Chief Operating Officer

Job Description

Job Description

The Allen County Public Library seeks a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to provide system-wide operational leadership across a multi-branch library system. This role partners with the Executive Director, leadership team, and department managers to ensure aligned, effective service delivery across all locations.

This position carries immediate, high-visibility responsibility for a multi-year capital initiative, having a leadership role in the planning and execution of multiple consecutive branch renovation projects. The COO holds a primary role in the project team responsible for this work, ensuring continuity of service while advancing long-term facility goals. Since 2021, ACPL has undertaken an extensive and collaborative planning process that included facility evaluations, focus groups, community surveys, and public hearings. The resulting Facilities Master Plan-supported by $37 million in bond funding and more than $20 million in reserve funds-prioritizes projects at locations where buildings are no longer sustainable due to age, size, or structural limitations.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the COO oversees Public Services, Youth Services, and System Services, aligning strategy, operations, and resources across the organization, including direct responsibility for the performance, consistency, and continuous improvement of public-facing services and system-wide service delivery models, and ensuring programs and services remain responsive to community needs and aligned across all locations.

ACPL serves approximately 385,000 residents through a Main Library, thirteen branches, and a data center, with 324 FTE and a $37 million budget. The Library's collection exceeds 3.9 million items, with annual circulation of 4.6 million. The Main Library houses The Genealogy Center and The Rolland Center for Lincoln Research.

Fort Wayne, Indiana-recently named the state's first Certified Welcoming Community -offers a strong mix of economic growth, cultural amenities, and quality of life, with a "big-city, small-town" feel.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Holds a leadership role in a multi-year, multi-branch renovation program, including planning, budgets, timelines, and cross-functional coordination

• Coordinate capital and facilities planning in alignment with the Facility Master Plan

• Drive operational planning aligned with strategic priorities

• Evaluate services, staffing, and initiatives; allocate resources to support effective operations

• Lead a system-wide customer service training initiative to strengthen service consistency

• Align system-wide operations, strategy, and service delivery in partnership with the Executive Director and leadership team

• Act in the Executive Director's absence

Qualifications: A master's degree in library or information sciences from an ALA-accredited institution is required, as is a minimum of five (5) years of public library managerial experience that includes supervisory responsibilities for mid-to-upper-level managers. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. Other requirements include the ability to obtain State Library Certification at an LC2 level within one (1) year, and a valid driver's license. Familiarity with capital planning, technology integration, and construction or renovation projects is strongly preferred. Highly desirable skills include: demonstrated success managing multiple departments in complex organizations, and experience leading strategic planning, resource planning, and staff development.

Compensation: The position has a salary range of $87,776 - $140,441(with placement negotiable dependent on experience and qualifications) and comes with an excellent benefits package.  

This position closes on Sunday, June 21, 2026 .  

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Applications for the Chief Operating Officer position are being managed through our executive search partner, Bradbury Miller Associates. Interested candidates should direct all inquiries and application materials to Bradbury Miller Associates for consideration.