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Job Summary

Make an impact:
Salem Public Library is seeking an experienced, thoughtful leader to serve as Deputy City Librarian. In this role, the incoming Deputy City Librarian will work alongside a committed team to strengthen library services, plan for sustainable growth, and expand access to the underserved in Oregon’s capital city. The Deputy City Librarian provides executive leadership in strategic planning, service design, and organizational operations. This role focuses on building and sustaining service models that allow the library to expand access, including future development of new locations, while maintaining fiscal responsibility, staffing stability, and service quality.

Salem Public Library is widely valued by the community and consistently delivers strong outcomes despite operating with fewer financial and staffing resources than comparable libraries. The library has a highly engaged patron base, strong program participation, and a reputation for being welcoming, responsive, and community centered. In 2025, voters overwhelmingly passed a five-year Local Option Levy to sustain and expand library services at both locations.

The Salem Public Library’s mission is to engage all of Salem in lifelong learning, access to information, and meaningful connections, serving as both a trusted public institution and a vital community resource. Our work is grounded in shared values of responsive service, trust, adaptability, inclusion, and community. 

What you will do:
The Deputy City Librarian works in close partnership with the City Librarian, leads and supervises the administrative team, guides organizational change, and applies systems thinking to align staffing, facilities, technology, and services with long-term strategic goals. The position requires demonstrated experience in supervising staff, working within a unionized environment, including personnel management and labor agreement compliance, making strategic decisions in environments with limited staffing and resources while planning for future growth, planning library services within real world constraints, including long-term operational sustainability, and managing annual budgets.

The Deputy City Librarian is a trusted, experienced leader who ensures the library grows responsibly, adapt to changing community needs, and sustain excellent public service over time. The Deputy City Librarian also serves as a primary liaison with internal City partners, including Risk Management, Public Safety, IT, and Facilities/Fleet, to support coordinated, efficient operations. 

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
• Competitive pay.
• Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Voluntary long-term care.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee health clinic.
• Position schedule is Tuesday through Saturday, between the hours of 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., including one evening shift per week until 7:15 p.m.
• The City of Salem offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Equal Pay.

What you will bring along: 

• Knowledge of principles and practices of executive-level public library leadership, including translating mission, vision, and strategic goals into sustainable service models that align with staffing capacity, facilities, and financial resources;
• Knowledge of public-sector and municipal administration, including public accountability, transparency, interdepartmental collaboration, and compliance with City policies, labor agreements, and regulatory requirements;
• Experience in strategic planning, organizational development, and change management, particularly in environments with limited resources and evolving community needs;
• Experience in budgeting, governmental accounting, contracting, and long-range financial planning, including prioritization, trade-off analysis, and resource stewardship;
• Knowledge of personnel management and labor relations principles, including supervision of supervisors, performance management, employee engagement, and application of union contracts and employment laws;
• Knowledge of building and maintaining effective working relationships across City departments, partner organizations, and the community to support coordinated and efficient service delivery;
• Equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging principles, and their application to service planning, staffing, policies, and organizational decision-making;
• Experience in policy development and project management, including leading complex, cross-departmental initiatives;
• Experience providing strategic leadership and sound judgment across multiple service areas and operations with minimal direction, serving as a senior decision-maker for the organization;
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing the administrative team, setting clear expectations, upholding accountability, and fostering a healthy and inclusive organizational culture;
• Experience evaluating library services and operations using data, community input, and equity considerations; 
• Experience recommending and implement improvements that balance access, quality, and sustainability;
• Experience planning, allocating, and managing financial and staffing resources to support both current services and long-term organizational growth;
• Knowledge of navigating complex legal, regulatory, and contractual frameworks, including interpreting and applying laws, policies, labor agreements, and City regulations;
• Experience with communication skills to effectively work with diverse audiences, including staff, City leadership, elected officials, advisory boards, community partners, and the public; present complex or technical information clearly and persuasively;
• Knowledge of cultural competency and inclusive leadership, valuing diverse perspectives and fostering a respectful, equitable workplace.

Salem Public Library (SPL) serves Oregon’s capital city and a diverse, growing community of more than 170,000. As the largest member of the Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library System (CCRLS) and the second largest library in the State of Oregon, SPL operates a Main Library and the West Salem Branch, providing access to information, technology, lifelong learning, and community space for residents of all ages and backgrounds. 

Learn more about the Salem Public Library at: https://www.cityofsalem.net/community/library.

Salem is the second largest city in Oregon and the capital city. Centrally located in the Willamette Valley, Salem is 49 square miles in size and extends across to counties, Marion and Polk. The community has well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings with wide diversity and a family-friendly ambiance. The city is home to nearly 180,000 residents. For a full community profile detailing demographics and housing statistics, visit the City of Salem website.

The City of Salem organization has eight primary departments: Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City of Salem employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members and works collaboratively with five labor unions.

External Job Ad
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cityofsalem/jobs/5210928/deputy-city-librarian