Children’s Program Senior Specialist
Salt Lake City Public Library | Programming and Outreach
Location: Systemwide Salary: $33.17/hour - Depending on Qualifications Grade: 28 Posted: November 6th, 2026 Closes: January 4th 2027 Interviews: January 4th-15th, 2027 FLSA Status: Non-Exempt/Full Time Union Status: Represented (AFSCME Local 1004) Reports to: Children’s Services and Literacy Manager Eligible For Hire: Internal Employee, Regularly Scheduled Applicants
About the Library
The Salt Lake City Public Library connects all people to free resources, knowledge, and one another to build a thriving community. Across nine locations and through outreach citywide, we are working toward a Salt Lake City where everyone belongs, where knowledge and opportunity are shared by all, and where our connections to one another make the whole community stronger. Guided by our 2026–2034 Strategic Plan, staff advance this work through four priorities: creating belonging through access, reading and literacy for all, strengthening civic life, and building the capacity to sustain our impact.
Library employees are stewards of this vision in every interaction. They bring joy to their service, treat every person with dignity, act with courage and good judgment, and work as one team across the system. People who thrive here believe a library is more than a place to find information; it is a place where a community comes to know itself.
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.
Important Note:
The City Library is currently engaged in strategic planning implementation. This position may evolve in the future based on organizational needs and strategic priorities.
About the Position
The Children’s Program Senior Specialist is a master of their craft in children's programming. They oversee children's programming across the entire system, establishing consistent, high-quality offerings across all nine locations while serving as builders who lead out development, lay strong programmatic foundations, and drive delivery. This is not a supervisory role. Sr. Specialists are the people others watch to learn how it is done. They mentor, they develop the program models others borrow, and they speak for their craft with community and City partners. They are accountable for evaluating current program offerings, expanding system-wide impact, and driving overall program quality; direct supervisory accountability sits with the team's manager. They have learned their craft by doing it, many times, in front of many people. This role mirrors the Supervisory Librarian role in Public Services in scope, judgment, and accountability.
Every role on the Programming team is a teaching role. We’re looking for people who enjoy helping others learn, who learn best by doing, and who get energy from working with the public. We try new ideas early and at a small scale, watch how participants respond, and improve from there. When a program doesn’t work the way we hoped, we treat that as useful information and adjust. Programming staff work in and from our nine locations, but they are also excited and willing to take programs outside the library's walls to other places where people gather across the city. We work with residents and partners to bring library programs into shared public spaces and help make them places people want to spend time.
Strategic Plan Alignment
This position serves as a strategic cornerstone for the Salt Lake City Public Library’s 2026–2034 Strategic Plan, leading system-wide implementation across Reading and Literacy for All, Creating Belonging Through Access, and Building Capacity and Sustaining Impact. As a master builder and mentor in children's programming, the Senior Specialist establishes consistent, high-quality offerings, oversees system-wide summer programming, and leads targeted K–3rd grade literacy models across all nine branches and shared public spaces. By continuously evaluating program impact, mentoring staff, and activating citywide partnerships, this role ensures that children’s services remain innovative, equitable, data-informed, and deeply responsive to Salt Lake City's diverse neighborhoods.
Primary Responsibilities
- Program design and system oversight. Oversees and coordinates children's programming across the entire library system. Designs, builds, and delivers a consistent, high-quality portfolio of programs across all nine locations and community settings. Sets clear learning goals and brings a builder mindset to lead program development from concept through execution.
- Budget. Manages the programming budget including supplies, transportation and other operational costs.
- Early literacy and elementary focus. Creates and leads literacy programming with a targeted focus on K–3rd grade students and older youth, building strong foundational literacy models that can be adapted and delivered consistently across all branches.
- Summer programming management. Manages system-wide summer programming for children, activity design, scheduling, partner coordination, and logistics to ensure engaging and equitable summer experiences across all locations.
- Program evaluation and optimization. Continuously evaluates current children's program offerings across the system to ensure relevance, impact, and consistency. Uses data and community feedback to refine existing programs, sunset outdated formats, and scale successful pilots.
- Welcoming environment. Creates and sustains a safe, inclusive space where participants feel they belong. Resolves difficult participant interactions and complex situations that would otherwise require a supervisor. Works effectively with people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
- Working relationships. Works closely and collaboratively with Principal Specialists, other Specialists, location Managers, and Marketing and Communications. Fosters good working relationships with staff, participants, volunteers, vendors, and community partners.
