Chief Operating Officer - Allen County Public Library (IN)
Job Description:
Chief Operating Officer – Allen County Public Library (IN)
The Allen County Public Library (IN) seeks a strategic
operational leader to serve as its next Chief Operating Officer (COO).
This executive-level position plays a critical role in translating vision into
execution, ensuring ACPL’s systems, services, and internal operations are
aligned to support the library’s mission. This is a visible, high-impact role
for an operational leader who values transparency, consistency, and
collaboration as much as innovation, and will play a central role in ACPL’s
ongoing transformation as a responsive, community-focused library system.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the COO is responsible for comprehensive
oversight of Public Services, Information Technology, Youth Services, and
System Services. The ideal candidate will bring depth in public library
administration, systems-level thinking, and a leadership style grounded in both
collaboration and accountability.
The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) has fostered lifelong
learning and discovery in northeast Indiana for more than 135 years. The ACPL
consists of a Main Library, thirteen branches, and a data center, with an
enthusiastic staff of 324 FTE serving approximately 1.7 million visitors per
year. With a $37 million budget, ACPL supports service to its 385,000
constituents, 51% of whom are cardholders. The ACPL’s collection includes more
than 3.9 million items, with a circulation total of 4.6 million items borrowed
annually. The Main Library is home to the The Genealogy Center, the nation’s
largest public genealogy research center, and The Rolland Center for Lincoln
Research, consisting of more than 30,000 artifacts related to President Abraham
Lincoln.
Since 2021, ACPL has undertaken an extensive and
collaborative planning process that included evaluations of their current
facilities, multiple focus groups, community surveys, and public hearings. The
result is a Facilities Master Plan that reflects the varied needs and
aspirations of Allen County residents. Thanks to the support of many key
partners, ACPL reached a major milestone within the last year when the Fort
Wayne City Council, the Allen County Council, and the ACPL Board of Trustees
approved the issuance of $37 million in bond funding to be combined with more
than $20 million of library reserve funds to fund Phase 1 of the Facility
Master Plan. Phase 1 prioritizes projects at locations where buildings are no
longer sustainable due to age, size, or critical structural issues.
ACPL is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana — a growing and
dynamic city recently named Indiana’s first Certified
Welcoming Community by Welcoming America. Located in the heart of
northeastern Indiana, Fort Wayne and Allen County combine Midwestern warmth
with strong cultural and economic momentum. The region offers a “big‑city,
small‑town” feel, with high‑quality education, vibrant neighborhoods, and
expansive parks and trail systems.
Key Responsibilities include:
- Serving
as second-in-command to the Executive Director, with delegated leadership
responsibility across departments and initiatives.
- Driving
operational planning aligned to ACPL’s strategic, facilities, and
technology goals.
- Supervising
and supporting a high-performing leadership team; ensuring effective
oversight of budget, performance metrics, and day-to-day service delivery.
- Leading
ongoing evaluation and improvement of services, staffing, projects, and
resource allocation.
- Coordinating
capital and facilities planning efforts, including alignment with ACPL’s
Facility Master Plan.
- Representing
the Library in system-wide discussions, cross-departmental initiatives,
and external partnerships.
- Ensuring
compliance with applicable laws and regulations; maintaining standards
aligned with professional best practices.
- Acting
Qualifications: A master’s degree in library or information sciences from an
ALA-accredited institution is required, as is a minimum of five (5) years of
public library managerial experience that includes supervisory responsibilities
for mid-to-upper-level managers. An equivalent combination of education and
experience may be considered. Other requirements include the ability to obtain
State Library Certification at an LC2 level within one (1) year, and a valid
driver’s license. Demonstrated success managing multiple departments in complex
organizations, and experience leading strategic planning, resource planning,
and staff development are highly desired skills. Familiarity with capital
planning, technology integration, and construction or renovation projects is
strongly preferred.
Compensation: The position has a salary range of $100,000 –
$120,000 (with placement negotiable dependent on experience and
qualifications) and comes with an excellent benefits package.
Interested candidates should submit their resume through the
application portal
(https://bradburymiller.com/current-clients/) by selecting the position and
then the “Apply” button. For further information, contact Bradbury Miller Associates. This position closes on Sunday, November 30,
2025.
Visit our website
(https://bradburymiller.com/current-clients/) to access the latest version of
this announcement in full, along with all related links.
Application link or email address: https://bradburymiller.com/current-clients/
Salary range or hourly wage: $100000-$120000
MLS required: Yes, an MLS is required.
Job focus: Administration/Management
Work schedule: Full-Time