Director of Public Services - Main Library

Director of Public Services - Main Library

Salt Lake City Public Library

210 East 400 South

Salary:
$100,000 - $110,000

Posted: June 26, 2025

Closes: Open until filled, preference given to candidates who apply by July 21, 2025 

FLSA Status: Full-time/ Exempt

Reports to: Chief Service and Impact Officer

About the Library

The City Library aspires to be a dynamic civic resource that promotes free and open access to information, materials and services to all members of the community to advance knowledge, foster creativity, encourage the exchange of ideas, build community and enhance the quality of life. Guided by a deep understanding of the aspirations, needs, and motivations of our customers, The City Library takes a human-centered approach to designing and delivering meaningful services, collections, resources, spaces, programs and events to all members of the community.

Library staff are highly engaged, purpose-driven, people-centered, and express a high level of satisfaction with their work.

Click here to learn more about what makes The City Library a great place to work and why Salt Lake City is a great place to call home.

About the Position

The Director of Public Services – Main Library provides strategic leadership and daily operational support for the Main Library—Salt Lake City Public Library’s flagship location and central civic hub. This role ensures exceptional customer service, safe and welcoming spaces, effective staff management, and thoughtful alignment with library-wide goals and strategies. As a key member of the Service and Impact leadership team, this role also champions the distinctive role of the Main Library as a civic hub, community gathering space, and central resource for the system and the city. 

This role will collaborate closely with the Director of Public Services – Branches. Together, the two Directors provide unified leadership for public services across the library system — developing shared standards, coordinating projects and priorities, and supporting consistent service quality across all locations. The Director of Public Services – Main Library serves as a thought partner and peer to the Director of Public Services – Branches, helping ensure system-wide cohesion while leading, developing, and honoring the unique role of the Main Library.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: You will support and inform the strategic direction for the Main Library, guiding how public spaces, services, staffing, and customer experience are designed and delivered

• Implement the long-term vision for Main in alignment with organizational strategy and community needs.
• Define goals for Main’s public services that reflect the library’s role as a civic and cultural anchor.
• Partner closely with the Director of Public Services – Branches to develop consistent standards, processes, and expectations across all library locations.
• Thoughtfully surface key insights, needs, and ideas from Main staff and patrons—identifying patterns, priorities, and opportunities that can inform system-wide planning and decision-making
• Apply human-centered design, data insights, and staff feedback to improve services and expand access.
• Participate in strategic planning, facilities planning, and leadership team initiatives to ensure Main is aligned and well-represented in broader system efforts.
• Model and actively cultivate a workplace culture rooted in the Library’s values: We are inclusive. We are open. We are curious. We are playful. We are kind. Support staff in understanding and embodying these values in their day-to-day work.
• Champion the thoughtful, innovative use of space at the Main Library—collaborating with peers in Service and Impact leadership, operations, facilities, and other relevant areas of the library to design environments that support evolving service models, program delivery, and community needs.

Operational Excellence: You’ll ensure that day-to-day operations at Main run smoothly, efficiently, and in alignment with system goals

• Lead the management of Main’s physical environment, including shared public spaces, service points, and safety zones.
• Oversee service delivery models, staffing schedules, and implementation of public service standards across departments.
• Work collaboratively with Facilities, IT, Safety, Social Services, Marketing, and other key functions to address ongoing operational needs and proactively plan for improvements.
• Ensure Main’s service elements (including but not limited to service desk support, reference interviews, community engagement based programming, and high-use public space) are resourced and managed effectively.
• Support special projects and pilots at Main and help translate learnings across the system in partnership with the Branches Director.

Team Leadership & Development: As the primary leader for Main’s public service staff, you’ll build and support a strong team culture grounded in trust, accountability, and care

• Directly supervise Main’s five Public Services Managers and other assigned staff at Main, providing coaching, feedback, and support.
• Partner with the Director of Public Services – Branches to ensure consistency in team expectations, performance management, and leadership development.
• Support staff learning and growth by identifying opportunities, recommending training, and mentoring emerging leaders.
• Create space for collaboration and healthy dialogue among managers to co-create solutions and advance the work of the library.
• Guide teams through change and transition, ensuring staff have clarity, context, and confidence in what they’re being asked to do.
• Coordinate closely with People and Culture on hiring, discipline, onboarding, and staff engagement efforts.
• Ensure managers and staff at Main are trained on, understand, and apply expectations from official policy, employee handbook, and other library procedures. 
• Participate in any training identified by People and Culture to efficiently and confidently guide managers in disciplinary and other compliance processes. 

Communication & Collaboration: This role is deeply collaborative—internally and externally

• Lead regular meetings with Main’s management team to share updates, align on goals, and surface ideas and challenges.
• Participate actively in cross-location and cross-departmental meetings to ensure shared understanding and coordination.
• Maintain open, responsive communication with Main staff at all levels; listen to concerns and ideas and advocate where needed.
• Collaborate with the Branches Director to co-lead strategic initiatives, provide unified messaging to teams, and resolve operational inconsistencies.

Crisis Management & Risk Mitigation: As a highly visible leader at our busiest location, you’ll be responsible for leading through complexity and uncertainty

• Partner with Safety and People and Culture to manage suspension appeals, staff grievances, or significant personnel concerns.
• Ensure safety and crisis response protocols are understood and implemented consistently by staff.
• Debrief major incidents and contribute to system-level learning and improvement — especially in coordination with the Branches Director.
• Play an active role in emergency preparedness and recovery planning for the Main Library.

