Assistant Director, Libraries - Austin Public Library

Location: USA - TX - Austin

The City of Austin is accepting applications for the position of Assistant Director of Libraries! Under the direction of the Director of Libraries, this position is accountable for the effective delivery of public library services to the residents of the City of Austin, ensuring the efficient management, operation, and strategic alignment of all Public Services Divisions. These divisions include Central Library Services, Branch Library Services, Cataloging & Collection Management, the Office of Programs and Partnerships, and the Austin History Center. The Assistant Director of Public Services works with the Director in planning, administering, and evaluating all Library resources and services.

Qualifications:

• Graduation with a Master's degree from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited college or university, plus six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in the library field, including four (4) years of experience in an upper management capacity.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Excellent leadership and management skills, including a successful track record of managing library services through significant change. Must be familiar with current professional trends and issues in public library services and management.
• Demonstrated experience in recruiting, developing and mentoring a diverse staff that reflects the communities served by APL and experience removing barriers to advancement for people of color and other marginalized groups.
• Demonstrated experience developing supervision and management expectations. Ability to both formally and informally coach direct reports and other staff within the library system.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including written and formal communications, presentation skills, skill with group and team dynamics, and the ability to motivate, persuade and negotiate with diverse individuals and groups.
• Demonstrated experience in equity analysis of library programs and services and an understanding of race and social equity issues. Ability to apply this analysis to affect change in program and service deliverables from an equity perspective.
• Knowledge and experience communicating the Library’s intellectual freedom role to patrons, partners, stakeholders, and staff. Ability to recognize, communicate and lead staff through the inherent tension between upholding intellectual freedom principles while working towards the elimination of institutionalized racial and social inequities.
• Knowledge of and experience with principles and methods of organizational administration, including staffing administration, budgeting analysis, communications and records management. Ability to apply such principles, policies and procedures in the performance of job duties.
• Knowledge and understanding of personnel and labor relations principles, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of organizational theory and various leadership models. Demonstrated experience of innovation in library programs and services and experience with change management, project management and distributive leadership models.
• Knowledge of and experience in implementing, providing and evaluating a broad range of library services such as reference, information, reader’s advisory, outreach and engagement, and program and service design. Ability to assess and recommend new and improved policies, processes and procedures relating to these functional areas.
• General knowledge of collection development, analysis and maintenance.

DUTIES, FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Programs and Organizational Development: Continually assess the public’s needs and interests, and work collaboratively with administration, managers, staff, external stakeholders and the community to develop responsive program and service strategies of the future that meet traditional and non-traditional use patterns in new and innovative ways. Work in conjunction with other city departments, the community and external stakeholders in creating an organization free of institutional racism.

Staff Development and Administration: Develop and implement staffing models and plans to support service goals. Provide general staffing administration and support managers in the coordination and supervision of staff. Participate in and/or support the recruitment, selection, and on boarding of new staff members. Engage in team building and model and develop the competencies of managers and staff. Monitor and track staffing activities and maintain needed systems and records. Develop, coach, and support the mentoring and professional development of Public Services direct reports and Public Services staff. Develop staffing budgets, reports and studies as needed. Coordinate staffing activities and development with Human Resources, Library Administration, managers, and other stakeholders. Coordinate unit and individual work plans with overall divisional priorities and objectives. Plan for and develop regular status reports. Conduct analytical studies and develop narrative materials. Assist the Director with annual and long-range planning, including setting goals and recommending strategies.

Operations and Resource Management: In collaboration with the Innovation and Improvement Manager, evaluate and continually improve systems for the management of essential operations, analyzing resource needs, and directing staff effectively to support Library objectives. Maintain a continual practice of process improvements to gain efficiencies in work processes. Develop and maintain a collaborative process that seeks input from affected stakeholders such as frontline staff and cross divisional peers. Assist with developing operations, staffing, project and other budgets and coordinating them with overall division budgets. Monitor expenditures and develop financial reports and studies in collaboration with the Finance team.

Relationship Management: Maintain and enhance relationship with library staff and library stakeholders. Participate in community activities, collaborate internally to identify and build on collaborative opportunities, establish, support and maintain relations with community partners and stakeholders, and support managers and staff in responding to public concerns and interests.

Policy Development: Recommend and participate in the development of Library policies, guidelines, and procedures. Stay abreast of changes in the library profession that will support the service delivery changes proposed by the Library. Seek out best practices of other library systems, as appropriate, and analyze their potential application at the library.

Application instructions:

Interested candidates should complete the online application: http://www.austincityjobs.org/postings/82077

To ensure consideration, candidates should apply by March 8, 2020. Interested candidates should apply early in the process for optimum consideration.