What are the responsibilities and job description for the Outreach and Community Engagement Manager position at Mid-Continent Public Library?
Job Title: Outreach and Community Engagement Manager
Branch or Department: Reader Engagement
Salary: $66,768, annually
Reports to: Associate Director of Reader Engagement
FLSA Status: Overtime Exempt
Supervises: TBD, Outreach team
Benefits Classification: Full-time
Work Location: Administrative Headquarters
Job Grade: 12
Hours per Week: 40
Work Schedule: The schedule for this position varies and includes weekends and evenings
Hours per Year: 2080
Revision Date: 3/29/24
Archive Date: Open Until Filled
Culture Statement
Mid-Continent Public Library’s mission and internal values are reflected everyday through our people. We strive to provide customers with the best possible library experience through our commitment to exceptional customer service. We uphold the values of intellectual freedom: we ensure the free flow of information and ideas. We are fair: we know that every customer and co-worker may not need an identical solution to meet their needs but rather all customers and co-workers have access to all resources that meet their individual needs. We have integrity: we work to meet our Library’s mission with honesty and trust. It is both what we do and how we do it. We are diverse, equitable and inclusive: MCPL believes that a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization creates a more dynamic workplace and puts us in a place to better serve the community.
Position Overview
The Outreach Manager and Community Engagement Manager positions will lead the organization's endeavors in creating a comprehensive outreach program targeted at delivering library services to underprivileged communities across MCPL’s service area. This entails fostering connections with neighboring organizations and interacting with customers at community events. Furthermore, this role will assist in collaborating with local educational partners, including the homeschooling community, and work alongside branches and mission enhancements to ensure a holistic approach to our outreach efforts across the entire system.
Essential Core Functions:
- Develop and execute a comprehensive outreach plan that aligns with the library's strategic goals and addresses the wide range of interests across our diverse service area.
- Conduct evaluations of community needs to identify underserved populations and emerging trends effectively.
- Cultivate strong partnerships with community organizations, schools, senior centers, and social service agencies.
- Coordinate and oversee a diverse array of outreach programs and events, both within the library and at external venues, catering to all age groups and interests.
- Coordinate outreach activities by partnering with local branches, HQ Departments, and Mission Enhancements to ensure all aspects of the library are represented when applicable.
- Monitor and manage the outreach budget while tracking metrics to measure impact accurately.
- Establish and maintain effective communication channels to promote library services and resources within the community.
- Provide oversight for the day-to-day operations of the outreach team.
- Administer the outreach budget outreach efficiently.
- Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate staff responsible for outreach.
Non-Essential Functions
- Represents MCPL and presents content at local, state, and national committees and conferences.
Education and Experience
- Master’s degree in library and information science from an ALA-accredited program required.
- 3 years of library outreach, community engagement, or related work required.
- 3 years management experience required.
- Proficiency in spoken Spanish is highly preferred, along with a track record of working directly with Spanish-speaking clients and communities.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Job Knowledge, including Librarianship:
- Expert knowledge of library services, intellectual freedom, materials, and resources.
- Understanding of the needs of under-resourced customers, interpretation of statistics, seeking feedback, and having a strategic vision for the system and community.
- Ability to direct content creation aligned with MCPL’s strategic plan.
- Ability to interpret, make decisions, and justify content decisions based on Freedom to Read/Library Bill of Rights.
- Technology:
- Proficiency in Microsoft Suite.
- Proficiency in the various functions of Microsoft Teams.
- Proficiency in social media platforms to supervise the creation of engaging online content.
Financial/Mathematical:
- Advanced knowledge of budgeting practices and processes to create and maintain an annual budget.
All Successful Leaders at MCPL Should Demonstrate:
Advanced Communication Skills:
- Advanced verbal, written, and discreet communication with management, coworkers, and the public in a clear, timely, and proactive manner.
Collaboration:
- Ability to collaborate with Library leadership to effectively develop, adhere to, and work within the constructs of the Library's annual budget.
Relationship Management:
- Advanced ability to maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with multiple stakeholders.
Understanding of Library's Mission and Purpose:
- Advanced knowledge of a public library's mission and purpose.
- Ability to provide clear expectations and direction, manage competing priorities, evaluate work quality, and provide feedback and accountability.
Knowledge of Department Processes and Procedures:
- Advanced knowledge of department processes and procedures.
- Expert knowledge of Library Professional Ethics.
- Advanced understanding of the impact of decision-making on MCPL.
- Demonstrated mature judgment to make department-level/system level decisions.
Customer Service Skills:
- Advanced proficiency in customer service skills through professional and collaborative interactions with internal and external customers.
Understanding of DEI Initiatives:
- An advanced understanding of system-wide DEI initiatives in the organization.
- Understanding of the impact of policies and procedures on DEI.
- Knowledge of how DEI principles impact the workplace and library services.
Age Requirement
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
MVR Requirement
- Possession of a valid driver license and a reliable personal vehicle for use in carrying out the duties of this position including transportation of materials and equipment (mileage reimbursed)
- Possesses the ability to drive MCPL vehicle according to company policy.
Work Environment
- Works primarily indoors with prolonged periods of sitting at a desk, working on a computer, and must have a reasonable tolerance for dust, mold, scents, allergens, and communicable diseases which enables the employee to handle library materials, work in older buildings and interact with coworkers and the public.
Essential physical abilities to be accomplished with or without reasonable accommodation are:
Daily (greater than 50% of the time)
- Receiving communication and instructions (vision, reading, hearing)
- Conveying communication and instructions (speaking, writing)
- Using computer data entry tools - keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, scanner
Frequently (up to 50% of the time)
- Sitting
- Walking (even ground)
Occasionally (approximately 1-2 times a month)
- Standing up 1 hour at a time
- Lifting 1-10 pounds
Rarely (1-5 times per year)
- Pushing/Pulling 1-10 pounds
- Standing more than 1 hour at a time
NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as required to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.
All applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other protected class in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Any applicant requiring accommodation should contact the Mid-Continent Public Library Human Resources Department at 816.836.5200.
Applicants will be considered for employment opportunities on the merits of their skills and experience related to the position sought. Employment offers are conditional upon submitting a criminal records check, identity verification, and national sex offender registry check. Applicants will not be denied employment solely or in part because of a prior conviction, unless MCPL determines the conviction is job-related. If a background check yields information that is of concern to MCPL, the applicant will be given an opportunity to review the background check findings and present information regarding inaccuracy, mitigating circumstances, and rehabilitation.Salary : $66,768