Professional Growth & Innovation: This role requires a commitment to growth—your own and the organization’s

• Stay current on trends in public libraries, user experience, urban service design, and civic innovation.
• Promote a culture of curiosity, equity, and experimentation among staff.
• Share innovative practices and lessons learned from Main across the system.
• Participate in relevant conferences, committees, or community efforts to bring new ideas and relationships to SLCPL.
• Demonstrate and model the Library’s values and culture in every aspect of your leadership (We are inclusive. We are open. We are curious. We are playful. We are kind).

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Library Science (MLS/MLIS) from an ALA-accredited program or equivalent experience.
• At least 5 years of progressive public service or library leadership experience, including 2+ years in a supervisory capacity.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage complex operations, and implement system-wide priorities in a public-facing setting, including experience with mentoring and guiding staff to ensure people and teams are effectively delivering and improving services.
• Commitment to equity, representation, and belonging in staffing, service design, and decision-making. Skilled at creating a healthy and positive work environment where open communication and collaboration thrive.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and change leadership skills.
• Experience using data and observation to guide operational or service improvements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in large, urban, or multi-location library systems.
• Proficiency in Spanish or another language commonly spoken in our community.
• Familiarity with human-centered design, space utilization, or social service collaboration.

Working Environment

• Work is performed in an office environment.
• Normal stress related to working in a busy, public institution.
• Subject to sitting for extended periods of time.

Schedule

• Full-time, 40 hours per week. Evenings and weekends will be required. 

Other Information

• Completion of criminal background check will be required if the candidate is over eighteen (18) years of age.
• The City Library participates in the federal Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). Employment is contingent upon confirmation of your employment eligibility through the E-verify system.
• The City Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce.

Benefits -

The following benefits are available to employees who work 40 hours per week.

Health Insurance

The Library offers medical and dental insurance to all full time employees, and their eligible family members, or their eligible adult designee. Insurance coverage begins on the first day of the month following the date of full-time employment and ends on the last day of the month of separation.

New employees are offered a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP): the STAR Plan with a Health Savings Account (HSA). This plan is offered with the Summit Care (IASIS) network.

Vacation

Employees begin accruing vacation time when they begin working for the Library. Vacation will accrue based on the employee's most recent benefit-eligible hire date.

Vacation Accrual Rate

Service Years 0–1, 2–5, 6–20, 21+

Accrual Rate
# days/year

13 19 23 26

Sick Leave

Employees will accrue sick leave at the rate of 3.70 hours per pay period starting when they begin work at the Library. Employees working less than 40 hours per week will accrue sick leave at a prorated rate. There is no limit to the number of sick leave hours an employee can accumulate.

Bereavement Leave

Up to five days is allowed in case of death of a member of the immediate family or household.

Retirement

The Library participates in the
Utah Retirement System (URS). The Library pays the contribution amounts as determined by the URS. The URS provides a number of benefits to the employee, including an employee contribution 401(k) option.

Retirement Savings Plans: 401K, 457, IRA

All employees are eligible to participate in Utah Retirement Systems' Defined Contribution Plance (401K, 457 and IRA)

Holidays

All full-time and benefit-eligible part-time employees receive holiday pay on a prorated basis according to the number of regularly scheduled work hours.

The Library observes 12 days as paid holidays:

• New Year's Day (Jan 1)
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (3rd Mon in Jan)
• President's Day (3rd Mon in Feb)
• Memorial Day (Last Mon in May)
• Juneteenth (Mon around June 19th)
• Independence Day (Jul 4)
• Pioneer Day (Jul 24)
• Labor Day (1st Mon in Sep)
• Thanksgiving Day (4th Thu of Nov)
• Day after Thanksgiving (4th Fri of Nov)
• Christmas Eve (Dec 24)
• Christmas Day (Dec 25)

Life Insurance/Accidental Death and Dismemberment

The Library provides full-time employees up to age 70 with $50,000 Term Life and $10,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment through
PEHP. Employees may purchase additional Life Insurance for Self and Family at employee cost.

Employee Assistance Program

(EAP)

Spring Health offers support, guidance and resources that can help you resolve personal issues and meet life's challenges. The program is available 24 hours a day, every day to you and members of your household.

Additionally, the Library offers access to the Headspace app for everyday mindfulness and meditation, helping alleviate stress and anxiety, and supporting healthy sleeping habits, focus, fitness and more. 

Long-Term Disability

Provides coverage of 60% of employee's regular monthly salary for up to two years, after a 12-week waiting period.

Optional Supplemental Insurance

Employees may purchase supplemental insurance through
TransAmerica:

• Accident
• Hospital Indemnity
• Cancer Insurance
• Short-Term Disability (offered through Lincoln)

Other Benefits of Employment

• Free Parking
• Employee Wellness Program
• On-Site Fitness Center (Main Library)
• Staff Development Trainings
• Transit Pass Reimbursement
• Staff Discounts at Library Square Stores

How to Apply

• Apply on our recruitment page: Salt Lake City Public Library - Director of Public Services
• Preference will be given to candidates who apply by July 21, 2025