CENTRAL LIBRARY DIRECTOR

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

CENTRAL LIBRARY DIRECTOR

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY

Central Administration Team

Number of Positions: 1

(additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $103,176

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CST on 04/11/2025

DUTIES: Responsible for direction of public service, programs and operations for the Harold Washington Library Center. Administers, plans, directs, and evaluates public service systems and facilities to meet present and future library service needs of Chicago's central library that support the library's mission, values, services, and strategy. Oversees personnel administration activities for employees including hiring, coaching, and mentoring. Directs staff in developing and achieving goals and objectives and quality standards for programs, services and personnel. Evaluates the quality of services and programs at the central library and ensures that community needs are being met. Monitors and responds to facility maintenance and building needs, including safety and security concerns. Serves as a member of the senior leadership team and represents the Chicago Public Library on committees, at professional meetings and civic functions. Confers and collaborates with other Library administrators on issues of common interest and the development and implementation of services and programs. Participates in the department's strategic planning and policy implementation efforts. Works with civic and community groups to determine and respond to neighborhood needs, interpret library trends, and promote increased use of library resources. Directs the development and maintenance of library collections to support educational, informational, cultural, and recreational interests of communities. Interprets and ensures implementation of library policies and procedures. Responds to and resolves patron concerns in a timely manner; Assists in the planning, development, and administration of workshops, seminars, and other training programs to promote staff growth and development. Resolves sensitive issues by making decisions that are inclusive of multiple perspectives. Prepares and submits reports and other written communications as required; Allocates and monitors budget activity to ensure fiscal responsibility as needed. Implements city and strategy goals and objectives. Upholds the Library's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Position requires on-call availability based on operational needs. Other duties as required. The role is fast paced and requires strong organizational and communication skills.

LOCATION: 400 S. State Street - Central Administration Team

DAYS OFF: Two days off per week

SHIFT: Monday through Friday 9:00 - 5:00. Will be required to work evenings and weekends/be on call based on operational needs

HOURS: 35 hours per week to be scheduled during normal unit hours

THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT FROM THE CAREER SERVICE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation from an accredited American Library Association college or university with a Master's degree in Library Science or an approved foreign credential evaluation plus seven years of professional library experience of which three years are in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected.

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor