Description

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is one of America’s leading urban public libraries, serving a community of more than one million residents in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Through 22 locations, nearly 450 employees, targeted outreach and online resources, the Library delivers exceptional services and programs, with a mission to create a community of readers and empower individuals with free access to information and the universe of ideas.  Accessible and welcoming to all, the Library celebrates the joy of reading, fosters learning and growth, connects people to each other and the world, and inspires individuals with what they can achieve by providing open access to its physical and electronic collections, information, and services to people of all ages and all walks of life.

 The strategic plan for FY 2026-2028 reflects the Library’s commitment to providing inclusive and responsive library services and reflects the voices of the thousands of community members who participated in this process. The plan provides a clear direction for the future, helping to expand access, strengthen partnerships, and create meaningful opportunities for learning and connection. For more information on the strategic plan, please click here.

 In November 2019, the Library unveiled the design for its new $137 million, 115,000-square-foot Main Library in Uptown Charlotte. The new Main Library will serve as the “public commons,” and is designed to be an architecturally distinctive, state-of-the-art, technologically advanced knowledge center, welcoming everyone in the community to access the resources of a 21st century library. Serving as the gateway to a re-imagined corridor – the new Main Library will allow opportunities to connect with others, participate in the public life of the community, and is poised to become a major destination in Uptown Charlotte. For information on the Main Library project, click here.

 For additional information, please visit www.cmlibrary.org.

 The CEO reports to the Board of Trustees and leads a senior leadership team (SLT) that includes the Chief Library Services Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Chief Financial and Administration Officer, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, and Chief Development Officer.  

The CEO is the organization’s top executive, responsible for stewarding the Library’s long-term strategic direction, leading external partnerships, ensuring fiscal and operational sustainability, and fostering a mission-driven, high-performing executive team. This role ensures the Library is positioned as a vital, future-ready public institution. Through the ongoing development of community partnerships that benefit Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents, the CEO will coordinate community and staff resources to carry out the mission, vision, and strategic goals of the Library. 

 Specific duties will include, but not necessarily be limited to:

Strategic Leadership

-Lead and mentor senior executives (SLT); build a culture of accountability and innovation. Guide SLT priorities to align  with Board of Trustees, Board of County Commissioners, and community expectations.
-Work alongside SLT, specifically the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, to develop and lead the organization’s long-range strategic direction and annual strategic business plan.
-Ensure that the organization has a work environment committed to continuous improvement and consistent with the Library’s core values of learning, openness, respect, inclusion, and leadership.
-Ensure that strategic goals and priorities, along with execution, are consistently aligned with the mission, vision, and core values.
-Ensure the organization operates in an intentional manner, guided by a current strategic and/or longer-range business plan, and annual operating plans in the form of a strategic business plan and key performance indicators (KPIs).
-Ensure the organization accomplishes its goals and objectives while operating in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
-Ensure that the organization has the optimal physical footprint and locations across the county.
-Working alongside SLT, optimize Library resources, programs, and services to reach all residents.
-Model the effective coaching and development of all staff.

Governance and Board Engagement

-Serve as the face of the organization and lead all enterprise-level needs including Board governance, county, and other key external community relationships including elected leaders.
-Ensure that the Board has the capacity, level of engagement, information, and processes to lead and advocate for the organization and inspire confidence among funders, partners, the community, and staff.
-Support the necessary Board and committee structure and processes to accomplish organizational business through efficient and effective meetings and committee activity.
-Work with the Executive Committee and SLT to plan engaging Board meetings to provide trustees with the information and structure they need to govern effectively.
-Support the Governance Committee to identify, cultivate, and recruit Board candidates with specific skillsets and experiences required to assist with and advise on Library activities.
-Support the Governance Committee in coordinating with the County and Board of Education to recommend appointment of qualified Board candidates who meet specific, identified Board needs.

 Financial Management and Sustainability

-Support the CFO to ensure that the organization has the sufficient mix and amount of resources to fund current and intermediate operating and capital needs and has funding mechanisms and strategies in place to sustain the organization for the long term.
-Support the CFO to manage the organization’s relationship with Mecklenburg County staff to ensure funding that is predictable and sufficient; work closely with Finance and other key organizational leaders to execute on the partnership with the County. 
-Work with Library and Foundation Board leadership to ensure fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability of the Library’s goal to provide free services and access to all.
-Provide ongoing support to the Library Foundation and the Foundation’s private fundraising activities; offer guidance, participate in fundraising and donor cultivation activities, and work to ensure that the Library and Library Foundation’s activities are integrated and aligned.
-Actively participate in strategy development, activities, and efforts to build a large unrestricted endowment for the benefit of the Library.
-Ensure that the organization has the people, processes, policies, procedures, and partners in place to achieve its financial goals, operate with the highest level of financial integrity, and enjoy a reputation for public transparency and financial stewardship.
-Support the CFO to establish an annual budget, oversee its successful execution, and report accurate and timely results to the Board, Mecklenburg County, and other stakeholders.

 Community Engagement and External Relations

-Ensure that strategies are in place to leverage the organization’s areas of focus; access and welcome, learn and engage, prepare and excel, and deliver the once in a generation new Main Library – to ensure its recognition as essential to a healthy, growing, caring, and cohesive community.
-Ensure that the Library is actively engaged on the community stage, and act as trusted convener of the community, its leaders, and the Library organization.

Requirements

• A visionary with passion for libraries, for the work of librarians, the learning and community-building they enable, and the diverse populations they serve. 
• Adept at and motivated to spend time with frontline staff and patrons “on the ground” in the branches. 
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity work; able to cross cultural boundaries to build and maintain strong working relationships; commitment to upward mobility and creating economic opportunity.
• Minimum of ten years’ successful experience in a senior management role that includes operations, finance, and human resources with the ability to administer basic nonprofit financial accounting and budget management, performance management, compensation, and other policies and procedures. 
• Demonstrated track record of successful fundraising and organizational growth preferred; comfortable “making the ask” and serving as the lead fundraiser. 
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and sensitivity to the needs of a diverse ethnic population; influencer and negotiator. 
• Outstanding communicator, both oral and written; active listener; able to connect with diverse stakeholders; effective public speaking skills. 
• An innovative collaborator and creative problem-solver; able to attract, inspire, and engage others; sensitive to diverse points of view and keen awareness of stakeholder needs and how to build collaborative partnerships based upon fundamental principles. 
• Passion for coaching and developing team members; able to navigate adversity with grace and kindness. 
• Decisive and systems orientation; able to drill down and make sound business decisions based on data. 
• Undergraduate degree required, Master’s degree in a related field preferred.