JOB SUMMARY:
Under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Guest Officer (CGO) has strategic and operational responsibility for the library’s Guest Services division. They direct, administer, plan, and coordinate activities related to the library’s Guest Services division in accordance with policies, strategic plan(s), and annual plan(s) established by the library’s Executive and Advisory Councils and the Metropolitan Library Commission. Responsibilities include providing leadership, strategic direction, and resource stewardship for the subordinate directors/manages who oversee the libraries and departments within the division and for succession planning and mentoring support for all division staff and managers. As the organization’s senior-most Guest Services leader, the CGO is accountable for the overall service performance (analog and virtual guest interactions) of all libraries, for the achievement of divisional goals and objectives, and for aligning system-wide strategic objectives with effective and guest-centric access and engagement plans, operational strategies and metrics tied to those strategies, and the ongoing development and monitoring of operational service and performance systems. This position is a member of the Executive and Advisory Councils.
This position is assigned to the Guest Services Department, which is located at the Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
- Master's degree in Library Studies/Information Science from an ALA-accredited college or university; and
- Seven years of experience managing service provision, staff, programs, and large-scale projects; and
- Five years of public library experience.
HIGHLY PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:
- Future-oriented, can articulate vision of possibilities and likelihood of their success. Has broad knowledge and perspective.
- Effectively copes with change, comfortably shifts gears, and manages risk and uncertainty. Decisive and action oriented without having the total picture.
- Skilled at judging which ideas and suggestions will work and moving them forward. Can manage the creative processes of others.
- Knowledgeable about how an organization, especially libraries, works and knows how to get results using both formal and informal channels. Recognizes and understands the culture of an organization. Understands the origin and reasoning behind key policies, practices, and procedures of the organization.
- Ability to relate well and build appropriate rapport and relationships with a variety of people in all levels of the organization, as well as people outside the organization. Uses diplomacy and tact and can diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably.
- Addresses and resolves conflict equitably, seeking common ground and cooperation when possible. Skilled at reading situations quickly and focusing attention to gain understanding of conflict situations.
