Library Director

POSTING TYPE: Open Competitive

DEPARTMENT: Library

HOURS: Full-time

PREFERRED HIRING RANGE: $124,278 - $155,347

FULL SALARY RANGE: $124,278 - $194,184 (Grade 113)

LOCATION: Wescott Library, Eagan

UNION: None

CLOSE DATE: 4:30 p.m. on Monday, September 8, 2025

What You'll Do

Who We Are
Dakota County Library’s mission is to cultivate community, creativity, and learning. Our goal is to provide positive, welcoming, and inclusive experiences for our customers and employees. Our work environments are places where differences are valued and accepted, and respect and personal growth are expected. We seek individuals who are eager to build a culture of belonging and a more equitable world.

Dakota County is Minnesota’s third largest county and home to more than 400,000 residents. We strive every day to achieve excellence public service, with a focus on four values: Service, Integrity, People, and Innovation.

• Master's degree in Library Science, Library & Information Science, Public Administration, Business Administration, or closely related program
AND seven years of full-time library administration or operations experience in a library setting, including five years of management experience.
OR
• Bachelor’s degree in Library & Information Science, Library Information Technology/Media, Library Informatics, or closely related program AND nine years of full-time library administration or operations experience in a library setting, including five years of management experience.

Preferred experience beyond minimum qualifications:

• Experience working in multi-branch system.
• Experience working as a liaison with other libraries, outside agencies, and/or advisory boards.
• Experience developing and managing annual budget and finances.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic goals, objectives and annual work plans.

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions. 

1. Direct and organize all activities of library administration and the overall operations of the library. 
2. Provide leadership and direction for the vision for library services in Dakota County.
3. Develop and implement library strategic goals, objectives and annual work plan.
4. Develop and manage the library budget and finances.
5. Oversee the delivery of effective library services to customers.
6. Develop and maintain operational structures including agendas for bi-monthly Library Advisory Committee meetings, County Board documents, etc.
7. Oversee broad based efforts to raise public awareness, public relations and marketing of library services.
8. Guide the management of ten branch library locations; plan for new library building and for expansion and remodeling of current library buildings.
9. Coordinate library services with the services of other county and city libraries in the metropolitan area and represent Dakota County on the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) Advisory Board.
10. Coordinate library services with the services of other Dakota County Departments.
11. Represent Dakota County and the library on special committees or groups, including the Dakota County Library Foundation Board, Friends of the Library groups and Minnesota Library Association.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Duties 1-11 are essential functions.

· Comprehensive knowledge and experience in library science systems, principles and practices.
· Knowledge of financial and budgetary principles.
· Ability to think and plan on a strategic level for development and improvement of library services.
· Ability to prepare comprehensive library budgets, activity reports, and usage reports.
· Ability to create and support effective relationships within the library, division, County and outside agencies.
· Ability to make effective presentations to and clearly communicate with, library staff, citizens, County Board of Commissioners, and other civic groups.
· Ability to establish objectives and performance measures as well as clearly communicate, monitor and evaluate the outcome of those objectives and measures.

Work Environment
Work is performed in a County library.  Some travel is required. Lifting requirement of up to 20 pounds on an occasional basis.  Equipment used may include, but is not limited to, computer, printer, telephone, calculator, projector, copy and fax machines.

Location & Schedule
This is a hybrid position that offers a mix of telework and in-person work at our Wescott Library in Eagan. Work is performed Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). Some evenings may be necessary for events and meetings.

Benefits

• Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, vision, and other benefits
• Excellent work-life balance
• Generous paid time off (accrual rate starts at four weeks per year)
• Eleven paid holidays and one floating holiday each year
• Pension with a generous employer contribution

Selection Process

• You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions
• We assign you a score based on your qualifications 
• Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration
• We conduct interviews and reference checks before extending an offer 
• We extend an offer and conduct background checks