Executive Director – Dauphin County Library System (PA)

The Dauphin County Library System (PA) Board of Trustees seeks an inspiring leader capable of fostering lasting relationships with key stakeholders to build community and transform lives by connecting people, ideas, and opportunities. The Executive Director will be responsible for providing quality public library service to the residents of Dauphin County through eight locations, a mobile library, a $7.8 million budget, and 132 FTE of staff. The library is a private, nonprofit corporation with 501(c)(3) status and is governed by a 17-member Board of Trustees—five appointed annually by the Dauphin County Commissioners, and 12 elected for three-year terms. Key initiatives include the development and execution of a new strategic plan, discovering new sources of funding and support, and continuing to foster an environment of growth and enthusiasm within the DCLS staff. 

Home to Pennsylvania’s state capital, Harrisburg, more than 286,000 people call Dauphin County home. Bordered to the west by the Susquehanna River, the county offers a serene escape for nature enthusiasts with many parks, trails, and conservation areas. With Hershey Gardens and the iconic Hersheypark, residents enjoy indulging in sweet adventures and family fun. Harrisburg also boasts the National Civil War Museum, a vibrant and charming downtown with lively shops and restaurants, and the State Museum of Pennsylvania. For its 2023-2024 Best Places to Live list, US News and World Report placed Harrisburg ahead of all other metro areas in the Commonwealth. In its report, US News lauded Harrisburg for such attributes as affordability, a strong arts scene, easy access to the great outdoors, and proximity to larger cities. The area maintains a small-town feel while being less than a three-hour drive from Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., New York, and New Jersey.  

Responsibilities: The Executive Director reviews and updates the strategic plan and formulates and implements operational goals within the library system addressing the short- and long-range goals as determined by the Board of Trustees; meets with various community partners/stakeholders, governmental agencies, and elected officials to update and discuss library concerns and objectives; prepares reports in cooperation with the senior management team for presentation to the Board of Trustees and governmental agencies; designs and implements policy decisions relating to all aspects of the library operation; serves as liaison with community organizations and the public to establish positive relationships for mutual benefit of the community and the library system; and oversees the responsibility of key operations: facilities, finance, fund raising, information technology, marketing, personnel, public services through the management of the respective senior management team, as well as overseeing the activities of the Capital Area Library District. A full list of responsibilities and expectations are listed in the job description below. 

Qualifications: An American Library Association-accredited master of library science degree and five years of public library experience with at least five years of experience in an administrative or executive capacity are required. The ideal candidate will have experience running a multi-branch system, understand the intricacies of city and county government and Pennsylvania state government funding, and the ability to effectively communicate up and down an organizational structure. 

Compensation: The hiring salary range is $125,000 – $140,000 (with placement negotiable dependent on experience and qualifications) and an excellent fringe benefits package. 

For further information, contact Bradbury Miller Associates. Apply via email with a meaningful cover letter and your resume as Word or PDF attachments to Briana Trudell (brianatrudell@braburymiller.com). This position closes on Sunday, January 21, 2023. 

View the most up to date version of this announcement in its entirety along with accompanying links at https://bradburymiller.com/job/dauphin-pa/.  

Submit specified application materials to brianatrudell@bradburymiller.com.