Arts, Culture & Library Manager

Incumbents are responsible and accountable for providing leadership and strategic direction for the Arts, Culture & Library division within the Parks and Recreation Department. Manages the functions of the Arts, Culture & Library division through the supervision of staff, budget oversight, grant/contract preparation & compliance, and overseeing the operations of the library branches, including facility maintenance, collection development, policies and procedures, customer relations, community partnerships, reporting, and programming. Manages, plans, develops, and implements a comprehensive City arts and culture program strategy.

Essential Functions

• Manages Library services and programming. Oversees the design of programs and services that appeal to and attract adults and youth. Ensures that library materials are current, easily accessible, and available. Oversees the availability of the technology used by the public and staff.  Seeks grant funding opportunities from a variety of public and private sources for new programs and services.
• Oversees development, management, and execution of specific special events for the purpose of strengthening the Arts, Culture & Library services and increasing community awareness.
• Provides support and direction to staff with day-to-day operations. Manages staff by planning and prioritizing tasks, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures, employee development, employee evaluation, and assessing schedules. Streamlines identified opportunities for improvements. 
• Develops and implements new initiatives, including marketing, social media, and educational programs that will help the arts, culture, and library division evolve into a community hub for promoting engagement and access to technology, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and education. 
• Researches and identifies opportunities for innovation and continuously stays up to date with the latest developments in the arts, culture, and library industry including best practices, technology, service delivery methods, staff education, public needs and wants, and what other entities outside of arts, culture, and libraries are doing to address the needs of our target groups. 
• Manages contracts, budgets, financial reporting, expenditure plans, and data reporting required by the city, state, and federal entities and multiple funding streams for services and programs in the division. 
• Manages, develops, oversees, and evaluates Arts, Cultural, and Library programming for effectiveness, recommends and implements changes as needed, researches trends in programming, and leads marketing efforts while analyzing community engagement strategies. 
• Oversees the planning, acquisition, implementation, and maintenance of the City's public art; coordinates the process for selecting artists for commissioned projects including writing and distributing RFQ/RFPs and coordinating selection panels; writes, negotiates, and monitors contracts with artists for the purchase and maintenance of artwork and commissioning of public art; serves as staff liaison with other city departments and outside agencies through design development review of projects which include a public art element.
• Seeks grant funding opportunities from a variety of public and private sources for new programs and services. Creates and seeks partnership opportunities with non-profit organizations, schools, and other organizations and businesses.
• Represents the City of Avondale by working with a variety of boards, committees, and stakeholders. Prepares reports and presentations to City Council. Provides updates for City staff, initiates and responds to communication from city staff, the public, and partners/collaborators, participates in, and leads when necessary, library, city, and outside partner collaborative planning meetings and events.
• Coordinates and networks with outside agencies to identify potential partners and funders and support important community initiatives. Works with community members, advocates, and service providers to establish partnerships for serving patrons.
• Conducts extensive community outreach efforts; develops methods and opportunities for community input and participation; organizes and facilitates workshops, classes, and public presentations; serves as a liaison between stakeholders.
• Selects, trains, and motivates personnel; delegates assignments; reviews and evaluates personnel performance; directs corrective actions as necessary; implements discipline and termination procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Cultural or Arts Administration, Public Administration, Library Information Science, Parks & Recreation Administration, or closely related field or any equivalent combination of experience, education, and technical training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities, may qualify.   
• Four (4) years of progressively responsible organization and management experience in the fields of Special Events, Cultural Services, and/or Public Arts, or Library Management.
• Three (3) years of supervisory experience directly related to the area assigned.
• Valid Arizona Operator's Driver's License.
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment background check.

Preferred

• Experience in a municipal or government setting
• Previous experience as a public arts manager/administrator in a municipal setting
• Knowledge of art and cultural events, vendors/artists, and programs in the greater Phoenix area; particularly the West Valley
• The ability to communicate and translate Spanish is preferred.

Supplemental Information

• Understands and interprets complex laws, procedures, and guidelines.
• Make mathematical calculations and draft logical conclusions.
• Comprehend and make inferences from written material and verbal and/or written instructions.  Produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.
• Work requires managing and monitoring the work performance of multiple direct reports, including making decisions on hiring, and employee development, evaluating program and work objectives, and realigning work as needed.  May require functioning as a lead worker while performing their own responsibilities.
• The incumbent prepares documents and researches to provide information to Assistant Parks and Recreation Director. Responsible for monitoring and tracking funding sources, revenues, and expenditures for assigned units. May also recommend budget allocations for the division.
• Work requires supervising and monitoring performance for a regular group of employees in a work unit including providing input on hiring, disciplinary actions, and work objectives/effectiveness, and realigning work as needed.
• Work is governed by broad instructions, objectives, and policies.  Work requires the exercise of considerable initiative and independent analytical and evaluative judgment. Works more than forty hours in a workweek without additional compensation to perform assigned job duties, including weekends, evenings, early morning hours, and holidays as required.
• The incumbents in this position have contact with others within the organization. These contacts may involve similar work units or departments within the City such as Finance, Marketing and Public Relations, and Human Resources which may be involved in decision-making providing approval or decision-making authority for purchases or projects.  In addition, these incumbents work with individuals outside the City who may belong to professional or peer organizations.  Working with various state and federal agencies may also be required of the employee.  Vendors and suppliers may also be called upon for information on purchases, supplies, or products.  Meetings and discussions may be conducted with customers, brokers, and sales representatives. Employees must maintain regular attendance. Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.