JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Department: Community Library Services
Position Title: Chief Librarian, Senior Vice President
Posting Date: April 15, 2016
Closing Date: April 28, 2016
Location: Central
Open to: All qualified staff
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the direction of the President and CEO, the Chief Librarian, Senior Vice President creates and leads organizational strategy to deliver transformative library services and spaces to the Queens community. Responsible for directing all public library service operations, activities, and staff at all community library locations. Has direct oversight and management of resources and financial budgets as well as establishing business objectives for community libraries. Implements innovative ways to attract new users and continue to improve programs and services offered at the Library. Collaborates with the Leadership Team to resolve issues that may arise and communicates effectively to ensure internal and external customer satisfaction. Provides leadership of the strategic planning process to implement short and long-term work plans. The Chief Librarian, Senior Vice President is a critical member of the Senior Management Team.
Library Operations:
- Identifies strengths and challenges of library spaces, resources, programs, services, collections and skills relative to achieving customer satisfaction; identifies and responds to opportunities and challenges in the external environment.
- Provides leadership and oversight, as well as consults with other members of the Senior Management Team, for the design, delivery and sustainability of high impact, cost effective and scalable programs and services, which serve the full spectrum of Queens Library customers.
- Monitors key business indicators; establishes objectives and formulates strategies to achieve those objectives.
- Recommends and implements ways to improve and streamline Library operations.
- Develops and manages budgets; allocates resources in the most cost-effective manner to ensure maximum return on investment and to achieve quality customer service.
- Identifies needs in order to ensure that all resources are available to fund programmatic initiatives and operations.
- Identifies and pursues outreach opportunities with community and local organizations and serves as liaison to external partners.
- Supervises and mentors staff.
- Maintains a positive and productive relationship with union leadership.
Strategic Action:
- Formulates short and long- term system-wide plans consistent with and supportive of the Library’s strategic direction. Ensures work teams are meeting regularly and provides status updates and recommendations to the Leadership Team and other stakeholders.
- Leads all new public service initiatives from planning process through implementation. Responsible for the execution, implementation and sustainability of desired outcomes.
- Leads effort in creating and updating Library policies, procedures and practices to ensure a dynamic balance between organizational needs and optimal customer service.
- Is the primary contact for the New York State Library, New York State Department of Education and other oversight organizations for all programmatic, financial and reporting matters.
- Represents the President and Queens Library at government, industry and public forums.
Customer Service and Communication:
- Interprets, communicates, and reinforces the vision of customer satisfaction and services for the public in alignment with the Library’s mission statement, values, and strategic directions.
- Motivates, coaches, and mentors staff for successful delivery of high quality customer experience. Analyzes data to determine customer needs, based upon industry accepted standards of demographic surveys and best practices.
- Provides leadership to managers at all public service locations.
Staff Professional Development
- Supervises Talent Development to provide professional development tools and resources necessary for staff at all levels.
- Collaborates with the Human Resources Department to identify and recruit new talent to the organization.
- Encourages the continuous professional development of staff and conducts regularly scheduled performance management plans (PMPs).
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
An ALA accredited Masters of Library Science (MLS) degree and at least 10 years of professional experience in a large urban or academic library, five years of which should be managerial experience. Must be eligible for a New York State public librarian’s professional or provisional certificate. Strong written, verbal and organizational skills, as well as the ability to work well with diverse populations. Able to apply principles of leadership; analyze and interpret business information; formulate business strategies and plans; problem solve at an advanced level. Manage staff performance; resolve interpersonal and operational conflicts. Must have knowledge of the skills necessary to perform CLS jobs preferred. Knowledge of current theory, policy, and practice in the field of librarianship. Demonstrated experience building cross functional library teams. Must be a strong advocate for the essential roles that libraries play in a community.
THIS POSITION MAY BE ADVERTISED EXTERNALLY.
To Apply: Please email your resume and cover letter to: Jobs@queenslibrary.org and reference “Chief Librarian, SVP” in the subject line. Please note: this email account is reserved for Queens Library employees.
Interested external applicants should submit resumes to employment@queenslibrary.org, instead. Resumes will only be accepted by email.