COMMUNITY AND LIBRARY SERVICES MANAGER (Library & Cultural Services)

Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis. The first review of applications is scheduled to occur for applications received before 5:00 PM on January 28, 2025. This recruitment may close at any time after that date, once a sufficiently strong candidate pool has been established.

Here in Huntington Beach, we believe passionately that the key to becoming the best beach City in the world starts and ends with finding the right people to join our team.  At this time, we have an outstanding career opportunity available, as we're looking for the "right person" to serve as Community and Library Services Manager to oversee the Library and Cultural Services Division.

The City of Huntington Beach Community and Library Services Department provides outstanding programs, services, libraries and facilities to enhance and enrich the lives of our residents and visitors. We are looking for someone who is ready to grow and develop as a library and cultural arts leader, and who can envision new ways to improve and enhance services, while we build our new Community and Library Services Department. We are seeking candidates with:

• Superior communication, organizational, and project management skills who follows through on all facets of work
• Ability to see the strengths, assets, and potential within a community, and an individual who operates with a profound respect for understanding the aspirations and needs of the people in Huntington Beach.
• A strong background demonstrating excellent leadership skills within the disciplines of Library programs, facility management, and budgeting at the division level.
• Creative ideas and ability to facilitate innovative programming in a team environment
• A passionate professional who believes in the transformative power of libraries
• Creative and innovative, willing to serve exceptionally
• Someone who sees the possibilities and is open to new ways of providing services
• Both a leader and a manager, active in the library and cultural arts field and sees the value in cooperation at all levels
• Socially aware, and can build relationships both within and outside the City organization
• Aware of trends and developments in the Library field that can enhance service
• Someone who brings out the best in their staff and organization

Key traits for our ideal Community and Library Services Manager include:

• A relationship builder and connector.  Someone who can quickly forge strong, trusting relationships with diverse sets of people, and readily inspires others to action.
• Leadership through consensus.  Someone who is an approachable consensus-builder, but is also capable of independent and decisive thought and action.
• A keen sense of ethics.  Someone who recognizes the importance of personal and organizational integrity, and someone comfortable raising and discussing ethical issues with the goal of "doing what's right," not "being right."
• Innovative and flexible.  Someone able to see beyond what currently exists, and is constant in their pursuit of realistic game-changing breakthroughs for the Huntington Beach organization and community.
• Obsessive about outcomes.  Someone who makes data-driven decisions and stays laser-focused on truly audacious goals while balancing the day-to-day needs of the organization.
• A strategic problem-solver.  Someone able to break large challenges into smaller, manageable pieces, and then works to identify trends and prioritizes solving the root cause of issues.
• Intellectual curiosity.  Someone who is an excellent listener, and who applies strong critical thinking skills and business judgement to complex issues.
• A polished and professional demeanor.  Someone who will take great pride in representing the Huntington Beach community, and one who will serve as an ambassador for the City.
• A Positive Attitude.  Someone who understands that even the best laid plans can go wrong, and has the self-confidence to course-correct with positivity and grace.

•  Directs and manages staff in supervising, coordinating and administering operations of assigned division: 

Library and Cultural Services Division

• Oversees the operations of library services, including programs and activities at the library branches and the Art Center;
• Maintains close contact with school officials and other community groups, as well as the Programs and Services Division, regarding program offerings and coordination of services;
• Serves as the primary contact with the State Library of California, for library specific grants and programs;
• Coordinates the Library’s participation in the CA State Library Broadband program, providing high-speed internet access to all library locations through membership in CENIC;
• Represents the Library on the Santiago Library System Executive Committee and helps set policy for cooperative programs with other Orange County Public Libraries;
• Performs outreach to the community, community organizations and schools; provides informational presentations on library services, programs, and collections;
• Keeps abreast of current trends and innovative practices in library science and information technology by reviewing professional literature and participating in professional organizations.

Examples of Essential Duties for All Divisions

• Prepares requests for proposals; oversees consultants in the preparation of plans and reports;
• Reviews facility needs and coordinates with various departments to assist in planning for facility development and projects;
• Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews a division’s work plan; assigns work activities, projects, and programs; reviews and evaluates work products, methods, and procedures; recommends appropriate service delivery and staffing levels;
• Oversees and participates in the development and administration of the department’s annual budget, including the forecasting of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and facilities; monitors and approves expenditures; develops strategies for funding division   projects and programs;
• Interacts with other divisions, departments, and outside agencies; represents the department on a variety of boards, commissions, foundations, and committees;
• Participates in the assessment, planning, and evaluation of citizen-based facilities, programs and services;
• Responds to and resolves sensitive and difficult public inquiries and concerns;
• Manages the development, implementation, and administration  of goals, objectives, policies, procedures and priorities for community services   programs and other assigned projects;
• Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery practices and procedures; recommends and administers appropriate service delivery methods and staffing levels;
• Plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews work plans; selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; implements corrective action plans and administers discipline;
• Provides responsible staff assistance to the Community Services Director;
• Conducts a variety of organizational and operational studies and investigations; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence;
• Collaborates with other department staff to achieve optimal departmental and city-wide performance and outcomes;
• Attends leadership, management, supervisory and other relevant training to stay abreast of industry best practices;
• Develops processes to ensure business continuity in the event of a disaster;
• Reports to work as scheduled and works a variety of schedules including evenings, weekends and holidays as required; 
• Maintains a regular and consistent attendance record;
• Travels to offsite locations within and outside the City;
• Monitors department’s maintenance and professional services contracts for compliance;
• Participates in the negotiation, development, and implementation of related City Capital Improvement Projects as well as capital improvements to existing facilities;
• Acts on behalf of the Director of Community Services in his/her/their absence, as delegated;
• Performs other related duties assigned.

The preceding duties have been provided as examples of the essential types of work performed by positions within this job classification.  The City, at its discretion, may add, modify, change or rescind work assignments as needed.Education:  Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Recreation Studies, Human Services and/or Cultural Services, Public Administration, Library Science or other closely related field.  Master’s Degree in Library & Information Science preferred for the Library & Cultural Services Manager position.
 
Experience: Five (5) years’ increasingly responsible experience related to municipal recreation programming, human services, cultural services, library services or education administration, including three years’ progressively responsible community services and/or library administrative and supervisory experience.
 
License/Certification:  Possession of a valid Class C California driver license and an acceptable driving record are required by time of appointment and throughout course of employment.

- Application Review
- Exam - Applicants that best meet the City's needs will be invited to a virtual oral exam (weighted 100%) - tentatively scheduled for February 13, 2025
- Selection Interview
- Pre-Employment
- Appointment

Salary : $9,109 - $12,207