Chief Executive Officer/chief Librarian

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has an opening for a permanent full-time Chief Executive Officer/Chief Librarian in the Community Culture and Connections department.

Job description

The CEO/Chief Librarian leads the Chatham-Kent Public Library, under the direction of the Library Board and the Director, Community Culture and Connections, toward the achievement of CKPL’s vision, mission, and values. This leadership role is responsible for identifying and driving change initiatives, strategic objectives, priorities and the CKPL budget to deliver quality library service for the Chatham Kent community across an 11-branch network. The CEO/Chief Librarian develops, motivates, and leads a team composed of librarians, library technicians and clerical staff in delivering a high-quality library service for the Chatham-Kent community while ensuring that services, programs, collections, and facilities are responsive to community needs. The CEO/Chief Librarian is responsible for building community connections, developing and maintaining partnerships, representing Chatham-Kent in the broader public library community in Ontario, and overseeing a variety of library-specific tasks, including collection development, technology planning, and program and service development.

Overall responsibilities

Demonstrate Chatham-Kent’s core values and competencies.

Direct a municipal division that is responsible for providing quality public library services to connect the community with library resources and services that advance quality of life.

Develop and oversee a multi-million dollar annual operating budget, allocating resources to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the library system.

Lead, coach and mentor a team in a fast-paced and constantly changing unionized and non-unionized environment.

Oversee all operational areas, ensuring polices, processes, procedures, resources, services and facilities are effectively managed and aligned to optimize efficient service delivery in all 11 branches.

Coordinate long-range planning for the CKPL, including initiating periodic reviews of services, programs, and collections to ensure community needs are anticipated and met.

Oversee the operation, maintenance, and protection of library assets.

Work collaboratively on capital projects, including renovations, expansions, and new facilities.

Prepare project grant proposals.

Attend all Library Board meetings (per the Public Libraries Act requirement), and attend Council meetings when required, presenting information as the expert on the CKPL.

Serve as a signing officer of the Library Board and act as the Board's secretary.

Implement the CKPL’s strategic plan and service delivery as directed by the Library Board.

Provide professional and technical advice, as well as support and advise the Library Board of trends and changes in the external and internal environment that may impact library services.

Contribute to provincial and national organizations as an active participant in the wider library community representing Chatham-Kent in the broader public library community.

Represent the library at community, government, and professional organizations and on internal municipal committees.

Develop collaborative partnerships with sectors including information businesses, government, education and cultural sectors to support and achieve the library's vision and mission and goals.

Perform Acting Director, Community Culture and Connections duties as required.

Education & training

Master of Library and Information Services, or equivalent ALA accreditation designation, with six (6) to ten (10) years of related experience. Additional education in Public Administration or Business Administration an asset.

Required knowledge, abilities and skills

Senior management level experience working in library management in a public library system.

Knowledge of library operations and information technology. Knowledge of appropriate federal, provincial, and municipal legislation and regulations related to libraries.

Solid understanding of finance, strategic planning, hands on experience in collections, and a good understanding of the principles of library work. Strong human resource, project management and customer service skills.

Experience in managing financial and human resources at a branch, department or system-wide level is required, preferably in a unionized environment.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate with all levels of staff and the public.

Comfortable making presentations in public to large groups.

Ability to lead, motivate, influence and work collaboratively and effectively with a broad spectrum of individuals, in a complex environment.

Demonstrate courtesy, sensitivity and responsiveness in all interactions.

Experience successfully managing a multi-million dollar operating budget.

Experience administering service level contracts and associated budgets.

Strong per