Books Services Coordinator

Location: National Support Centre, London SE1

Contract: Part Time, Fixed term Maternity cover

Salary: £28,000 gross per annum full time equivalent

Closing Date: 1 May 2026

The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is the leading maritime charity for youth development and lifelong learning. We are a vibrant and growing charity inspiring young people to achieve their potential through challenge and nautical adventure and also enabling seafarers and maritime professionals to realise their potential through learning and career development. Working with our employees, cadets, and volunteers, we have built a strong vision and five-year Future Ready strategy to meet the growing demand for what we provide, both for young people, seafarers and maritime professionals – and the thousands who aspire to be the sea cadets and marine professionals of the future. It is also about equipping them to achieve their potential and thrive in a rapidly changing world, while growing our charity to benefit even more people – including those from under-represented or marginalised groups.

We are currently looking for a Books Services Coordinator to join our team.

About the role

The purposes of the Book Services Coordinator role is to assist the Books and Library Manager in facilitating the charity’s crew’ libraries service and specialist maritime book sales and also to administer all processes and systems involved within Books and library services.

Responsibilities

The following is a list of the principal (but not exhaustive) tasks of the post holder:

a. Administration of the functions and systems involved in providing an effective and efficient exchange hardback library or recyclable paperback library service to ships and maritime installations

b. Administrating book order system, and procurement process for all merchandise necessary for the efficient functioning of the Book Services operation.

c. Updating and maintaining the Bookshop website with accurate information and prices.

d. Assisting in the management of the fulfilment of all sales of books/media to customers and external agencies (On-line bookshop, telephone, mail and “walk-in”), and ensure the maintenance of customer service standards

e. Administration of the Library and Book stock control system

Requirements

• Experience working in book buying/selling/procurement in a customer focussed environment
• Experience of using book stock control and freight systems
• Ability to work unsupervised, make decisions and take responsibility.
• Experience in handling parcel deliveries and packaging goods for shipment

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave per annum increasing with length of service
• Hybrid working for many roles
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Private medical insurance
• Generous pension (employer contribution up to 10%)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling
• Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential.

Additional Information

MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion really matters to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.

We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC’s values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre-employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire. 

All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo pre-employment checks including a criminal record check.