Regional Manager - Library

Full Job Description

Invitation to Compete #09-26: Regional Manager

Northeast Region

Regular, FLSA-exempt, benefitted full-time position (80 hour per pay period)

Salary range: $125,843.76 - $152,653.68 annually

The hours for this appointment may include weekdays, weekends and evenings and is subject to change based on the Library’s current, operational need. A pay period is two weeks in length that starts on Wednesday and ends on Tuesday.

The Seattle Public Library’s mission is to bring people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community.

We view Seattle as a city where imagination and opportunity continue to thrive. Since 1891, we have grown from a single reading room in Pioneer Square to a world-class library system with 27 locations.

The Library works every day to foster and support a healthy city and a healthy democracy.

We do this work guided by the principles of intellectual freedom, literacy and the love of learning, racial equity, privacy and confidentiality, respect for the community, strong partnerships and innovation.

We are an active and committed partner in the City of Seattle's Race and Social Justice Initiative.

Library employees are highly regarded by the public for their knowledge, quality of service and caring. As a workplace, we value respectful and transparent communication, partnership and engagement.

We are enriched individually and organizationally because of our diversity and growth mindset. We take time to recognize and celebrate the achievements of others.

If you share these values and meet the qualifications, the Library invites you to apply for the Regional Manager position.

The Northeast (NER) Regional Manager provides leadership for four branch locations: Lake City, Northgate, Northeast and University.

Responsibilities include providing daily oversight and direction for assigned units as well as engaging in long-range planning to ensure that the work is aligned with our Strategic Direction priorities: Enrichment, Empowerment, Literacy and Belonging.

The NER Regional Manager supervises four Branch Operations Managers who lead the Lake City, Northgate, Northeast and University locations.

This position will also lead the work of librarians and paraprofessionals (Library Associate 4s) providing patron services at these locations.

In addition, the Regional Manager provides leadership for the daily work and long range planning of these departments, ensuring that information services, programming and outreach, collection maintenance, circulation and materials movement function smoothly.

The NER Regional Manager also works closely with Security and Facilities staff to provide a welcoming and safe environment.

This position reports to the Assistant Director of Library Experience, Branch Locations, and is part of the Library Experience & Engagement Division (LEED).

The NER Regional Manager will collaborate with five other Regional Managers, Central Library Information Manager, Circulation Service Manager, Youth & Family Services Manager, Community Engagement & Economic Development Service Manager, Special Collections Service Manager, and Technical and Collection Services Manager to collaboratively lead the development of responsive services and innovative operational systems and to implement and support effective policies and procedures to guide the work of LEED staff throughout the system.

The successful candidate will bring passion and commitment to the task of providing excellent, innovative library services.

The ideal candidate will be a strong leader, experienced manager and a collaborative management team player.

The candidate will be an excellent communicator, possessing diplomacy, tact, excellent listening skills, strong group facilitation skills, analytical and problem-solving skills, a commitment to establishing an environment of open, honest communication and rational decision-making as well as the ability to negotiate with all levels of staff to accomplish the mission and goals of the Library.

Staff members are highly regarded by the public for their knowledge and quality of service.

We embrace our organizational values of respect, partnership, engagement, diversity, transparency and recognition.

We foster a culture of innovation and we encourage and support employees’ creativity, engagement, learning and development. If you share these values, we invite you to apply.

Requirements

Strategic Planning: Plan strategic direction and provide recommendations to LEED leadership for the enhancement of library programs and services.

Contribute current knowledge related to trends, issues and practices in library services to support the development of excellent and innovative library services.

Implement changes and enhancements as required.

Supervision and Oversight: Hire, train, manage and oversee the work of staff. Coach, develop and guide staff toward the highest standards of service.

Provide broad direction, advice and training for staff to support the development and delivery of innovative, responsive services.

Evaluate staff performance and collaborate with the Service Managers in performance evaluation of relevant staff.

Collaborate with other Regional and Service Managers regarding these issues at a system level. Ensure that exemplary customer service is provided to the public and internal customers.

Outreach: Represent the Library to the public and in collaboration with a wide variety of community organizations and government agencies, such as the City of Seattle and Seattle Colleges.

Leadership: Provide both system-wide and external leadership in developing and maintaining policy, service standards and protocols.

Leadership may include chairing committees, studies and project teams within the system or with external local and national partners.

Provide leadership, assignments and opportunities for staff that will inspire and encourage them to reach for excellence and provide recognition when they achieve it.

Serve as Librarian-In-Charge as scheduled.

Resource Management: Ensure the effective use of resources by planning, organizing, monitoring, evaluating and measuring impact against service objectives. Research and prepare monthly and periodic reports as required/requested to support the interests of the Library and its patrons.

Budget Management: Assist with budget preparation, expenditure, tracking and reporting as needed for operational budgets and grant-funded projects, including working with the Seattle Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Library and other agencies to develop and manage grant funded projects

Intellectual Freedom: Support intellectual freedom; assume responsibility for how the Library is perceived by staff and the public.

Qualifications

Leadership and Management: Three (3) years of experience supervising teams and managing programs or projects, preferably in a library setting.

Demonstrated knowledge of management practices and principles, including the ability to train and inspire professional and support staff and promote enthusiastic teamwork.

Program/Project Development and Evaluation: Demonstrated experience planning, implementing and evaluating significant projects. Must be highly organized and possess critical thinking skills.

Technology and Informational Resources: Must have current working knowledge of PCs, online databases, networks, social media and word processing and spreadsheet software.

Demonstrated competency with intranet content management and document management software, preferably Microsoft SharePoint.

Interest in and working knowledge of relevant informational resources, including recent technological innovations and library applications are also required.

Communication, Collaboration and Outreach Skills: Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including experience in public speaking. Experience developing community contacts, collaborations and partnerships.

Exemplary Customer Service: The successful candidates will have a strong commitment to public service and providing exceptional customer service.

Candidates must possess excellent interpersonal communication, problem solving, customer relations and teamwork skills.

A sense of humor and the ability to demonstrate a positive and enthusiastic commitment to public service.

Budget Management: Two (2) years of experience planning and administering a budget.

Intellectual Freedom: A strong commitment to intellectual freedom and to the Library’s missions and goals.

Diversity and Inclusion: Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity within the organization and throughout service delivery.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and experience. Master of Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited library school preferred.

Additional Information

How to Apply

This recruitment will be open until the position is filled with application review beginning February 19, 2026. Applications received by this date will receive first consideration.

Candidates who meet the qualifications are asked to submit the following items in NEOGOV to be considered for these positions.

1. Online application.
2. A cover letter that describes how your experience and skills align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications. Please let us know why you are interested in these positions.
3. Current resume that summarizes relevant education, professional experience, training and skills.

Applications that do not include a cover letter and resume will not be considered. Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills.

Initial screening will be based on a review of application materials. The employment history detailed in your application materials MUST validate/support your responses to the supplemental questions.

If your responses cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the review/selection process.

The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in a series of one or more interviews.

Benefits and Salary Information

The full salary range for this position is $125,843.76 - $152,653.68 annually.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans

Retirement information can be found here:https://www.seattle.gov/retirement

Additional Information

If you have questions regarding this bulletin or employment at The Seattle Public Library, please send an email to job.applications@spl.org. The Library promotes diversity and inclusion in employment. If accommodations are needed during the selection process, please contact us.

Please keep in mind that job offers are contingent on a review of criminal history as well as verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process.