagues to help set direction, prioritise activity and ensure delivery.
- Take senior responsibility for areas of work that span teams and carry organisational, operational or reputational risk, ensuring appropriate escalation, assurance and mitigation.
- Support major cross-Library initiatives such as accreditation and the implementation of new systems, working alongside professional leads where appropriate.
- Act on behalf of the Head of Lambeth Palace Library when required, with delegated authority to provide assurance, support decision-making and represent the Library at an appropriate senior level.
Innovation, access and digital development
- Lead the strategic development of digital preservation across the National Church Institutions, including defining scope, governance, delivery approach and assurance.
- Lead and support planning for improved access and discovery, including digital programmes, digitisation, and how collections are described and presented online.
- Provide senior oversight of inclusive and responsible description across catalogues and systems, including the treatment of sensitive or historic language in catalogue descriptions, ensuring an appropriate balance between access, context and care for readers.
- Work in partnership with the Head of Lambeth Palace Library to shape and deliver the Library’s strategy, ensuring it is translated into clear priorities and delivery.
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People leadership and culture
- Lead a specialist team and build strong working relationships across teams to support effective collaboration.
- Build and develop the team over time including shaping future roles, as resources allow.
- Work with senior colleagues across the Library to encourage constructive collaboration, shared responsibility and confidence in delivery.
- Contribute to a working environment characterised by respect, compassion, collaboration and integrity.
Outreach, exhibitions and engagement
- Coordinate a coherent approach to the Library's public-facing activity, working with colleagues to ensure a clear and consistent voice that reflects the Library's values and liaising with communications teams where appropriate.
- Lead the development of governance, planning and a regular cadence of activity for the Library’s outreach, exhibition and engagement work, working with colleagues across and beyond the National Church Institutions.
- Take a leading role in developing exhibitions processes and documentation.
- Represent the Library in relevant internal or external forums as required.
Operational responsibility
- Take responsible operational decisions with material impact on services, people and reputation, including in response to unexpected circumstances.
- Participate in out-of-hours working associated with the role, including occasional events, weekly late openings (up to 18 per year) and Saturday duties (up to 12 per year).
- The postholder will undertake other duties as reasonably required, consistent with the seniority and scope of the role.
Qualifications
We are seeking a senior professional with strong judgement, delivery experience and people leadership, motivated by the opportunity to support an internationally significant library and archive. The role requires sustained operation at senior level, making a significant contribution to the Library's strategic development and exercising leadership, judgement and delivery across a complex and high-profile environment.
The Successful Candidate Will Be Able To Demonstrate
- A proven track record of delivering substantial work within large or multifaceted organisations, operating with a high degree of autonomy and accountability.
- Ability to operate credibly and diplomatically with senior stakeholders, committees and governance bodies, influencing outcomes and providing assurance.
- Strong programme and project delivery skills, including prioritising competing demands and maintaining momentum.
- Experience of leading and supporting staff, with a clear commitment to inclusive, compassionate and values-led leadership.
- Ability to operate calmly under pressure, exercise sound judgement and take responsibility for decisions with organisational consequences.
- Confidence working alongside technical and specialist colleagues, including engaging with areas such as digital preservation, systems, compliance or catalogue sensitivity, without needing to be a hands-on specialist.
- A collaborative and open approach to leadership, with a commitment to sharing information, communicating clearly and working transparently with colleagues.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues, build trust and advocate for services, collections and colleagues.
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Desirable
- Experience working in or alongside libraries, archives, collections-based organisations, research organisations or related heritage institutions.
- Experience of leading digital programmes, digital preservation initiatives, funding applications, or organisational change.
Additional Information
The postholder will report directly to the Head of Lambeth Palace Library. The role includes line management responsibility for four posts, including:
- Imaging Services lead
- Two Digital Preservation roles
- A specialist role focused on catalogue sensitivity
About Us
Please note that you will not be able to view the role description after the closing date. We suggest that you save a copy of this page before you submit your application.
About The NCIs
The National Church Institutions comprises a wide variety of teams, professions and functions that support the mission and ministries of the Church of England in its vision to be a church, centred on Jesus Christ, for the whole nation - a church that is simpler, humbler, bolder.
We Include. You Belong.
Our Belonging and Inclusion Strategy aims for everyone in the National Church Institutions (NCIs) to feel that they belong, and are valued for who they are and what they contribute. Together, our people contribute in different ways towards our common purpose, whichever NCI they work in and whatever their background.
Living out our values in all that we do, we:
- Strive for Excellence
- Show Compassion
- Respect others
- Collaborate
- Act with Integrity
We believe our commitment to belonging and inclusion fuels our progress and drives us forward. The NCIs are a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We welcome applications from people of all faiths and of no faith. We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people who share our values. Even if you have never thought about working for us before, if you have the skills and experience we’re looking for then we would like to hear from you.
Use of AI in your application
We appreciate that you may want to use AI tools to help you with your application. We're happy for you to use AI to come up with ideas and help structure your thoughts, but you shouldn't use AI to fabricate information or write your whole application for you. One of our values is integrity, and although we want you to demonstrate your best self, we don't want an AI-generated persona. If you simply copy and paste AI-generated content into your application, this will reduce your chances of success.
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