Director of Programming and Outreach
Division/Department: People and Strategy
Supervisor: Chief People and Strategy Officer
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Salary Grade: 35
Compensation: $111,675.20/annually Depending on Experience
Date: July 29, 2026
About the Library
The Salt Lake City Public Library offers services, information, resources, programs, and events to all members of the community. Guided by the Library's Mission and strategic goals, staff serve the community at Library and outreach locations and are committed to advancing knowledge, fostering creativity, encouraging the exchange of ideas, building community, and enhancing the quality of life in Salt Lake City.
Library employees are ambassadors who project a positive image of the Library and its services. Employees are accepting of all people and have a passion to assist diverse populations to ensure they have a positive Library experience. They are team players who have the ability to think quickly and make quality decisions.
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.
Job Summary
The Director of Programming and Outreach leads the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of programming and community outreach across The City Library system. This is a new role, created to bring programming together into dedicated, specialized teams so that the staff energy that has always gone into programming now produces work the whole community can find, trust, and rely on.
Reporting to the Chief People and Strategy Officer, the Director builds and leads a team of program and outreach specialists covering adult programming and civic engagement, community outreach, teen engagement (including after-school and college readiness), youth services and early literacy, and technology and creativity (digital equity and access, AI in patron experiences, and small business support). The Director sets clear goals, partners closely with Marketing and Communications so programs are visible, and works alongside branch teams who know their neighborhoods best. The Director directly supervises five managers and is accountable for the quality, reach, and measurable impact of programming and outreach system-wide.
Who You Are
This role is for someone who believes libraries change lives, and who has seen good programming do it. If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you.
- You are a self-starter who isn’t afraid to fail and learn.
- You build teams of specialists. You can spot real expertise, hire for it, and help each person do their best work.
- You lead people through change with honesty and steadiness. This is a multi-year transition, and your team trusts you because you are clear, consistent, and genuinely invested in their growth.
- You think in outcomes, not activity. You can read a room and a spreadsheet, and you care whether the work actually reached the people it was meant for.
- You are a natural partnership builder. Schools, nonprofits, community organizations, and government partners all feel like collaborators in your hands.
- You communicate well in every direction: up to leadership, across to peers, and out to the community you serve.
- You get things done. You are organized, you follow through, and you hold your team accountable with care.
- You find the Library's mission personally meaningful. You want the work you do to matter.
- You bring energy into the room. People enjoy working with you, and that shows.
Primary Responsibilities
Programming Strategy and Delivery
- Leads the system-wide programming function, moving programming from a branch-by-branch activity into a city-wide approach with coordinated, specialized teams, clear goals and consistent quality.
- Partners with executive leadership to set programming priorities and measurable outcomes aligned with the Library's mission and strategic plan.
- Builds a coordinated programming calendar and partners with Marketing and Communications so the public knows what is happening, when, and where.
- Develops shared program models and toolkits that can be delivered reliably across locations.
- Establishes programming evaluation tools that ensure all programming fits within the priorities within the strategic plan.
- Partners with branch teams, Outreach teams and community partners to understand local community needs and reflect them in programming.
Outreach and Civic Life
- Leads the Library's civic programming strategy — developing and stewarding facilitated conversations, community forums, civic learning series, and cultural initiatives that help Salt Lake City residents connect with one another, understand their city, and participate more fully in shared civic life.
- Builds the Library's role as a civic commons: a nonpartisan, trusted space where all questions are genuinely welcome, different perspectives can be held with curiosity, and the full complexity of community life can be explored without being prematurely resolved.
- Directs community outreach as a relationship-building and listening practice. Develops outreach practice that actively engages in community listening, learning what communities need, and ensuring that programs reflect those needs and local realities.
- Cultivates partnerships with schools, cultural institutions, community-based organizations, and government entities to extend the Library's reach and reputation as a platform to strengthen the whole community.
Youth, Teens, and Early Literacy
- Oversees youth services, children's programming, storytime, and early literacy initiatives across the system.
- Leads the Library's after-school strategy, including dedicated staff whose job is to build sustained relationships with students, not just provide a space.
- Oversees the Academic Liaison function and the partnership with Salt Lake City Public Schools to support literacy across the city.
- Establishes a college readiness service offering free, one-on-one help with GED completion, college applications, financial aid, scholarships, and apprenticeships.
Technology and Creativity
- Leads the Library's work on digital equity and access, helping patrons across the city get online, build digital skills, and use Library technology with confidence.
- Guides responsible use of AI in patron experiences, exploring tools that improve service while protecting patron trust, privacy, and choice.
- Ensure the library offers workforce development ensuring interested patrons get hands-on technology training.
- Oversees small business and entrepreneurship support, connecting patrons to resources, tools, and the Creative Lab.
Staff Leadership
- Directly supervises the Adult Programming Manager, Outreach Manager, Teen Engagement Manager, Youth Services and Literacy Manager, and Manager of Technology and Creativity.
- Builds and develops a team of specialists, recruiting for genuine subject-area expertise and supporting professional growth.
- Supports the Principal Specialist track, a senior expertise path that lets strong program designers advance without moving into management.
- Sets clear expectations, gives steady feedback, and supports staff through a significant organizational transition.
- Builds a team culture that values creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a related field; five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in programming, outreach, public services, education, or community engagement; and at least two years of supervisory or management experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
- Demonstrated experience designing and delivering programs or services for the public, with attention to quality and measurable outcomes.
- Experience building partnerships with schools, nonprofits, or community organizations.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to represent an organization publicly.
- Background in community-based organizations.
- Experience leading teams through organizational change.
- A growth mindset with an orientation toward experimentation and learning.
- Experience supervising staff and developing teams.
- Skill in project management, budget oversight, and coordinating multiple initiatives simultaneously.
- Comfort using data to set goals and report on results.
- Ability to build positive working relationships with colleagues, community members, and the public.
- If travel is required for Library purposes, must have transportation. If using a personal vehicle, must maintain state-required insurance.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience centralizing or restructuring a programming function across multiple locations.
- Experience leading youth services, early literacy, or college and career readiness programs.
- Spanish language or other non-English language skills.
Working Environment
- Work is performed in office, library, and community settings, including branches, outreach sites, schools, and event spaces.
- Evening and weekend availability is required for programs and community engagements.
- Travel across the Library system and to community partner sites is expected.
- Normal stress associated with working in a busy, public institution.
Schedule
- Full-time, 40 hours per week. Typically Monday through Friday, with evenings and weekends required as programs and community events demand.
Other Information
- Completion of a criminal background check will be required for candidates over the age of eighteen (18).
- 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
- Salary commensurate with experience. This is a full-time position and includes excellent benefits: paid vacation, health and life insurance, and Utah Retirement Systems benefits.
How to Apply
- Apply with the link on the right at the top of this post.
- Open until filled, with preference given to candidates who apply by August 19, 2026.
