Civic Life Program Specialist

SLC Public Library; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 36,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Health insurance

Life insurance

Utah Retirement Systems benefits

Job summary

Salt Lake City Public Library is seeking a Civic Life Program Specialist to design and deliver large-scale cultural programs citywide, including major events like Alt Press Fest and Día de Muertos. You will shepherd programs from concept through evaluation, partner with community leaders, and guide staff and volunteers.

The role emphasizes teaching, public engagement, and cross-location collaboration, with evenings and weekends as needed and a strong focus on accessible, inclusive programming

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Event Management, Cultural Studies, Public Administration, Education, Library and Information Science, or related field.
• 1 year of experience leading and mentoring in end-to-end event management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work days, nights, or weekends and travel between locations.

Responsibilities

• Design, plan, and execute large-scale system-wide cultural programs and festivals.
• Lead and mentor event staff and volunteers during major events.
• Build partnerships with community organizations and internal stakeholders.
• Coordinate with Main Library Event Services for spaces, AV, and logistics.
• Evaluate programs and share results with leadership.

Skills

Teaching enthusiasm

Public engagement

Excellent communication

Schedule flexibility

Leadership/mentoring

Community partnerships

Event promotion

Outdoor programming

Bilingual preferred

Education

Master's Degree in Event Management or related field

Tools

Event management systems

Project management tools

Job description

Civic Life Program Specialist

Salt Lake City Public Library | Programming and Outreach

Location: System wide

Salary: $31.36/hour - Depending on Qualifications

Grade: 17

Posted: November 6th, 2026

Closes: January 4th 2027

Interviews: January 4th-15th, 2027

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt/Full Time

Union Status: Represented (AFSCME Local 1004)

Reports to: Civic Life Manager

Eligible For Hire: Internal Employee, Regularly Scheduled Applicants

About the Library

The Salt Lake City Public Library connects all people to free resources, knowledge, and one another to build a thriving community. Across nine locations and through outreach citywide, we are working toward a Salt Lake City where everyone belongs, where knowledge and opportunity are shared by all, and where our connections to one another make the whole community stronger. Guided by our 2026–2034 Strategic Plan, staff advance this work through four priorities: creating belonging through access, reading and literacy for all, strengthening civic life, and building the capacity to sustain our impact.

Library employees are stewards of this vision in every interaction. They bring joy to their service, treat every person with dignity, act with courage and good judgment, and work as one team across the system. People who thrive here believe a library is more than a place to find information; it is a place where a community comes to know itself.

Click here to learn more about what makes The City Library a great place to work and why Salt Lake City is a great place to call home.

Important Note

The City Library is currently engaged in strategic planning implementation. This position may evolve in the future based on organizational needs and strategic priorities.

About the Position

The Civic Life Specialist will design, lead, and deliver large-scale programs and signature cultural events system-wide, including major initiatives such as Alt Press Fest, Diwali, Spring Festival/Chinese New Year, Día de Muertos, Eid/Ramadan, and Las Posadas. They own a portfolio of high-profile events from initial concept through execution and post-event evaluation, foster community and stakeholder partnerships, and direct the work of support staff and volunteers. This role mirrors the Librarian role in Public Services.

Every role on the Programming team is a teaching role. We’re looking for people who enjoy helping others learn, who learn best by doing, and who get energy from working with the public. We try new ideas early and at a small scale, watch how participants respond, and improve from there. When a program doesn’t work the way we hoped, we treat that as useful information and adjust. Programming staff work in and from our nine locations, but they are also excited and willing to take programs outside the library's walls to other places where people gather across the city. We work with residents and partners to bring library programs into shared public spaces and help make them places people want to spend time.

Strategic Plan Alignment

This position directly advances the Salt Lake City Public Library’s 2026–2034 Strategic Plan by anchoring system-wide execution of the Creating Belonging Through Access and Strengthening Civic Life priorities. By designing and executing signature cultural festivals and major community celebrations (such as Alt Press Fest, Día de Muertos, Diwali, and Spring Festival), the Civic Life Specialist helps build an inclusive civic commons where diverse traditions are celebrated and shared. Working in close collaboration with city departments, community partners, and local branches, this role activates public spaces and library facilities to ensure that every resident experiences the Library as a welcoming platform for cultural exchange and community connection.

