The Board of Trustees of the St. Joseph County Public Library (SJCPL) headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, seeks an Executive Director to lead its exceptional and innovative library. The library serves approximately 168,000 people through a main library and nine (9) branches located in neighborhoods and communities throughout the county. This position is open due to the upcoming retirement of the current Executive Director.

This is an outstanding opportunity to lead a forward-moving library that embraces the diverse community it serves. The library is renowned for its friendly staff, supportive library board, and engaged community.

St. Joe County residents enjoy world-class museums, a vibrant arts scene, and a range of festivals, dining, and nightlife. South Bend is home to the several institutions of higher education, including the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University at South Bend. This region of northern Indiana boasts a reasonable cost of living combined with a high quality of life, making it an ideal Midwestern destination to live, work, and play.

About the Opportunity

The successful candidate will possess both visionary leadership and practical skills that will help ensure that SJCPL continues serving the needs of the community while also proactively looking to the future. This individual should be passionate about the role libraries play in their communities and enthusiastic about building upon the library's long history of achievements.

The new Executive Director should be a consensus builder, adept at inspiring and working with key stakeholders in the library community, including the Board, staff, community leaders, Friends group, and the public.

Qualifications and Requirements
  • A resourceful, confident leader who possesses excellent interpersonal skills and a commitment to fostering a work environment that embraces collaboration, creative problem-solving, and shared decision-making
  • Awareness of current practices and new trends in technology, customer service, regulatory compliance, and library administration
  • The ability and willingness to act as an ambassador for the library, with an understanding of both current and emerging ways that SJCPL can best serve its community
  • Political savviness with well-developed skills in cultivating and nurturing relationships with the community and governmental agencies
  • A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
Additional Qualifications
  • Experience in a high-level public library leadership role, including demonstrated financial and planning expertise and outstanding communication skills
  • Ability to obtain an LC1 Indiana Public Library Certification
  • Master of Library Science degree or equivalent from an ALA accredited school
To apply for this opportunity, please submit a cover letter, current resume, and three professional references using the contact information below. Please include your last name in the title of any attached files and "St. Joe" in the subject line of your email.

Salary $96,000 to $144,000/year, negotiable based on experience and qualifications. Relocation assistance provided. Excellent benefits including participation in the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS).

Questions? We welcome and encourage inquiries. Interviews will be ongoing beginning April 2022 and continue until the opportunity is filled.

John Keister & Associates
Executive Search
stjoe@johnkeister.com
847-955-0541

We are committed to Equal Employment Opportunities, and will not discriminate against any candidate because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Photos courtesy of St. Joe County Public Library