Director of the Library

Salary Range: $120,000 to $143,000 depending on qualifications.

Recruitment: Open to all Qualified Candidates.

Filing Deadline: Open until filled. Candidates are encouraged to apply promptly as interviews and selection may begin upon receipt of resumes from qualified individuals. This process may be used to fill future unclassified positions within this department.

The City:
San Diego, the eighth largest city in the United States, is 342 square miles and home to over 1.3 million residents – the City has grown over 10% in the last decade. The City of San Diego’s strong economy, diverse population, great educational institutions, unsurpassed quality of life and world-renowned location makes it the ideal place to work, live and play. With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches and major attractions, San Diego is affectionately known worldwide as “America’s Finest City.” As one of the region’s largest employers, the City of San Diego has a combined Fiscal Year 2008 operating budget of over $2.9 billion and employs over 10,000 highly dedicated employees. Additional information about the City of San Diego can be obtained on the City’s website: www.sandiego.gov.

The Department:
The City of San Diego Library Department operates and maintains a diverse and valued library system that serves millions of residents each year. The Library Department will be undergoing a transformation over the next decade, modernizing its materials check out system with patron self check machines, updating its information systems to provide more on line services to patrons, providing additional computer stations and online access for the community and offering a broader range of services than ever before.

The Library system consists of the Central Library, 36 branch libraries, and the adult literacy program office (READ/San Diego). The Department serves the educational, cultural, business and recreational needs of San Diego’s diverse communities through its collection of more than 3.4 million books and audio-visual materials and a circulation of over seven million items annually. The Library’s Fiscal Year 2008 budget is $38.3 million.

The Position:
Under the leadership of the Mayor and the general direction of the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, the Library Director is responsible for administering a $38.3 million annual budget and providing leadership to a staff of approximately 370 full time employees, as well as hundreds of part time and hourly employees and volunteers. The Director will be leading the changes to the Library Department and inspiring staff in making innovations and changes to modernize and diversify the services offered by the Library.

The Library Director is responsible for developing and implementing Library policies and procedures; applying best business practices to ensure the provision of efficient and effective services to the City; representing the Mayor at City Council and Council committee meetings, and at various civic, business and professional forums. The Director will oversee completion of capital improvement projects; be responsible for the development of the department’s annual budget; liaison with other public and private agencies; and manage and supervise subordinate Library managers and staff.

*Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:
· A commitment to public service, fiscal responsibility and innovation in government;
· Focus on enhanced services and customer satisfaction;
· Experience leading and managing change efforts;
· Knowledge of enhanced library and/or government services, organization, system development, practices and operations;
· Understanding of library or public services funding and development sources, including grants and fundraising practices and principles;
· Strong business and political acumen to work effectively with internal customers, external agencies and businesses, elected officials and the public;
· Innovative problem solving skills, with the ability to proactively identify, support and implement creative and viable solutions;
· Proven project management skills including, but not limited to, developing project work plans, schedules and budgets, estimating work effort, scheduling resources and the ability to work independently while exercising good judgment;
· Ability to balance competing interests and build consensus in a highly political environment;
· Strong interpersonal skills, communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills;
· Active and genuine commitment to managing diversity in the workplace;
· Substantial, progressively responsible management experience, including budget and
managerial expertise to manage a major department;
· Strong interpersonal leadership skills, with the ability to successfully interact with a wide variety of stakeholders; and
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Any combination of education and experience that demonstrates these qualifications may be qualifying. Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree in public administration, business administration, business management, or a related field and a minimum of five years experience involved in the field of library or other government services management is highly desirable. A Master’s Degree in library science is also desirable.

Management Benefits:
The successful candidate will be eligible for participation in the City’s Flexible Benefits Plan ($5,575 annual value for Fiscal Year 2008) which offers several optional benefit plans or a taxable cash option, supplemented by the City’s Management Benefit Plan ($3,000 annual value); paid annual leave accruing at 22 days per year for the 1st through the 15th year of service; defined benefit City retirement with CalPERS reciprocity for those with eligible service; and, optional deferred compensation and 401(k) programs. All employees must join the City’s Supplemental Pension Savings Plan (in lieu of Social Security participation) with a minimum required contribution of 3.00% of salary; however, the City will match salary contributions up to 6.05%, which vest at 20% per year of participation. Benefits currently offered to employees may be subjected to future modifications.

Selection Process:
To be considered for this position, please submit two copies of your current resume, a letter of interest highlighting your relevant work experience, and a list of three work related references to: The City of San Diego, Personnel Department, Employment Information Center, 1200 Third Avenue, Suite 101A, MS 51P, San Diego, CA 92101, in an envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL: Unclassified Recruitment – Director of the Library or email to PersUnclassified@sandiego.gov. EOE/ADA.