Posted on February 13, 2013

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Director of Adult Education and Training

The Queens Library (“Library”) is one of the oldest and most progressive library systems in the United States, serving 2.3 million people in 63 locations throughout the borough of Queens. With its roots going back to the late-1800s, the Queens library’s mission has always been to provide quality services, resources, and lifelong learning opportunities through books and other formats to meet the information, educational, cultural and recreational needs of its patrons. Among its many services and programs, the Library runs the Children’s Library Discovery Center, a 14,000 square foot state-of-the art interactive library; houses a 48 workstation cyber center located at the Central Library with smaller cyber centers in other locations; operates latchkey programs providing tutoring and homework monitoring for after school children, mainly performed by locally hired high school students; develops cultural and educational programs including classical conce rts, author readings, and puppet shows; manages adult learning and family literacy centers as well as business support centers; and of course, lends books and other materials.

In recent years, the Library has been focusing on growing its programs, upgrading and modernizing its facilities, and providing greater community access to its services. Though this is a challenging time for the Library as it moves into the next decade, both due to funding pressures and the development of new technologies that will mean changes in the way libraries are used, the Library has responded positively by developing smarter and more cost effective ways to ensure that its needs are met, including focusing on developing a professional workforce to manage library operations.

The Library is headed by President and CEO Thomas W. Galante who reports to a 19-member Board of Trustees. Through this leadership, the Library has become a dynamic, interactive place which is constantly adapting to conform to its changing constituency, serving as a model for other jurisdictions. It is supported by more than 1700 dedicated staff who make sure that the libraries open on time, that programs are relevant and meet community needs, that books and other materials are both available to circulate and are circulated, that questions are answered, and most of all, that patrons have a positive experience that makes them want to keep coming back!

The Position:
The Queens Library is seeking a highly skilled and intelligent professional with a broad based educational background and who is committed to adult literacy to become its next Director of Adult Education and Training. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Adult Education and Training will develop, lead, manage and coordinate all aspects of formal and informal adult learning services including, but not limited to, literacy initiatives, ESOL, workforce development, online educational offerings, GED, pre-GED, and adult basic education. In addition, he or she will ensure that the Queens Library continues to offer the highest quality programming to residents of Queens--programming that is needed, innovative and continuously monitored for success and enhancement.

This position is responsible for the assessment of program effectiveness and managing development and support for outcomes and measuring outputs. The Director will manage a mid- to large size staff in various locations throughout Queens. He or she will develop and assist in identifying and preparing grant requests and is responsible for oversight of several grant-funded programs, including compliance. In addition, the Director oversees literacy programming and recommends educational and staff development policies.

The successful candidate will be an effective communicator, highly organized, diplomatic, possess sound judgment as well as honed interpersonal skills, and maintain a sense of humor under stress.

Specific responsibilities include:

• orkforce development services and sites, ESOL, grant funded programs and other literacy activities; hires, supervises, trains, and develops staff.
  
• Manages online educational service offerings – envisions, enhances, develops, plans and implements.
  
• Monitors grant applications and responsible for grant funding oversight, spending/procurement and compliance; implements grant activities. Works with grant staff in Queens Library and Queens Library Foundation to set priorities for funding and sustainability.
  
• Works with Finance staff to ensure financial targets and budgets are being met for grant spending and reporting.
  
• Monitors, develops and enhances comprehensive means of assessment and outcome tracking. Responsible for preparing and overseeing reporting on programs as needed and required.
  
• Works with General Counsel’s office to prepare contracts as needed; serves as liaison to other departments for program related functions; maintains accurate and up-to-date database of participants, grants, etc.; works in SAP to ensure grand funding and spending on target; alerts COO to any problems or concern regarding programs or grant funding/compliance.
  
• Provides vision for all aspects of adult learning services. Works with public service team and senior managers to plan and create comprehensive service plan and strategic goals for enhancing and expanding adult learning opportunities.
  
• Performs site visits to various centers and classes.
  
• Uses latest technology to develop and deliver high-quality, effective adult learning programs and services.
  
• Plans and implements professional development for staff.
  
• Oversees major grant funded initiatives including Literacy Zones, Workforce Investment Act services and Connected Communities (BTOP) grant program; works with staff and COO to develop sustainability plans for effective programs that need to be enhanced/replicated.
  
• Represents Queens Library at meetings of NYC, NYS, Federal and international literacy providers at conferences, interagency meetings and is responsible for maintaining effective programmatic partnerships.
  
• Maintains effective communication and collaborative work relationships with Adult Learning Services Coordinator, Site Coordinators, education specialists, Government Grants Manager, Queens Library Foundation, Finance and other departments/agencies.
  

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree required from an accredited institution in Education, Adult Education or a related field.
  
• 8 years in an administrative and managerial capacity working in an adult literacy program with non-traditional adult educational programs, preferably in a nonprofit environment.
  
• Government grant writing and/or program implementation experience is required.
  
• Must be detail oriented with the ability to work with diverse populations.
  
• Possess strong interpersonal skills
  
• Knowledge of and experience working with and developing new trends in adult learning instruction including new GED requirements and ESOL techniques.
  
• Must have experience in managing and supervising staff.
  
• Excellent organizational skills required.
  
• Excellent oral and written communication skills are required.
  
• Understanding of and experience in preparing financial/budget reports.
  
• Must have Intermediate knowledge of MS Word and MS Excel; experience with other MS Office applications preferred
  

Application Instructions

To Apply:
The Queens Library has retained the services of Harris Rand Lusk to conduct this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed in confidence to:
Jack Lusk, Managing Partner
or
Anne McCarthy, Senior Director
Harris Rand Lusk
261 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10016
QPL-Literacy@harrisrand.com