Assistant Children's & Teen Services Manager

Allen County Public Library; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Professional development opportunities

Collaborative team environment

Job summary

Allen County Public Library is seeking an Assistant Children's and Teen Services Manager to help lead a busy youth services department in Indiana. The role partners with the Children’s and Teen Services Manager to supervise staff, develop programs, and build partnerships with schools and community organizations.

You will supervise, coach, and recruit, serve as the designated manager in charge, and shape policies and services to meet the needs of children, teens, and families in Fort Wayne and

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Library and Information Science (or equivalent) with 2 years professional librarian experience, or Bachelor's with 3 years.
• Indiana Public Librarian Certification (LC4) or ability to obtain it.
• Valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, supervision, and performance management for staff.
• Assist with recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and developing team members.
• Serve as Person-in-Charge to ensure smooth daily operations and excellent customer service.
• Lead or participate in cross-functional projects and teams for Youth Services.
• Plan, coordinate, and evaluate engaging programs, outreach initiatives, and events for youth.

Skills

Leadership

Staff development

Educational programming

Customer service

Communication

Partnerships

Organizational skills

Readers advisory

Reference services

Collection development

MS Office

Diversity & inclusion

Education

Master's degree in Library and Information Science (or equivalent)

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Do you believe libraries can inspire a lifelong love of reading and learning? Are you a collaborative leader who enjoys mentoring staff while creating engaging experiences for children, teens, and families? The Allen County Public Library is seeking an Assistant Children's and Teen Services Manager to help lead one of the busiest and most dynamic youth services departments in Indiana.

In this leadership role, you'll partner with the Children's and Teen Services Manager to oversee daily operations, supervise and develop staff, coordinate innovative programs, build meaningful community partnerships, and ensure exceptional service for young patrons from birth through high school. Whether your expertise is in children's services, teen services, or both, you'll have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of youth throughout Allen County.

What You'll Do

• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, supervision, and performance management for assigned staff.
• Assist with recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and developing talented team members.
• Serve as Person-in-Charge when assigned, ensuring smooth daily operations and excellent customer service.
• Help develop and improve department policies, procedures, and services that respond to the evolving needs of our community.
• Lead or participate in cross-functional projects and work teams that enhance Youth Services.
• Plan, coordinate, and evaluate engaging programs, outreach initiatives, and special events for children, teens, families, educators, and caregivers.
• Build strong partnerships with schools, community organizations, and youth-serving agencies throughout Allen County.
• Represent the Library through community outreach, presentations, and collaborative initiatives.
• Assist with collection development by recommending materials, evaluating collections, and supporting collection maintenance.
• Provide outstanding reference, readers' advisory, and technology assistance to patrons.
• Help patrons navigate library resources, digital collections, databases, devices, and online services.
• Support library-wide programming and community engagement initiatives.
• Stay current on emerging trends and best practices in youth services through professional development and continuing education.
• Foster an inclusive, welcoming, and collaborative environment that reflects the Library's mission and values.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is a thoughtful leader who is passionate about serving youth, developing employees, and building strong community relationships. You enjoy balancing leadership responsibilities with direct public service and thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must meet one of the following:

• Master's degree in Library and Information Science (or equivalent) and two (2) years of professional librarian experience or relevant experience in a youth-serving setting (preferred); or
• Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of professional librarian experience (required); or
• An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience in a youth-serving setting.

Additionally, candidates must have:

• State of Indiana Public Librarian Certification (LC4), or the ability to obtain and maintain certification.
• Valid driver's license.

Knowledge & Skills

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Strong leadership, coaching, and employee development skills.
• Experience planning and delivering engaging educational programming for children and/or teens.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• The ability to build partnerships with schools, educators, and community organizations.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Experience with readers' advisory, reference services, and collection development.
• Comfort using Microsoft Office and other library technologies.
• The ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Why Join Allen County Public Library?

At ACPL, you'll join a team that believes libraries change lives. We are committed to creating welcoming spaces where curiosity thrives, lifelong learning is celebrated, and every person feels valued.

• We offer a comprehensive benefits package.
• We offer professional development opportunities.
• We offer the chance to work alongside passionate colleagues who are dedicated to serving our community.

If you're ready to help shape exceptional library experiences for children, teens, and families while leading an outstanding team, we'd love to hear from you.