- Community partnerships and presenters. Cultivates and sustains meaningful community partnerships to enhance children's services, representing the craft with partners and helping colleagues build theirs. Actively sources, vets, hires, and collaborates with external presenters, performers, and educators to bring diverse, high-quality learning experiences to the library.
- Activating public spaces with the City. Leads programming in parks, plazas, and other public spaces across the city and works as a partner with Salt Lake City departments to activate those spaces. Coordinates logistics, permits, and shared staffing with City partners. Identifies underused spaces and pilots programming that brings people to them.
- Community engagement. Ensures the Library hears from the different communities across Salt Lake City, not just the ones who already come to programs. Builds ongoing relationships with community groups, cultural organizations, and neighborhood leaders in children’s programming. Gathers what people say they need, shares it with the team, and adjusts programs in response.
- Mentoring and training. Mentors Specialists and Associates in children’s programming. Designs and leads system-wide training on program delivery and teaching practice, mostly by doing programs together rather than in a classroom. Onboards new programming staff to the area.
- Evaluation and data. Collects and analyzes attendance, outcome, and feedback data in lightweight ways that do not slow the work down. Uses it to drop what is not working and expand what is. Prepares reports and recommendations.
- Project leadership. Leads substantial projects such as multi-location program series, festivals, and new program pilots, including planning, scheduling, coordinating staff and partners, and evaluation. Keeps planning proportional to the size of the bet.
- Communication. Coordinates program promotion with Communications and ensures programs reflect the Library's brand and message. Shares results and lessons learned, including what did not work, with programming staff and location teams.
- Committees and workgroups. Takes on a leadership role in committees or workgroups on activities outlined in the Strategic Plan.
- Other duties. Performs other duties as assigned or required. Actively supports other teams on the Programming and Outreach division as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
- Completion of a Master's Degree in Education, Library and Information Science, Child Development, or a related field, and three years of progressively responsible experience designing, building, and delivering children's programs; or an equivalent combination of education and experience which demonstrates the knowledge and skill to perform the primary responsibilities.
- 3 years of experience leading out program development, providing feedback to other subject matter experts and foundation-building in multi-site programs
- Experience giving useful feedback on other people's program plans or teaching.
- A clear record of trying new program ideas quickly, learning from the ones that did not land, and improving through repetition.
- Experience mentoring or training other staff or volunteers.
- Experience engaging communities directly and adjusting programs based on what they say, including communities that have not historically used library services.
- Proven ability to work with people from a diverse range of backgrounds and to sustain energy and focus through extended periods of direct public interaction.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills and skill with group dynamics.
- Experience managing large-scale initiatives such as Summer Reading/Programming, evaluating program effectiveness, and working directly with external presenters and partners.
- Ability to use data in decision making for program needs.
- Required to maintain professional knowledge and skills through reading professional journals, viewing related webinars, and attending training or professional conferences.
- Ability to work days, nights, or weekends as scheduled and to travel between library locations and community sites.
Preferred Qualifications
- Specialized experience in K–3rd grade reading/literacy curriculum development and instruction.
- Experience delivering programs in a public library, museum, school, or community setting at a lead level.
- Experience partnering with a city, county, or other public agency on programming in public spaces.
- Spanish language and/or other non-English language skills.
Working Environment
- Work is performed inside library locations and outside them in public and community settings such as parks, plazas, schools, shelters, public spaces, and partner sites. A significant share of work happens outdoors and in shared public spaces.
- Regular travel between library locations and community sites. Must have transportation. If using a personal vehicle, must maintain state required insurance.
- Subject to repetitive movement; standing, walking, bending, reaching, and lifting of objects. May be subject to standing or sitting for extended periods of time.
- Must be able to lift/carry program materials and equipment, up to 50 lbs, and push/pull carts.
- Must have good hand mobility and coordination.
- Subject to intermittent periods of inclement weather during outdoor programs.
Schedule
Full-time, 40 hours per week. Evenings and weekends will be required based on program schedules.
Other Information
- Completion of criminal background check will be required if the candidate is over eighteen (18) years of age.
- 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
- Starting Range Grade 28; Minimum $33.17/hr Compensation is commensurate with experience.
- This is a full-time position and includes excellent benefits such as paid vacation, health and life insurance, and Utah Retirement Systems benefits.
