Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
A career-defining mandate for an experienced leader with a deep understanding of, and passion for, libraries and their place in society, who will be guided by the vision that “The Public Library will be an inclusive, safe and welcoming community hub built around trust, understanding and collaboration to meet the community’s needs.”
About the Thunder Bay Public Library
Serving the print and digital resource and service needs of the people of Thunder Bay through its four branches across the city, the Thunder Bay Public Library (TBPL) has one purpose, built on the belief that “Everyone has the right to access the resources and services they need to learn, express themselves creatively, and reach their full potential.”
About the Opportunity
As the new CEO of the Thunder Bay Public Library (TBPL), you will provide professional expertise and strategic leadership in the delivery of effective, high-quality public library service, building on TBPL’s strategic and fiscal accomplishments. Leveraging your experience, you will plan, organize, direct and evaluate all facets of Library operations, including overseeing and improving the operational management of the organization, securing the financial resources necessary for Library operations, ensuring sound financial management and realizing the organization’s mission, vision and values.
A visionary, inspiring, community-minded leader who can connect with public, private and not-for-profit stakeholders, donors and partners, you will serve as chief advisor to the Board, and as the primary representative to the community, the media, the municipal
government, and other funders and partners. A core function of your duties as CEO will entail developing, articulating and realizing a vision for the future of the Library, and bringing real innovation to all levels of the organization, while continuing to provide diverse and inclusive materials, services and programs for the Thunder Bay community.
About the Candidate
This is an exceptional career opportunity for a strategic thinker, a natural leader and relationship builder whose expertise is underpinned by an advanced post-secondary degree(s), e.g. MA or PhD in a relevant field, Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS), and at least 3 years’ senior management experience in a library system or similar (not-for-profit) organization.
Complementing this background is your understanding of Thunder Bay’s history, social dynamics, political orientation and sensitivities, demographics and consumer habits, and your proven capacity to develop strategic relationships with institutions such as City Council, City Administration, local business leaders and local not-for-profit leaders, as well as federal and provincial entities.
Success in this executive role calls for an effective influencer, communicator and consensus builder with a view to the long term, demonstrated business acumen, accountability and critical decision-making skills, and a commitment to meaningful community engagement. An empathetic, empowering team builder with strong ethics and values, and a strong track record of supervising high-level employees in a corporate or not-for-profit environment, you demonstrate commitment to, and promotion of, equity, diversity and inclusion, and the ability to address ever-changing sectoral and societal opportunities and challenges.
Given the scope of this high-profile position, you will bring highly effective interpersonal skills, proven success in writing, public speaking and communications and/or social media work, and proven skills in capital fundraising and securing major capital investments from outside funders, including, but not limited to, municipal government, provincial, federal and/or private funders.
It goes without saying that business planning, finance, reporting and performance management, and long-term visioning/big picture thinking will also be among your strengths as CEO, along with senior management supervision, critical thinking and analytical abilities, and ease in complex decision-making.
Experienced in managing physical infrastructure and capital improvement projects, you have the capacity to manage multiple, interdisciplinary projects, including building/property management, fundraising, political strategy, adoption of new technology, customer development and consumer research. Your understanding of emerging trends, new technologies and key principles in the digital delivery of products and services, such as web design, user experience, etc., will be pivotal in successfully guiding the Library to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.
To apply to this executive role in library administration, submit your application to Phelps at careers@phelpsgroup.ca, specifying the job title in the subject line of your email. Application deadline: May 20, 2022.