Executive Director

Description

The Board of Trustees of the Oak Park Public Library seeks an experienced, compassionate, collaborative leader to serve as Executive Director of the 5-star designated library serving a vibrant, diverse, and socially engaged community directly west of Chicago. 

In partnership with the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director will guide Oak Park Public Library in the next chapter of its shared vision. The Executive Director will be responsible for the organization’s management, effectiveness, sustainability, and growth by stewarding a Leadership Team responsible for Finance & Human Resources, Communications and Development, Facilities, Equity and Anti-Racism, Community Engagement, Social Services and Public Safety, Collections and Technology, Patron Services, Children’s Services, Middle and High School Services, Adult Services and Management. Overall, the Executive Director is responsible for the professional development, encouragement, and leadership of over 130 full-time and part-time staff members and reports to a seven-member elected Board of Trustees.

Full job posting and additional information.

Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Managing Director Trisha Sutrisno and Managing Associate Amber Gomes. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at [email protected] and [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

Requirements

Oak Park Public Library does require that the incoming Executive Director possess a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree or other ALA-accredited graduate degree or international equivalent in the field of Library Science / Library Information Science.

Oak Park Public Library also recognizes that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display many of the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

• A record of progressively responsible leadership and team management experience, including experience in a public library system and success as a manager of large multi-function teams;
• Knowledge of public library operations and current technology available to optimize the library's operational effectiveness;
• Robust commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism, and experience successfully prioritizing, highlighting, and implementing these principles to make marked progress in organizational policies and culture;
• Multi-cultural competence and ability to work with people from a variety of ethnic, racial, socio-economic, educational, linguistic, and religious backgrounds, as well as people with disabilities, and people of different sexual orientations, gender identities, and generations;  
• Experience working diplomatically and compassionately in politically sensitive and high-pressure environments;
• High emotional intelligence with a genuine openness to constructive input from staff, community members, partners, and the library Trustees; ability to creatively problem-solve, exercise sound judgment, and lead change including resolving complex issues;
• A record of attracting, engaging, and inspiring others, with sensitivity to others’ perspectives, and an awareness of constituent needs across library locations and how to build partnerships based on fundamental integrity, principles, and values;
• Experience working with library Trustees to collaboratively envision and enact strategic priorities; and with an organization in senior level resource planning, organizing, resource development, coordinating, financial management, and budgeting; and
• Strong communication skills, both in writing and in public speaking and experience presenting with cultural sensitivity, and an ability to listen, influence, and successfully collaborate.