Job Description
Find Your Place at a Place Like No Other. – The award-winning Hartford Public Library seeks a charismatic and experienced leader to provide vision and continued collaboration within the City of Hartford as the Library’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The successful candidate will have an entrepreneurial focus and a strong background in fundraising and developing beneficial partnerships. In addition to external engagement, the new CEO will work with a committed, talented staff providing leadership and direction for the Library’s continued success as a vital civic institution. Current programs at the Library include YOUmedia Hartford—a digital learning place for teens; The American Place—designed to welcome immigrants and ease their transition to their new home city; CTWorks@HPL--a collaborative one-stop career center; The Kitchen at Hartford Public Library—a non-profit partnership pairing farm-to-table job training and permanent job placement; the Hartford History Center; Baby-Grand Jazz Series—a series of 16 free jazz concerts now in its 12th year; and ArtWalk--one of the largest and most stunning exhibition spaces in greater Hartford, featuring up to four exhibitions per year. New projects and collaborations include two major branch construction projects and creation of the UCONN Hartford campus within the Downtown library, Itty Bitty Hartford—a childhood education play-and-learn destination inside the Downtown library, and an expanded partnership with the Hartford Public Schools. A 2002 IMLS National Service Medal winner, the Library was also a finalist for the medal in both 2013 and 2014. Hartford Public Library, a 501c3 nonprofit, serves 124,775 residents with ten branches and a $9.6 million annual budget. In FY14, the library staff (104FTE) hosted 833,000 visits and circulated nearly 500,000 items. The Hartford Public Library is nationally recognized as one of the top libraries in the United States.
Additional Info & Requirements
Minimum qualifications include: Bachelor’s degree in business, liberal arts, or library science; six to 10 years of experience managing and/or leading as an executive or CEO in complex organizations; demonstrable proficiency in strategic planning and policy development and execution; strong demonstrated working knowledge and execution of business processes, planning and organization, budgeting and fund development; experience in an urban library/environment; or any combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the requirements of the position. A solid working knowledge of board relations is critical for this position. Preferred qualifications include: a Master’s degree in business, public administration, education, or library science; experience working in the library field; and successful experience working in a union environment. To review the full position description, visit CEO Position Description. Establishing residency in the City of Hartford within six months of appointment is required.
The hiring salary range for the position is $140,000 - $160,000 annually (with placement dependent upon qualifications) and includes a competitive employee benefits package.
The Community
Hartford, the capital of Connecticut, is its fourth largest city, home to the nation’s oldest public art museum and oldest public park, and is the birthplace of the Boys and Girls Club. Hartford also was home to Caroline Hewins, the Library’s first chief librarian, who was a national leader in the early 20th century in creating public library services for children. The City is proud of its innovative iQuilt project, a culture-based urban design plan for Downtown Hartford—a compact historic district with more than 45 cultural assets and destinations (including the Library) accessible through a pedestrian network. Its centerpiece is the GreenWalk, a one mile chain of parks and plazas connecting the Capitol to the Connecticut River waterfront. The City’s goals include a more walkable, sustainable, and welcoming downtown, an improved cultural network, and a stronger economy and workforce. Hartford is a city of 17 diverse neighborhoods—each one possessing its own history, diverse cultures and distinct architectural charm which makes Hartford a premier destination to live, work, play and raise a family. For more details about Hartford, the Library, and the many attractions of both, see Hartford links.
HR Info
For more information, contact Bradbury Associates/Gossage Sager Associates. To start the application process, send a meaningful cover letter and résumé as Word or pdf attachments to Karen Miller, karenmiller@gossagesager.com, before the closing date of January 17, 2016.