Chief Operating Officer - Allen County Public Library (Indiana)

Job Description:

Chief Operating Officer – Allen County Public Library (IN)

The Allen
County Public Library seeks a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to provide
system-wide operational leadership across a multi-branch library system. This
role partners with the Executive Director, leadership team, and department
managers to ensure aligned, effective service delivery across all locations.

This position carries immediate, high-visibility
responsibility for a multi-year capital initiative, having a leadership role in
the planning and execution of multiple consecutive branch renovation projects.
The COO holds a primary role in the project team responsible for this work,
ensuring continuity of service while advancing long-term facility goals. Since
2021, ACPL has undertaken an extensive and collaborative planning process that
included facility evaluations, focus groups, community surveys, and public
hearings. The resulting Facilities Master Plan—supported by $37 million in bond
funding and more than $20 million in reserve funds—prioritizes projects at
locations where buildings are no longer sustainable due to age, size, or
structural limitations.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the COO oversees Public
Services, Youth Services, and System Services, aligning strategy, operations,
and resources across the organization, including direct responsibility for the
performance, consistency, and continuous improvement of public-facing services
and system-wide service delivery models, and ensuring programs and services
remain responsive to community needs and aligned across all locations.

ACPL serves approximately 385,000 residents through a Main
Library, thirteen branches, and a data center, with 324 FTE and a $37 million
budget. The Library’s collection exceeds 3.9 million items, with annual
circulation of 4.6 million. The Main Library houses The Genealogy Center and
The Rolland Center for Lincoln Research.

Fort Wayne, Indiana—recently named the state’s first Certified Welcoming Community —offers a strong mix
of economic growth, cultural amenities, and quality of life, with a “big-city,
small-town” feel.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Holds
      a leadership role in a multi-year, multi-branch renovation program,
      including planning, budgets, timelines, and cross-functional coordination

• Coordinate
      capital and facilities planning in alignment with the Facility Master Plan

• Drive
      operational planning aligned with strategic priorities

• Evaluate
      services, staffing, and initiatives; allocate resources to support
      effective operations

• Lead
      a system-wide customer service training initiative to strengthen service
      consistency

• Align
      system-wide operations, strategy, and service delivery in partnership with
      the Executive Director and leadership team

• Act
      in the Executive Director’s absence

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. Familiarity with capital planning, technology integration, and
construction or renovation projects is strongly preferred. Highly desirable skills
include: demonstrated success managing multiple departments in complex
organizations, and experience leading strategic planning, resource planning,
and staff development.

Compensation: The position has a salary range of $87,776 – $140,441 (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
(https://bradburymiller.com/). This position closes on Sunday, June 21, 2026. 

Visit 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: $87,776-$140,441

MLS required: Yes, an MLS is required.

Job focus: Administration/Management

Work schedule: Full-Time