Overview

Reporting to the Director of Young Adult Programs and Services (YAPS), the Associate Director is a leading member of a team responsible for providing support through programming, resources, professional development, and partnerships to teen patrons and teen-serving staff across our 89 branches. The Associate Director’s portfolio includes the supervision and strategic growth of key elements of NYPL’s Teens 360° initiative including specialized teen internships, college and career readiness, teen volunteerism, post-secondary skill-building, and the promotion of teen voice through publishing teen-created content. The Associate Director designs, communicates, and implements programs and services that help bring the Library’s strategic vision for teens to life, and works closely with the Director and NYPL senior leaders to ensure these services align with institutional strategic priorities and workflows.

We seek an Associate Director who will oversee College & Career Pathways, Teen Ambassador Programs, and Teen Voice & Leadership.

We are looking for someone we can count on to:

Own:

The creation of opportunities for teens to share and showcase their unique perspectives and voices through a variety of platforms including digital and print media, podcasts, video, and social media.
Systemwide post-secondary readiness programs and services.

Teach:

Stakeholders across NYPL new perspectives on the important role NYPL plays in the lives of teens across NYC.

Learn:

The goals of the Young Adult Services department and our philosophy for working with young adults inclusive of NYPL’s strategic vision and our Teens360 initiative;
The guiding principles and processes that underpin the production of our Teen Voices magazines and the creative programs we design in partnership with colleagues in Research divisions, our Communications teams, and other major stakeholders.

Improve:

The number of opportunities teens have to create original content at the Library.
The strategic alignment of NYPL’s post-secondary skill building programs and services
Our capacity to offer teens experiences and resources through partnerships with external organizations whose work aligns with and supports our mission;

Some expectations for this role are that within:

1 month, this person will:

Work with the YAPS managers of College & Career Pathways, Teen Ambassador Programs, and Teen Voice & Leadership to gain an understanding of each program area, its goals and delivery mechanisms.
Work with the Director of YA Services and YA managers of CCP, TAP, and TVL to identify key deliverables in each program/service area that are aligned with the Teens 360° vision for teen services.

3 months, this person will:

Work with the Director of YAPS and all YA managers to analyze the strengths and opportunities that exist in these program areas.

6 months and beyond, this person will:

Continue to learn about the ecosystem of teen services at NYPL to be able to propose potential areas of improvement and growth.

Responsibilities

Supervise, create and grow the following teen initiatives in the Young Adult department at The New York Public Library
College and Career Pathways, Teen Ambassador Programs, Teen Voice & Leadership
Lead key elements that are critical to the success of NYPL’s Teens 360° initiative, including support to branches through specialty professional development on topics such as teen engagement, college and career readiness, programs that inspire teen creativity, general program development and implementation, and more
Work collaboratively and build strong working relationships with internal partners including Children’s Services, Adult Services, Adult Reading Engagement, Communications, Research, Patron Analytics and Impact, and more
Engage in strategic planning that includes a horizon of up to 2 years
Works with the Director on grant proposals and fund raising in collaboration with Development, and assists the Director, Development and other key NYPL stakeholders in maintaining donor relationships, including reports and data
Communicate regularly with internal and external partners
Support collaboration and alignment within the Young Adult Programs & Services Department
Perform other related duties as assigned

Required Education, Experience & Skills

Required Education & Certifications

Master’s Degree in Library Sciences, Education or related field required

Required Experience

10+ years of experience designing, implementing, and scaling educational programs in a library or related setting
5+ years of management/supervisory experience
Experience in supervising programming that supports young adults and their families
Experience in one or more of the following areas: creative writing and/or art programming for teens, publishing teen work, teen internship or volunteer management, college and career readiness programming for youth

Required Skills

Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written skills, including ability to communicate effectively with all levels of Library staff and external partners
Proficiency with Google Suite and Microsoft Office
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, delegating tasks as appropriate to team
Demonstrated ability to foster collegiality, shared vision, and teamwork across departments and with external partners.
Excellent organizational skills and time management skills including ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects simultaneously
Reliable work ethic and the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities
Collaborative leader with a positive, solutions-oriented approach

Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct supervision of 3 Managers (the Managers of CCP, TAP, and TVL) and indirect supervision of 5 Associate Managers
Responsible for hiring, performance management, and coaching

More...

Core Values

All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:

Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
Be Resourceful in solving problems
Be Curious in all aspects of your work
Be Welcoming and Inclusive

Work Environment

Primarily office setting, with regular visits to branch libraries
Occasional outdoor events and offsite meetings at partner organizations

Physical Duties

Travel throughout NYC required
Limited physical effort is required

Pre-Placement Physical Required?

Union/Non Union

Non-Union

FLSA Status

Exempt

Schedule

35 hours per week
Hybrid schedule; 4 days per week onsite and up to 1 day per week remote

This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.

The New York Public Library Salary Statement

At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees. When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills. No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.

About The New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves more than 18 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org.

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Associate Director, Young Adult Programs and Services