Youth Specialist

Brazoria County•215 North Shanks Clute, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Youth Specialist plans and coordinates youth services and programs within established guidelines. The role provides reference and readers’ advisory assistance to children, teens, and families; develops and delivers youth and general-interest programs and outreach; and maintains youth collections in collaboration with library staff. The position also supports library operations through staff supervision, coordination with branch and library administration, community relations, marketing, and participation in professional activities. The position may assume managerial responsibilities, including acting as branch manager in a supervisor’s absence under the direction and guidance of the branch librarian or manager. Regular attendance is required, and evening and weekend work is required. The role is based in a library environment and involves travel by automobile on county roads and streets. A valid Texas driver’s license is preferred, and the employee is responsible for providing transportation for job duties. Pre-employment drug/alcohol testing is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
Strong interpersonal, organizational, and supervisory skills, including the ability to work effectively with the public.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, and technical procedures.
Ability to prepare clear, professional reports, correspondence, and procedural documentation.
Ability to present information and respond to inquiries from managers, staff, government officials, organizational leaders, and the public.
Ability to work with mathematical concepts, including probability, statistical inference, fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions, and apply them in practical contexts.
Ability to identify problems, collect and evaluate data, establish facts, and draw sound conclusions.
Ability to interpret technical instructions in written, diagrammatic, or abstract form and manage multiple complex variables.
Skill in using standard business software and equipment.
Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in problem-solving.
Maintain strict confidentiality in accordance with County and Library policies and applicable laws.
Provide own transportation for carrying out job duties.
Meet the physical demands of the job, including extended sitting or standing, walking, reaching, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, handling materials, and lifting or moving objects up to 25 pounds frequently and occasionally more than 25 pounds; push and pull book carts weighing more than 25 pounds across a distance.
Work evenings and weekends; regular attendance is required.
Complete pre-employment drug/alcohol testing.

Nice To Haves

Three years of library experience in supervision, reference, collection development, and community relations preferred.
Valid Texas Driver’s License preferred.

Responsibilities

Interpret and implement library policies and procedures for patrons and staff.
Interview, train, supervise, schedule, and evaluate staff; assume supervisory responsibilities when assigned.
Serve as liaison between library administration, other branches, and branch staff.
Work with the branch lead to develop budget requests.
Provide reference and readers’ advisory assistance to children, teens, and families, including help with collections, catalogs, electronic resources, and related services.
Identify community educational and informational needs and lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of youth and general-interest classes, programs, and outreach.
Present weekly literature-based story time for the appropriate audience.
Plan and implement system-wide programs, including the summer reading challenge.
Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, including local schools; represent the library in the community and maintain an active public relations presence.
Implement marketing for youth programs and services.
Assess, select, allocate, and systematically weed collection materials in collaboration with the branch librarian and other professional staff.
Organize and coordinate teen volunteer programs.
Attend and participate in professional activities, conferences, and committees; maintain awareness of professional trends, methods, and ethics.
Perform other duties as assigned and maintain regular attendance.
Act as branch manager in supervisors’ absence, under the direction and guidance of the branch librarian or manager.
Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws, under the direction and guidance of the branch librarian.
Address complaints and resolve problems with branch manager approval.