Chief Operations Officer (COO)

Baltimore County Public Library; Towson (MD); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental benefits

Pension plan

Paid time off: 20 vacation days, 15 S,

7 personal days

Job summary

Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL) seeks a Chief Operations Officer to steer operational excellence, strategic initiatives, and capital planning across the system. The role reports to the Executive Director and coordinates with senior leaders to advance BCPL’s mission and community impact.

The COO will oversee facilities, procurement, digital equity, fiscal services, HR, and planning, ensuring projects stay on time, within budget, and aligned with the Library’s vision and values.

Qualifications

• Requires high-level leadership experience in library or nonprofit settings.
• Experience guiding operational strategy and cross-department collaboration.
• Strong budgeting and procurement oversight capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for operational services across the BCPL system.
• Oversee capital projects, procurement, and facilities management.
• Lead data-driven decision making at executive level and ensure policy alignment.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Chief Officers on strategic initiatives.
• Develop and oversee budgets, ensuring fiscal integrity and transparency.
• Advance equity and community impact in all library operations.
• Represent BCPL in public settings, government, and with partners.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Public service

Education

Master's degree (MLS preferred)

Bachelor's degree

Job description

At BCPL, staff members have the opportunity to enrich individual lives and build strong communities by delivering exceptional customer experiences, establishing meaningful partnerships, and creating innovative learning spaces. We seek enthusiastic, open-minded, self-motivated individuals who can work well independently and with others. BCPL circulates over 10 million items and provides library services through its 19 branches, 4 mobile library vehicles, and an extensive outreach network. If you are forward thinking and passionate about public service, consider joining BCPL in this position.

Schedule:

This is a full-time position working 40 hours a week. All library administrative staff may be required to work evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the year as operationally needed.

Job Summary:

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) is a key member of the executive leadership team at the Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL), responsible for leading the strategic direction and operational excellence of key administrative services that have broad impact across the library system. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the COO plays a pivotal role in advancing BCPL's mission to provide accessible, innovative, and community-driven library services. This position provides leadership for capital projects, operational support, and procurement, as well as direct oversight of the Digital Equity and Virtual Services, Fiscal Services, Human Resources, Facilities and Capital Projects and Planning and Projects departments. The COO collaborates with executive peers, local government officials, Baltimore County partners and other key stake holders to ensure seamless, systemwide service delivery and a bold, future-focused library experience for Baltimore County residents.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Leads with a focus on outcomes, proactively identifying and implementing solutions that improve performance and efficiency.
• Anticipates operational challenges and communicates proposed solutions to the Executive Director.
• Ensures the community has access to library facilities across the county that are safe, welcoming, attractive and functional through oversight of routine maintenance, major improvements and/or new construction of BCPL's facilities.
• Ensures seamless delivery of materials across the system and region.
• Oversees the procurement of goods, services, technology, and materials to support library operations, ensuring compliance with municipal regulations, procurement policies, and ethical standards.
• Promotes digital equity by ensuring equitable access to technology, digital resources, and internet connectivity for all library users, including underserved and marginalized communities.
• Oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of library operations, programs, and services to ensure alignment with the Library's mission, strategic goals, and community needs.

Strategic Leadership

• Serves as a strategic partner to the Executive Director and other Chief Officers, contributing insights and technical expertise to major decisions and to align programs, services, and resources across the system.
• Implements systemwide initiatives and drives organizational excellence with a focus on innovation, equity, and community impact.
• Leads the integration of data-driven insights into executive-level decision-making processes to support organizational strategy, policy development and long-term planning.
• Leads the planning, coordination, and execution of large-scale, cross-departmental projects, ensuring that projects align with the Library's strategic goals, are delivered on time and within budget, and meet quality and accessibility standards.
• Contributes to the development and execution of BCPL's strategic plan.
• Participates in and/or overseas the development of the annual operating and capital budgets, ensuring ethical and effective fiscal management.
• Develops and enforces policies and procedures that align with BCPL's mission, vision, and values.
• Cultivates a culture of curiosity, innovation, collaboration, accountability, and belonging across the organization.
• Models and upholds standards for internal and external customer service excellence.
• Leads and supports a diverse team of direct and indirect reports, fostering collaboration and high performance.
• Provides coaching and professional development opportunities to staff, ensuring strong talent pipelines and workforce engagement.
• Addresses and resolves personnel issues in a timely, respectful manner.
• Partners in recruitment, retention, and workforce planning to ensure appropriate staffing levels and skill sets across branches.
• Serves as a liaison between management and labor representatives, ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements and fostering a cooperative working environment.

Partner and Stakeholder Relations

• Acts as a representative and advocate for BCPL in public and professional settings, including with elected officials, government agencies, media and community partners.
• Develops and maintains strong, strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborates with peers across the organization to drive innovation and enhance services delivery.
• Attends monthly Board of Library Trustees meetings, prepares reports, and supports Board activities.
• Co-leads Library Leadership Team meetings and supports organizational alignment and transparency.
• Represents the Executive Director as needed in meetings and events, serving as a trusted proxy.

This job description is intended to provide a representative summary of essential functions and responsibilities of this job. the Executive Director reserves the right to change, modify, delete and supplement job duties based on the organization's needs.

Job Requirements:

• Master's degree (Masters in Library Science preferred) and a minimum of nine (9) years of progressively responsible experience in a library or nonprofit organization, including supervisory experience. OR
• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of eleven (11) years of progressive leadership experience in a complex organizational setting.

This position will remain open until filled.

We have a 14 step pay scale. Internal applicants starting pay varies based on their current step on the salary scale. We also offer, as appropriate, overtime pay, comp. time, and differential pay.

The Library offers an excellent benefits package that includes pay holidays, 20 vacation days, 15 sick days, and seven personal days per year. In addition the Library also offers health, dental, vision, life, voluntary long-term disability, pension, deferred compensation, an employee assistance program, flex spending, and Commuter Choice parking and transit accounts.