Primary Responsibilities

• Event Design & Delivery. Partners with local branch staff to design, plan, and execute large-scale, system-wide cultural programs and community festivals (e.g., Alt Press Fest, Diwali, Spring Festival/Chinese New Year, Día de Muertos, Eid/Ramadan, Las Posadas). Establishes clear engagement and cultural learning goals for each major event.
• Subject Expertise & Cultural Competency. Maintains deep knowledge of cultural traditions, community practices, and festival programming. Serves as a subject matter expert and advisor across the library system for authentic, inclusive cultural programming.
• Leads, develops, and supports other adult programming on the Civic Life team across the system.
• Welcoming environment. Creates a safe, inclusive space where participants feel they belong. Handles difficult interactions and solves problems, escalating to a supervisor when needed. Excels in serving a diverse population.
• Working relationships. Fosters good working relationships with diverse people including staff, participants, volunteers, vendors, and community partners. Accepts and completes assignments from the supervisor or other Library staff in a professional and timely manner.
• Stakeholder Communication & Community Partnerships. Builds and maintains strong, collaborative relationships with community leaders, cultural organizations, performers, vendors, and internal stakeholders. Maintains open, proactive communication throughout all planning phases.
• Activating public spaces. Designs and delivers programs in parks, plazas, and other public spaces across the city, working alongside Salt Lake City departments, events, and neighborhood groups. Adapts programs so they work outdoors and for people passing by, not just people who signed up. Helps identify underused spaces where library programming could bring people together.
• Event Services Coordination. Coordinates closely with the Event Services team at the Main Library and branch leads regarding room bookings, stage/AV setup, security, logistics, equipment needs, and day-of operations for system-wide events.
• Leadership & Mentorship. Directs the work of associates, event staff, and volunteers during major events. Mentors team members in event logistics, audience engagement, and program facilitation. Acts as team lead in the supervisor's or Sr. Specialist's absence.
• Program materials and equipment. Keeps supplies, kits, and equipment stocked and in good condition. Recommends purchases. Tracks spending against the assigned supply budget.
• Evaluation. Collects attendance, outcome, and participant feedback in simple, quick ways. Uses it to improve the next program, not just to report on the last one. Shares results with the supervisor and Communications.
• End-to-End Project Management. Oversees project life cycles for major events, managing master planning timelines, resource allocation, cross-departmental coordination, contracts, and vendor payments.
• Marketing & Promotion Timelines. Partners with Communications to establish promotional timelines, submit publicity requests on schedule, review marketing collateral, and ensure effective outreach to target communities across channels.
• Committees and workgroups. May take on a leadership role when participating in committees or workgroups on activities outlined in the Strategic Plan.
• Other duties. Performs other duties as assigned or required. Actively supports other teams on the Programming and Outreach division as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Completion of a Master's Degree in Event Management, Cultural Studies, Public Administration, Education, Library and Information Science, or a related field, and experience planning and facilitating large-scale cultural events or community festivals; or an equivalent combination of education and experience which demonstrates the knowledge and skill to perform the primary responsibilities.
• 1 year of experience leading and mentoring other experts in end-to-end event project management, including budget oversight, master planning timelines, vendor contracting, and multi-departmental coordination.
• Enthusiasm for teaching people of all ages and a genuine pull toward working with the public.
• Comfort learning by doing: trying a new idea quickly, watching how people respond, and adjusting on the spot.
• A record of launching new programs or activities and improving them through repetition rather than upfront planning.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills, ability to work with teams, and the ability to motivate and negotiate with diverse individuals and groups.
• Experience taking a leadership role on a workgroup, task force, or project.
• Experience mentoring other employees or volunteers.
• Intermediate knowledge of operating a computer and common software applications, including event management systems, digital scheduling tools, and project management applications.
• Required to maintain professional knowledge and skills through reading professional journals, viewing related webinars, and attending training or professional conferences.
• Ability to work days, nights, or weekends as scheduled and to travel between library locations and community sites.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience planning and managing signature, system-wide cultural events and community festivals in public or non-profit settings.
• Experience designing programs with clear learning goals.
• Experience delivering programs in a public library, museum, school, or community setting.
• Experience activating parks, plazas, and outdoor public spaces through large-scale programming and community events.
• Desire to serve all age ranges: children, teens, and adults.
• Spanish language and/or other non-English language skills.

Working Environment

• Work is performed inside library locations and outside them in public and community settings such as parks, plazas, schools, shelters, public spaces, and partner sites. A significant share of work happens outdoors and in shared public spaces.
• Regular travel between library locations and community sites. Must have transportation. If using a personal vehicle, must maintain state required insurance.
• Subject to repetitive movement; standing, walking, bending, reaching, and lifting of objects. May be subject to standing or sitting for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to lift/carry program materials and equipment, up to 50 lbs, and push/pull carts.
• Must have good hand mobility and coordination.
• Subject to intermittent periods of inclement weather during outdoor programs and outreach.

Schedule

• Full-time, 40 hours per week. Evenings and weekends will be required based on program schedules.

Other Information

• Completion of criminal background check will be required if the candidate is over eighteen (18) years of age.
• The City Library participates in the federal Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). Employment is contingent upon confirmation of your employment eligibility through the E-Verify system.
• The City Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a diverse workforce.

Compensation

• Starting Range Grade 17; Minimum $31.36/hr. Compensation is commensurate with experience.
• This is a full-time position and includes excellent benefits such as paid vacation, health and life insurance, and Utah Retirement Systems benefits.