YOUTH SERVICES MANAGER

Description

HOURS: Minimum of 37.5 hours per week. May be required to work flexible hours, including evenings and/or weekends, to meet operational needs.

PAY GRADE: 7 ($77,825.00)

LOCATION: Main Library

EXTERNAL POSTING OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Cleveland Public Library strives to be the driving force behind a powerful culture of learning that will inspire Clevelanders from all walks of life to continually learn, share, and seek out new knowledge.

The successful applicant will be a self-directed professional with a strong work ethic, a collaborative work style, and the skill set to thrive in a welcoming service environment for patrons and staff.

JOB SUMMARY: Leads system-wide youth services strategy while overseeing operations at the Main Library to deliver high-quality programs, collections, and learning experiences for children, teens, and families. Drives a culture of literacy, curiosity, and belonging by building staff capacity, advancing best practices in youth development and reading, and fostering strong community partnerships. Ensures consistent, innovative, and impactful service delivery aligned with the Library’s mission and strategic priorities. Performs other functionally related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in Library and Information Science, Education, or a related field.
• Five (5) years’ experience in youth services within a library or school setting.
• Experience managing large-scale programs and public-facing initiatives.
• Three (3) years’ supervisory or leadership experience.
• Experience building partnerships with schools and/or community organizations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in library and information science, Education, or a related field
• Experience with early literacy frameworks (e.g., Every Child Ready to Read, Science of Reading).
• Experience working in a public library, nonprofit, or government setting.
• Experience working in a unionized environment

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES (KSAs):

• Knowledge of library principles, practices, and collection development, including building diverse and inclusive collections for children, teens, and families
• Knowledge of children’s, youth, and teen literature, reference services, and reader’s advisory practices
• Knowledge of early literacy, adolescent development, and culturally responsive service models
• Skill in leading, coaching, and developing staff to drive accountability and growth
• Skill in managing multiple projects and initiatives with competing priorities
• Skill in building and maintaining collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Skill in analyzing and applying data to inform decisions and improve services
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presentations and professional materials
• Ability to design, implement, and evaluate innovative youth programs and services
• Ability to manage budgets and resources strategically and responsibly
• Ability to adapt to new technologies, systems, and processes
• Ability to align work with organizational goals and deliver high-quality outcomes

Certifications: N/A

Driver License: Required

Other License: N/A

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE:

• Knowledge of library theory, standards, and best practices. General principles and objectives of information technology systems and programs.
• Accomplish goals and tasks through others by delegation, follow-up and oversight.
• Ability to work as part of a team and work effectively with persons and communities from diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Experience working with all levels within an organization is required.
• Experience modifying and adapting existing programs, services, policies and processes to meet changing needs and expectations is required.
• Working with community leaders, public officials, and other community stakeholders is preferred.
• Experience managing budgets, resources and people is required.
• Experience in public library, public-sector, and a union environment is preferred.
• Proficiency in MS Office or similar software is required. Relevant business management systems such as general ledger, HRIS, CRM, etc., is preferred.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Driver License: Required

Other License: N/A

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Evaluation of this position is based primarily on performance of the following essential functions, which include, but are not limited to:

1. Provides strategic leadership and oversight of the Youth Services Department at Main Library, ensuring high-quality, innovative services for children, teens, and families.
2. Leads, coaches, and develops Youth Services staff, including hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating performance to ensure accountability, professional growth, and excellence in service delivery.
3. Facilitates system-wide Youth Services monthly meetings in collaboration with the Youth and Family Engagement team, fostering alignment, shared learning, and the dissemination of best practices.
4. Leads the planning, implementation, and evaluation of Cleveland Reads, the library’s summer literacy program, in partnership with the Senior Director of Youth Services and Family Engagement.
5. Serves as Chair of the Sugarman Awards, overseeing all aspects of planning, coordination, and execution to ensure a high-quality and meaningful recognition program.
6. Builds and sustains strategic partnerships with community organizations, schools, educators, caregivers, and stakeholders to expand access to services and advance literacy and youth development.
7. Designs, implements, and evaluates innovative programs, services, and learning experiences that support early literacy, reading engagement, and positive youth outcomes.
8. Oversees the development and management of youth collections, ensuring materials are diverse, inclusive, relevant, and responsive to community needs.
9. Utilizes data and evaluation tools to assess programs, services, and collections; applies insights to drive continuous improvement and informed decision-making.
10. Manages departmental budgets, including planning, monitoring expenditures, and ensuring responsible and strategic use of resources.
11. Leads and manages multiple large-scale initiatives and concurrent projects, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and successful, timely execution.
12. Collaborates across departments and with system-wide teams to ensure cohesive service delivery and alignment with the library’s mission and strategic goals.
13. Represents the library in community meetings, professional settings, and public forums, delivering clear, compelling presentations and communications.
14. Ensures the effective use of technology, tools, and systems to support operations, enhance services, and improve team efficiency.
15. Maintains clear, accurate, and professional written communication, including reports, presentations, and internal and external correspondence.
16. Performs other functionally related duties as assigned.

To Apply; please attach a current/updated resume and CV

EXTERNAL POSTING OPEN UNTIL FILLED