Chief Executive Officer - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is one of America’s leading urban public libraries, serving a community of more than one million residents in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Through 22 locations, nearly 450 employees, targeted outreach and online resources, the Library delivers exceptional services and programs, with a mission to create a community of readers and empower individuals with free access to information and the universe of ideas. Accessible and welcoming to all, the Library celebrates the joy of reading, fosters learning and growth, connects people to each other and the world, and inspires individuals with what they can achieve by providing open access to its physical and electronic collections, information, and services to people of all ages and all walks of life.

The strategic plan for FY 2026-2028 reflects the Library’s commitment to providing inclusive and responsive library services and reflects the voices of the thousands of community members who participated in this process. The plan provides a clear direction for the future, helping to expand access, strengthen partnerships, and create meaningful opportunities for learning and connection.

In November 2019, the Library unveiled the design for its new $137 million, 115,000-square-foot Main Library in Uptown Charlotte. The new Main Library will serve as the “public commons,” and is designed to be an architecturally distinctive, state-of-the-art, technologically advanced knowledge center, welcoming everyone in the community to access the resources of a 21st century library.

The CEO reports to the Board of Trustees and leads a senior leadership team (SLT) that includes the Chief Library Services Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Chief Financial and Administration Officer, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, and Chief Development Officer.

The CEO is the organization’s top executive, responsible for stewarding the Library’s long-term strategic direction, leading external partnerships, ensuring fiscal and operational sustainability, and fostering a mission-driven, high-performing executive team. This role ensures the Library is positioned as a vital, future-ready public institution.

Responsibilities

Specific duties will include, but not necessarily be limited to :

Strategic Leadership : Lead and mentor senior executives (SLT); build a culture of accountability and innovation. Guide SLT priorities to align with Board of Trustees, Board of County Commissioners, and community expectations. Work alongside SLT to develop and lead the organization’s long-range strategic direction and annual strategic business plan.

Governance and Board Engagement : Serve as the face of the organization and lead all enterprise-level needs including Board governance, county, and other key external community relationships including elected leaders. Ensure that the Board has the capacity, level of engagement, information, and processes to lead and advocate for the organization and inspire confidence among funders, partners, the community, and staff.

Financial Management and Sustainability : Support the CFO to ensure that the organization has the sufficient mix and amount of resources to fund current and intermediate operating and capital needs and has funding mechanisms and strategies in place to sustain the organization for the long term.

Community Engagement and External Relations : Ensure that strategies are in place to leverage the organization’s areas of focus; access and welcome, learn and engage, prepare and excel, and deliver the once in a generation new Main Library – to ensure its recognition as essential to a healthy, growing, caring, and cohesive community.

Qualifications

• A visionary with passion for libraries, for the work of librarians, the learning and community-building they enable, and the diverse populations they serve.
• Adept at and motivated to spend time with frontline staff and patrons “on the ground” in the branches.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity work; able to cross cultural boundaries to build and maintain strong working relationships; commitment to upward mobility and creating economic opportunity.
• Minimum of ten years’ successful experience in a senior management role that includes operations, finance, and human resources with the ability to administer basic nonprofit financial accounting and budget management, performance management, compensation, and other policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated track record of successful fundraising and organizational growth preferred; comfortable “making the ask” and serving as the lead fundraiser.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and sensitivity to the needs of a diverse ethnic population; influencer and negotiator.
• Outstanding communicator, both oral and written; active listener; able to connect with diverse stakeholders; effective public speaking skills.
• An innovative collaborator and creative problem-solver; able to attract, inspire, and engage others; sensitive to diverse points of view and keen awareness of stakeholder needs and how to build collaborative partnerships based upon fundamental principles.
• Passion for coaching and developing team members; able to navigate adversity with grace and kindness.
• Decisive and systems orientation; able to drill down and make sound business decisions based on data.
• Undergraduate degree required, Master’s degree in a related field preferred.

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