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- Tasks: Lead a welcoming reception team and ensure excellent customer service at a prestigious library.
- Company: The London Library, a historic institution inspiring creativity for over 180 years.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive workplace, and opportunities for personal development.
- Why this job: Join a vibrant team and make a real impact on members' experiences in a literary haven.
- Qualifications: A-Level education or equivalent experience, with strong customer service and leadership skills.
- Other info: Flexible working environment with a commitment to equality and diversity.
The predicted salary is between 37500 - 37500 £ per year.
Closing date for applications: Wednesday 8th April 2026 12:00pm
Salary: £37,500 per annum, plus benefits
Location: St James’s Square, London SW1
Working hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 5.30pm, with occasional Saturday and evening work.
Interviews: 13th and 14th April 2026
Lead a welcoming reception team at one of the UK’s most prestigious libraries, ensuring every member and visitor feels valued.
For over 180 years, The London Library has stood as one of the UK's greatest literary institutions, inspiring creativity and ideas. Our esteemed members, past and present, include literary giants like Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, Virginia Woolf, and contemporary authors such as Kazuo Ishiguro and Sarah Waters. Our collection boasts around one million books, a vast eLibrary, and an invaluable postal loans service, making it a sanctuary for those who cherish the written word.
What we are looking for:
We are seeking a Reception Supervisor, responsible for the efficient running of the Library’s Reception ensuring an excellent customer service experience is provided to members of, and visitors to, the Library throughout our opening hours.
What you'll be doing:
- Manage our small team of Membership Assistants who cover the main entrance reception desk.
- Answer questions about membership and services in person, by phone and email, giving tours to prospective members and assisting with membership processing and administration.
- Liaise closely with the Membership and Marketing departments, ensuring that Reception staff are aware of current member offers and other activities relevant to the recruitment and retention of members.
Responsibilities and expectations:
- Oversee daily reception operations to ensure a welcoming, efficient, and consistent member experience.
- Monitor and support staff to deliver high standards of customer service.
- Collaborate with other departments to implement member offers and communications.
Qualifications and experience:
- Good general education to at least A-Level standard or qualified by experience, with a good level of literacy and numeracy (GCSE English and Maths at grades A-C or equivalent).
- Proven experience of supervising staff that provide excellent customer service in a customer-service environment, preferably in the charity, cultural or Not For Profit sector.
- Exceptional inter-personal and communication skills with the ability to convey information clearly and courteously, face to face, by telephone or email.
- Successful performance management experience, ensuring that you can lead and contribute effectively to the team and be able to organise your own and others work and time effectively.
Personal attributes include:
- Pleasant, approachable, welcoming, helpful, and responsive even under pressure.
- Being flexible, willing to turn a hand to whatever needs doing on occasion, whilst being patient, resilient and with a good-humoured approach to problem-solving is essential.
- You enjoy meeting and developing relationships with people and have a proven track record of defusing challenging situations.
Why Join Us?
The London Library offers a friendly, hardworking, and inclusive workplace where we strive to support the diverse needs of our team. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to equality and diversity. Specific adjustments and access needs can be discussed to make this role suitable for you.
If you’re passionate about delivering an exceptional Membership experience and want to use your skills to help drive the success of The London Library, we’d love to hear from you!
Please note:
- The Library welcomes applications from all sectors of the community. All applicants will be considered on the basis of their merits and abilities for the post.
- We can only consider candidates with the current right to work in the UK.
- We reserve the right to shorten or extend the closing date of any position where a high or low volume of suitable applications are received. Therefore, if you are interested in this role, an early application would be encouraged.
- We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries.
- Please make sure that you state in your application that you found this role via Creative Access.
Reception supervisor employer: Hachette UK
Contact Detail:
Hachette UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Reception supervisor
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the Library! Before your interview, spend some time exploring The London Library's website and social media. Familiarise yourself with their services and recent events so you can chat about them during your interview. It shows you're genuinely interested!
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Grab a friend or family member and do a mock interview. Focus on common questions for a Reception Supervisor role, like how you'd handle difficult customers or manage your team. This will help you feel more confident when it’s your turn in the hot seat.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your people skills! During the interview, share specific examples of how you've built relationships and resolved conflicts in previous roles. Highlighting your interpersonal skills is key for a position that revolves around customer service.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It’s a nice touch that keeps you fresh in their minds and shows your enthusiasm for the role. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
We think you need these skills to ace Reception supervisor
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Personality: When writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see who you are beyond your qualifications. A warm and approachable tone can really make your application stand out, especially for a role like Reception Supervisor.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to the specific role at The London Library. Highlight your experience in customer service and team management, and relate it back to how you can contribute to our welcoming environment. We love seeing how your skills align with our mission!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to read. Remember, we’re looking for someone who can communicate effectively, so show us your best writing skills right from the start!
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We encourage early applications as we may close the position sooner if we receive a high volume of suitable candidates. Plus, applying early gives you a better chance to stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hachette UK
✨Know the Library Inside Out
Before your interview, take some time to familiarise yourself with The London Library's history, its collection, and its mission. Being able to discuss specific authors or books that have been part of its legacy will show your genuine interest and passion for the role.
✨Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
As a Reception Supervisor, you'll need to demonstrate exceptional customer service abilities. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you successfully managed a team or resolved challenging situations. Highlight how you ensured a welcoming environment for members and visitors.
✨Prepare for Team Management Questions
Expect questions about your experience in supervising staff. Think about how you've motivated your team, handled performance issues, and maintained high standards of service. Be ready to share specific strategies you used to foster a positive team dynamic.
✨Emphasise Flexibility and Problem-Solving
The role requires a flexible approach and the ability to handle unexpected challenges. Prepare to discuss times when you had to adapt quickly or think on your feet. Show that you're not just a problem-solver but also someone who can maintain a good-humoured attitude under pressure.