The New York Public Library, Vice President of Education

Edgility Search • New York, NY

86d • $260,000 - $285,000

About The Position

NYPL seeks a visionary and collaborative executive to serve as Vice President of Education, leading the strategy and delivery of learning programs across the Library’s 88 branch libraries, the Thomas Yoseloff Business Center, and partner sites across New York City. This leader will shape and modernize NYPL’s education and learning agenda, honoring the Library’s 125+ year legacy while driving innovation to meet the needs of today and tomorrow. The Vice President will build on NYPL’s strengths in literacy, ESOL, after-school, digital skills, workforce development, civic engagement, and cultural programming, ensuring more New Yorkers have access to the skills and confidence they need to learn and thrive. The role requires close collaboration with colleagues across the Library, including the teams overseeing NYPL’s three Research Libraries, to align education and public learning efforts while maintaining distinct portfolios. With a program budget of more than $20 million and a team of over 400 full- and part-time staff, the Vice President will guide a broad portfolio that connects people of all ages to meaningful learning opportunities across NYC. As a visible ambassador for NYPL, this leader will forge partnerships with civic, educational, and cultural leaders, advancing the Library’s role as a trusted civic partner and engine of opportunity for New Yorkers.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Education, Library Science, Public Administration, or related field.
• Senior leadership experience managing multi-site programs with $5M+ budgets and 100+ staff.
• Proven success driving transformative strategies that elevate quality, expand reach, and position organizations for the future.
• Commitment to advancing equity and access in education, literacy, workforce, or public service.
• Demonstrated ability to modernize long-standing programs and systems while respecting institutional history and culture.
• Record of building data-driven, performance-based systems that link evaluation, outcomes, and staff development.
• Skilled in quantitative and qualitative analysis to inform strategy, measure impact, and guide innovation.
• Strong financial management of operational budgets; adept at analyzing how money is spent, making trade-offs, and rebalancing resources to support priorities and sustainability.
• Expertise in at least two NYPL domains (youth learning, workforce, adult literacy, digital inclusion) with the vision to lead across all.
• Experienced in recruiting, developing, and leading high-performing teams, with an eye toward succession planning and leadership pipelines.
• Demonstrated ability to build credibility with executive leadership, Trustees, and external partners.
• Exceptional communicator who can influence diverse stakeholders with clarity, credibility, and purpose.

Nice To Haves

• Visible leader and ambassador who forges partnerships and represents the Library across civic, educational, and cultural sectors.
• Creative, forward-looking thinker who designs innovative programs and aligns them with evolving community needs.

Responsibilities

• Advance a clear, focused vision for lifelong learning that builds on NYPL’s strengths and aligns with the Learning pillar of the FY26–30 strategic plan.
• Translate the Library’s goals—economic mobility, digital inclusion, and civic participation—into measurable operational plans across programs and teams.
• Guide an established portfolio through its next stage of growth, strengthening program quality, reach, and efficiency.
• Establish performance benchmarks and accountability systems that foster collaboration and measurable impact.
• Collaborate with internal partners, including the Yoseloff Business Center and workforce development teams, to expand pathways for entrepreneurship, career advancement, and small-business learning.
• Serve as a visible thought leader for NYPL’s education and learning work, reinforcing the Library’s role as a trusted civic partner and national model for equitable opportunity.
• Oversee the Library’s core public education portfolio, including Early Literacy, NYPL After School, Teens 360°, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), TechConnect, and Career Services.
• Integrate emerging technologies—such as AI, coding, and creative media—into learning and workforce programs in ways that are accessible, ethical, and inclusive.
• Encourage cross-program connections that link education, workforce, and community learning across branches and neighborhoods.
• Embed wraparound services such as social work, financial literacy, and immigrant support to meet holistic patron needs and strengthen community well-being.
• Build on NYPL’s performance benchmarks through data-driven evaluation that tracks utilization, outcomes, and long-term impact on literacy, career readiness, and social mobility.
• Collaborate with the Strategy and Public Impact and Digital teams to strengthen data systems and align evaluation with organizational goals.
• Lead and inspire a diverse, highly skilled team of more than 400 staff.
• Foster accountability, collaboration, and shared purpose across teams with deep expertise in multiple domains.
• Cultivate a culture that values inclusion, learning, and innovation at every level.
• Collaborate closely with the Vice President for Branch and Patron Services to align branch-based programs with systemwide learning strategies.
• Partner with schools, training providers, employers, and community organizations to expand participation and connect learning to opportunity.
• Represent NYPL in local and national forums as a leader in public learning and digital equity.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $260,000 - $285,000
• Robust benefits including medical, retirement, and paid time off.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Master's degree
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees