Regional Manager

Invitation to Compete #05-24: Regional Manager (2 positions)

MidCity East Region

MidCity West Region

Full-time, 40 hours per week

$116,802.72 - $141,691.68 annually (2024 Rate)

These are regular, full-time, benefited positions that are exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The hours for these appointments may include weekdays, weekends and evenings.

These positions are open to the public and The Seattle Public Library's employees. Please read the How to Apply section of this bulletin for more information.

This recruitment will be open until the positions are filled. Applications that have been submitted in NEOGOV by May 06, 2024 will receive first consideration.

Overview

The Seattle Public Library's mission is to bring people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community. We view Seattle as a city where imagination and opportunity continue to thrive. Since 1891, we have grown from a single reading room in Pioneer Square to a world-class library system with 27 locations.

The Library works every day to foster and support a healthy city and a healthy democracy. We do this work guided by the principles of intellectual freedom, literacy and the love of learning, racial equity, privacy and confidentiality, respect for the community, strong partnerships and innovation. We are an active and committed partner in the City of Seattle's Race and Social Justice Initiative.

Library employees are highly regarded by the public for their knowledge, quality of service and caring. As a workplace, we value respectful and transparent communication, partnership and engagement.

We are enriched individually and organizationally because of our diversity and growth mindset. We take time to recognize and celebrate the achievements of others.

If you share these values and meet the qualifications, the Library invites you to apply for the Regional Manager position.

The MidCity East (MCE) Regional Manager provides leadership for four branch locations: Capitol Hill, Douglass-Truth, Madrona-Sally Goldmark, and Montlake.

The MidCity West (MCW) Regional Manager provides leadership for four branch locations:Ballard, Fremont, Magnolia, and Queen Anne. . Responsibilities include providing daily oversight and direction for assigned units as well as engaging in long-range planning to ensure that the work is aligned with our forward-looking service priorities: Youth and Early Learning, Technology and Access, Community Engagement, and Re-imagined Spaces.

The MCE Regional Manager supervises two Branch Operations Managers who lead the Capitol Hill and Douglass-Truth locations and two Supervising Librarians who lead the Madrona-Sally Goldmark and Montlake locations. The MCW Regional Manager supervises three Branch Operations Managers who lead the Ballard, Fremont, and Magnolia locations and one Supervising Librarian who leads the Fremont location.

These positions will also lead the work of librarians and paraprofessionals (Library Associate 4s) providing patron services at these locations. In addition, the Regional Manager provides leadership for the daily work and long range planning of these departments, ensuring that information services, programming and outreach, collection maintenance, circulation and materials movement function smoothly. The MCE & MCW Regional Managers also work closely with Security and Facilities staff to provide a welcoming and safe environment.

These positions report to the Assistant Director for Public Services and are members of the Public Services Management Team (PSMT), which consists of seven Regional Managers, the Assistant Director for Equity, Learning & Engagement Services (ELES) and ELES Service Managers. The PSMT works collaboratively to lead the development of responsive public services and innovative operational systems, and to implement and support effective policies and procedures to guide the work of Public Services staff throughout the system.  

The successful candidates for these positions will bring passion and commitment to the task of providing excellent, innovative library services.  The ideal candidates will be strong leaders, experienced managers and collaborative management team players. These candidates will be excellent communicators, possessing diplomacy, tact, excellent listening skills, strong group facilitation skills, analytical and problem-solving skills, a commitment to establishing an environment of open, honest communication and rational decision-making as well as the ability to negotiate with all levels of staff to accomplish the mission and goals of the Library.

Staff members are highly regarded by the public for their knowledge and quality of service.  We embrace our organizational values of respect, partnership, engagement, diversity, transparency and recognition.

We foster a culture of innovation and we encourage and support employees' creativity, engagement, learning and development. If you share these values, we invite you to apply.Essential Duties

Strategic Planning:  Plan strategic direction and provide recommendations to Public Services leadership for the enhancement of library programs and services.

 Contribute current knowledge related to trends, issues and practices in library services to support the development of excellent and innovative library services.   Implement changes and enhancements as required.

