Director of ALA Office for Diversity (OFD) and the ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS)

The American Library Association is seeking a Director of the ALA Office for Diversity (OFD) and the ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS).  The Director has two distinct and separate staffs to support OFD and OLOS in achieving their units’ missions. 

ALA OFD provides active consultation, facilitation and training on diversity issues; manages the ALA Spectrum Scholarship Program, Spectrum Doctoral Fellowship Program and other diversity recruitment programs; and serves as a key resource on professional issues related to the value and impact of diversity.  The Director works with and supports the ALA Committee on Diversity and its sub committees and serves as the ALA’s primary liaison to the five associations of ethnic librarians (AILA, APALA, BCALA, CALA and REFORMA).

ALA OLOS identifies, promotes, and provides training and information resources on library services that support equitable access to knowledge and information in libraries, including adult and family literacy and services inclusive of traditionally underserved populations.  The Director works with the OLOS Advisory Committee and related subcommittees.  OLOS also provides liaison to the ALA Committee on Literacy; the Committee on Rural, Native and Tribal Libraries of All Kinds; the ALA Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT); the ALA Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table; and the ALA Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, which includes the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee.

The ALA OFD/OLOS Director has both an external and internal leadership responsibility.  S/he is a principal representative of ALA to individuals and institutions addressing diversity (through recruitment, education and professional development, and organizational change), equity of access, and adult and family literacy.  This is also a management position with overall responsibility for the operational and fiscal management (including some revenue generation) of two ALA offices, under the general supervision of the Senior Associate Executive Director, ALA.  The ALA/OFD-OLOS Director supervises a staff of 4 FTE and a total budget of $480,000 (excluding grants), plus several grant programs and special projects.  The Director is responsible for advising on ALA plans and preparing recommendations on priorities, programs and other issues; meets regularly with other ALA managers; and communicates, cooperates and coordinates ALA/OFD and ALA/OLOS activities with those of other ALA groups.  The ALA/OFD-OLOS Director is a member of the ALA Member Programs and Services Team.

Qualifications:  A Master’s degree from an ALA-recognized program in LIS is strongly preferred; other graduate-level education will be considered.  Minimum of 7-10 years preferably in a nonprofit and/or association environment.  General knowledge of issues related to diversity, adult and family literacy (including English-language learners) and equity of access is required.  Collaborative management skills and strong written and verbal communication skills are required.

Salary range:  Negotiable from mid $70’s depending on experience and qualifications.

Closing date:  Review of applications will begin on August 1, 2012.

Apply online at www.ala.org/ala/educationcareers/employment/indexcfm including cover letter, resume and three references.

or

Send cover letter, resume and three references to:

American Library Association

Human Resources

Ref: ALA/OFD-OLOS Director

50 E. Huron St.

Chicago, IL 60611-6763

Email: cvivian@ala.org