Supervising Librarian

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.    

Why join the City of Oakland Public Library?

The City of Oakland is currently recruiting to fill one (1) Supervising Librarian at the Oakland Public Library (OPL). The Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect and grow. Through our eighteen (18) branches over three-hundred dedicated employees serve multiple communities located within the Cities of Oakland, Piedmont, and Emeryville.    

OPL is an indispensable partner in transforming lives through robust equity and diversity initiatives, responsive services, and unique programming adapted to serve the needs of a multifaceted community. We champion a future filled with joy for all people, and our staff actively engages and works in conjunction with various community partners to envision, develop and promote our evolving services.

• A Skilled Leader & Coach: You will guide and encourage others to accomplish common goals. 
• A Skilled Communicator: You will communicate with a broad and diverse group of staff in order to ensure consistent and quality service. 
• Trusted: You will follow through on commitments and respect the confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others.
• Performance Oriented: You will coach and mentor staff, ensuring excellent individual and group performance. 
• Committed to Advancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: You will advance the OPL mission to eliminate systemic racial and institutional barriers both within the organization and in the communities we serve.
• A Strong Relationship Builder: You will leverage relationships in the organization, the city, and the community to find solutions.
• Technologically Skilled: You will be adept at learning and working with a variety of electronic hardware and software applications.
  
  

What you will typically be responsible for: 

• Supervising and coordinating operations across assigned branches or a division, ensuring consistent delivery of library services to the community
• Mentoring, evaluating, and coaching staff, providing guidance, training, and performance feedback to promote an environment of continuous learning, development, and improvement
• Serving as a member of the library executive management team, and representing the library to the public and other stakeholders
• Collaborating with executive staff in the development, administration, and enforcement of library policies, procedures, and best practices
• Supporting or leading projects; for instance, a renovation, technical migration, program series or exhibit installation
• Supporting or leading grant applications, implementations, and reporting 
• Monitoring and maintaining data and statistics to ensure efficiency, evaluate effectiveness and outcomes

*Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland!

• You will inspire and motivate employees in a fun, creative, and committed team environment.
• Your work will serve the needs of diverse populations of the Oakland community and beyond.
• You will make daily decisions that positively impact library services and staff.
• You will work independently, within a strong team of colleagues.
  
  

• You will manage a large team of staff with diverse needs and in multiple locations.
• You will guide and support staff through the most difficult challenges they face, including complaints, staff discipline, and critical safety incidents. 
• You will not always have the resources you would like and may find change to be sometimes slow or complicated.
  

• Analyzing & Interpreting Data: Drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative or qualitative data
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Coaching & Developing Others: Supporting others in stretching and expanding their capabilities
• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
• Handling & Resolving Conflict: Managing interpersonally strained situations
• Innovative Problem Solving: Identifying and analyzing problems in order to propose new and better ways of doing things
• Leadership: Guiding and encouraging others to accomplish a common goal
• Leading Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrating cooperation and teamwork while working within and across divisions, functions, or teams
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Thinking & Acting Systematically: Formulating objectives and priorities, and implementing plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization in a global environment
• Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing

This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.

This is a public contact position. The City highly encourages all bilingual candidates to apply! Some positions may require bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Under the authority of Civil Service Rules Section 5.03, if a position requires bilingual language skills, only those candidates who have indicated they are bilingual in the required language(s) will be referred. Bilingual candidates will be required to successfully pass a language proficiency test if selected for hire.

• Spanish or Cantonese speaking skills 
• Data analysis experience or training 
• Engagement with non-profits, social services providers, and or community volunteer groups
• Experience working with hard-to-reach populations, youth or immigrant communities
  

The Recruitment Process:
   

The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the “minimum qualifications” listed for each position.

Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you’re applying to a “restricted” posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.

The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

What’s in it for you? 

• Work/Life Balance: 37.5 hour work weeks
• 15 paid holidays 
• Vacation: 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
• Retirement: CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
• Health: The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans
• Dental: Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Vision: VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Sick leave: Employees accrue 12 days per year
• Deferred Compensation: 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.

*Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here:  Working for Oakland | City of Oakland, CA

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

How to Apply

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm.

If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).  

Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.  You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Mary Ann Gonzales, Sr. HR Analyst at mgonzales@oaklandca.gov.