Manager, Child & Family Library Services Job at Arapahoe Libraries in Littleton

Are you passionate about early literacy and empowering families? At Arapahoe Libraries, we believe in the power of collaboration, equity, and innovation to enrich lives and foster a sense of belonging. We're seeking a dynamic Manager for Child and Family Library Services to lead our dedicated team in providing exceptional early literacy and youth services across the district.

In this role, you will:
• Oversee daily operations and manage departmental budgets.
• Collaborate with peers on strategic initiatives.
• Lead key projects, including our popular Summer Reading Program.
• Set the vision for child and family services aligned with community needs.

If you excel in project management, strategic planning, and community outreach, we want to hear from you. Join our team and make a real impact in our community through your leadership and expertise.

Ready for a meaningful challenge? We encourage you to apply!

Title:  MANAGER, CHILD & FAMILY LIBRARY SERVICES

Location: Koelbel Library 5955 S. Holly St. Centennial, CO 80121

Reports to: Associate Director, Library Operations

Supervises: 3 Supervisors, 1 administrative specialist

FLSA Status: Exempt

Pay Range:  $83,400 - $111,200

Purpose: Set strategy and manage the delivery of programs and services for the District's 0-12 population and their caregivers throughout the Library District. Lead and support strategic initiatives and operational projects. Oversee and set expectations for department leadership to ensure welcoming, inclusive and equitable services to the community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

35% SERVICE MANAGEMENT

• Set strategy, standards and goals for Child and family library services with emphasis on coordination and collaboration of programs and services with others, and which align with District strategy and community demographics.
• Develop concepts, practices, techniques and innovations to improve the quality of service, evaluate operating processes for greater efficiency and effectiveness.
• Communicate effectively and facilitates problem solving to manage the service operations of the areas of oversight.
• Actively engage with community members and organizations to effectively evaluate and promote library services and recommend and implement service changes.
• Research trends in public library operations, findings in early literacy and child development and service area demographics. Based on findings make recommendations to executive team for future strategic direction aligned with ALA established core values.

30% PROJECT MANAGEMENT, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, STRATEGY AND OUTREACH

• Lead and support district projects, including setting goals for district project(s), establishing implementation team (s) and timelines for completion.
• Collaborate effectively with department managers to achieve desired outputs and outcomes for the organization.
• Collaborate and develop with department supervisors a shared data driven strategy for child and family library services programs and services.
• Collaborate with leadership team and librarian team to set strategic goals for child and family library services for the district.
• Collaborate with librarians to establish department goals for district programs and internal staff training.
• Work within the department and with other areas of the organization on outreach efforts to further the department goals.
• Utilize project management tools and manage work capacity of direct and indirect reports.

30% SUPERVISION AND LEADERSHIP

Supervision:

• Recruit, interview, hire and train new department staff and supports supervisors with the hiring process.
• Oversee and manage the priorities and work activities of library/department(s).
• Monitor and develop employee performance, including delivering recognition and constructive and timely evaluations.
• Recommend salary increases, promotion, transfers or terminations. 
• Handle discipline and terminations in accordance with practice. 
• Provides active coaching and mentoring, monitors and supports ongoing professional development of librarian staff.
• Perform the duties of Supervisors in their absence to ensure the proper functioning of the organizational unit.
• Responsible for hiring the best and brightest candidates for all positions in the organizational unit.
• Convey and explain policies, values and procedures.

Leadership:

• Leads by example modeling inclusivity, excellent customer service and continuous learning and development.
• Provides ongoing communication and solicits regular input and feedback from direct and indirect staff.
• Foster collaboration and team building for direct and indirect teams.
• Demonstrates enthusiastic leadership and support for change implementation.
• On-call in crisis situations. 
• Motivate, direct and influence people to achieve established goals and provide outstanding and personalized service; monitor performance and financial information; compare with goals and take corrective action as needed.
• Direct implementation of new procedures, practices and services.
• Facilitate and participate in meetings with project teams and with Department.
• Understand matrix management and the connection between branch librarians and the Child and Family Library Services Department. Promote teamwork, consider collaborative programs and services and extend professional development between early literacy librarians, core youth services librarians and branch youth librarians.

5% RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

• Supports and participates in the annual strategic planning and budget process.
• Arranges for budget, staff and other needs to provide the necessary resources to accomplish the work of the library/department(s).
• Responsible for department's operating budget.
• Actively contribute as assigned to project work, as team members or project manager, in alignment with ALD Project Management guidelines.

Performs other related duties and may contribute to cross-functional initiatives and projects as assigned and requested.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of five years of supervising or managing in a library setting, or customer service industry setting.
• M.Ed, MLS or MLIS degree or 5 years of library experience and the ability to obtain a master's degree in the library and information studies field within three years from the start of the program. An application to the library school must be made within six months of the date of hire.
• Five years of successful professional experience working with children and families in libraries or education.
• Advanced knowledge of Every Child Ready to Read and early child developmental levels, including experience in early literacy and early childhood initiatives.
• Advanced understanding of current early and developing literacy research and best practice.
• Advanced understanding of early childhood learning and development.
• Experience in or understanding of Family Place Libraries.
• Ability to keep confidential information.
• Ability to travel between facilities.
• Ability to work varying shifts, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Ability to work independently, be proactive and show initiative.
• Ability to prioritize and delegate tasks.
• Intermediate technology skills for Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook) and familiarity with Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Teams, and an ability to learn and apply new technologies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with patrons, co-workers and employees.
• Ability to demonstrate effective leadership skills, including motivating and influencing others, practical thinking, problem solving, adaptability, coaching, mentoring and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to communicate new ideas, products and services in a positive and engaging manner.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for an environment of constant change.
• Ability to work with people of all ages and diverse backgrounds.

Core Values of Collaboration, Equity and Innovation:

• Ability to promote inclusivity, embrace diverse perspectives and prioritize fairness to contribute to a culture of inclusion and respect.
• Demonstrated ability to foster open communication, mutual respect, problem solving, adaptability and constructive conflict resolution to promote a cohesive and innovative work environment that welcomes continuous learning.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Two years of project management experience.
• Two years of budget management experience.
• Experience teaching, training or mentoring others.

Work Environment: 

• The essential duties for this position are performed in an indoor office environment.
• Moderate noise (computers, phones, printers and patron interactions).

Physical Activities:

Physical activities required to perform essential duties include:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50-75% of the time.
• Must be able to move around 25-50% of the time.

This job description describes the general level of work being performed and is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties or aspects associated with the job and may be amended anytime based on business need. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Inclusion and diversity are part of our values at Arapahoe Libraries.

Qualified applicants who represent the diversities of the communities we serve are encouraged to apply.