UWCSEA Dover has a vacancy for a full time K-12 Research and Primary School Teacher Librarian from August 2025. This is an exciting opportunity for an innovative and passionate educator as Dover reimagines the place of our library in mission-aligned learning at UWCSEA.
The successful candidate will be a highly resourceful and forward-thinking collaborator, passionate about delivering exciting learning and a love for reading. The post holder will work directly with campus leadership and support staff, understanding their curriculum needs, proactively helping with the development of resources and working directly with student learners to develop literacy and information literacy skills.
Main Responsibilities
Vision, Strategy, and Culture
- Set a positive primary school library culture aligned with UWCSEA’s Mission, Values, and wellbeing principles.
- Audit library operations and work with the Head of Libraries to develop a strategic plan that positions Dover Libraries at the center of campus learning.
- Collaborate with curriculum leaders across the K-12 curriculum to ensure that students across all grade levels develop critical research competencies.
Resources
- Plan acquisitions and promotion of physical and digital resources, ensuring alignment with curriculum needs and student interests.
- Audit and develop the primary school library collections.
- With the Head of Libraries, ensure K-12 databases and digital resources meet the evolving needs of the learning community.
- Create and maintain online research guides, tutorials, and other digital resources to support literacy, research and inquiry-based learning.
Teaching and Learning
- Enhance inquiry-based learning and research skills by regularly meeting with and supporting grade-level or departmental leaders to design and deliver programs that develop students' information literacy, research skills, and digital fluency.
- Collaborate with the Head of Digital Literacy to embed the K-12 Information Literacy Curriculum.
- Support weekly class visits (read alouds, book talks) so that primary school students can check out books and learn about library resources.
- Plan author visits, workshops, book clubs, and other learning events for the primary school.
- Offer library orientation programs and readers’ advisory services to staff and students as needed.
Community Building and Networking
- Engage with parents through literacy and learning workshops.
- Develop relationships with other librarians, both locally and internationally, and participate in professional networks to share ideas and practices.
Library Supervision
- Oversee the daily operations of the primary library, ensuring a welcoming, student-centered environment. Offer support and guidance as needed to TAs on duty.
- Monitor library usage and work with the library team to maintain an appropriate tone and culture of use.
Professional Learning
- Model continuous professional growth and offer opportunities for library staff to engage in professional development.
- Mentor within the Professional Learning Programme (PLP) to support goals focused on research and information literacy.
- Support the development of physical and digital resources for staff professional learning, and deliver in-house training where needed.
- Support professional book club events like Books and Burritos.
Expectations and Standards
Person Specifications
- Master’s degree in Library Science or Information Management, or a related degree and a recognized teaching qualification are essential.
- 3+ years of library experience.
- Proven experience in K-12 digital literacy would be a distinct advantage.
- Experience building a reading culture.
- High levels of intercultural competence, flexibility, and a collaborative style, with experience working in inclusive and diverse teams.
- Excitement and enthusiasm for lifelong learning, design thinking, and providing quality feedback on learning.
- Experience with tools such as Google Apps for Education, Follett Destiny, and other learning technologies.
- Willing and eager to participate in the five key elements of a UWCSEA education: Academics; Activities; Outdoor Education; Personal and Social Education; and Service.
- The College expects a significant weekly contribution to Activities and/or Service.
- The College expects that teachers will participate enthusiastically in the curricular Outdoor Education experiences that are relevant to their students and will also occasionally volunteer for holiday Outdoor Education trips.
- Our teachers actively promote the College’s Mission, Educational Goal, Values and Learning Principles through their enthusiastic and full participation in College life and their supportive engagement with students, colleagues and parents.
- A commitment to diversity and inclusion is essential alongside a willingness to adapt and develop pedagogy to meet the needs of our learners.
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.