Supervision and Oversight:  Hire, train, manage and oversee the work of staff.

 Coach, develop and guide staff toward the highest standards of service. Provide broad direction, advice and training for staff to support the development and delivery of innovative, responsive services.   Evaluate staff performance and collaborate with the Service Managers in performance evaluation of relevant staff.

  Collaborate with other Regional and Service Managers regarding these issues at a system level.  Ensure that exemplary customer service is provided to the public and internal customers.

Outreach: Represent the Library to the public and in collaboration with a wide variety of community organizations and government agencies, such as the City of Seattle and Seattle's Community Colleges.

Leadership: Provide both system-wide and external leadership in developing and maintaining policy, service standards and protocols.

Leadership may include chairing committees, studies and project teams within the system or with external local and national partners. Provide leadership, assignments and opportunities for staff that will inspire and encourage them to reach for excellence and provide recognition when they achieve it. Serve as Librarian-In-Charge as scheduled.

Resource Management: Ensure the effective use of resources by planning, organizing, monitoring, evaluating and measuring impact against service objectives. Research and prepare monthly and periodic reports as required/requested to support the interests of the Library and its patrons.

Budget Management: Assist with budget preparation, expenditure, tracking and reporting as needed for operational budgets and grant-funded projects, including working with the Seattle Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Library and other agencies to develop and manage grant funded projects

Intellectual Freedom: Support intellectual freedom; assume responsibility for how the Library is perceived by staff and the public.  MLS: Must have an MLS from an ALA-accredited library school and a Washington State Certification as a Librarian.

Professional Knowledge and Experience: Five (5) years of professional library experience in a public library or community college.

Leadership and Management: Three (3) years of experience supervising a minimum of 6 staff at one time and managing programs or projects.

Demonstrated knowledge of management practices and principles, including the ability to train and inspire professional and support staff and promote enthusiastic teamwork. Experience managing supervisors and/or librarians is preferred but not required.

Program/Project Development and Evaluation: Demonstrated experience planning, implementing and evaluating significant projects. Must be highly organized and possess critical thinking skills.

Technology and Informational Resources:    Must have current working knowledge of PCs, online databases, networks, social media and word processing and spreadsheet software.

Demonstrated competency with intranet content management and document management software, preferably Microsoft SharePoint.  Interest in and working knowledge of relevant informational resources, including recent technological innovations and library applications are also required.

Communication, Collaboration and Outreach Skills: Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including experience in public speaking. Experience developing community contacts, collaborations and partnerships.

Exemplary Customer Service: The successful candidates will have a strong commitment to public service and providing exceptional customer service.

Candidates must possess excellent interpersonal communication, problem solving, customer relations and teamwork skills.  A sense of humor and the ability to demonstrate a positive and enthusiastic commitment to public service.

Budget Management:  Two (2) years of experience planning and administering a budget.

Intellectual Freedom: A strong commitment to intellectual freedom and to the Library's missions and goals.

Diversity and Inclusion: Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity within the organization and throughout service delivery.How to Apply

Please submit the following items by 5:00 p.m. on May 06, 2024  for first consideration. This recruitment will be open until the position is filled. Your application will not be considered if these items are missing or incomplete:

• Online application with responses to the supplemental questions.

• A cover letter that describes how your experience and skills align with the job responsibilities and qualifications. Please let us know why you want to do this work.

• Current resume that summarizes relevant education, experience, knowledge and skills.

Applications that do not include a cover letter, resume, and complete online application will not be considered.

Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. Initial screening will be based on a review of application materials.

The employment history detailed in your application materials MUST validate/support your responses to the supplemental questions. If your responses cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the review/selection process. The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in a series of one or more interviews.

Benefits and Salary Information

The full salary range for this position is $116,802.72 - $141,691.68 annually (2024 rate).

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans

Information about retirement plans can be found at: https://www.seattle.gov/retirement

Additional Information

If you have questions regarding this bulletin or employment at The Seattle Public Library, please send an email to job.applications@spl.org. The Library promotes diversity and inclusion in employment. If accommodations are needed during the selection process, please contact us.

Please keep in mind that job offers are contingent on a review of criminal history as well as verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process.