Deputy Director, Chesapeake Public Libraries

POSITION:
Deputy Director, Chesapeake Public Libraries

LOCATION:

298 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322
SALARY:
Starting Range: $93,760 - $154,704 (Commensurate with education and experience)
Final date to receive applications: 03/19/2026

Chesapeake Public Library (CPL) is seeking a dynamic Deputy Director to be part of a creative, collaborative management team. CPL values professionalism, collaboration, feedback, curiosity, and communication, as we seek to uphold the City of Chesapeake’s strategic anchors of making Chesapeake an exceptional place to live, learn, work, farm, and play while being fiscally responsible and providing outstanding services to all.

The purpose of the Deputy Director is to assist the Library Director in planning, organizing, and directing the day-to-day operations of the library system. The job class is responsible for supervising subordinate staff, establishing standards for services and collections, preparing library budget, and coordinating the annual Capital Improvement Program.

Encompassing a Central Library, six area libraries, two Mobile Edition outreach vans, multiple fleet vehicles, and digital services, CPL is a vibrant community hub with 201,000 registered users, 1.2 million annual checkouts, and approximately 12,500 weekly visitors. The Chesapeake Public Library serves the citizens of the second-largest city in the Commonwealth and is located in the center of Hampton Roads, a thriving coastal metropolitan area composed of seven cities and 1.8 million residents in the region.

• Coordinates and supervises day-to-day operations including circulation, information services, collection management, library information services, training, and facilities in alignment with the department’s strategic plan.
• Supervises subordinate personnel, including scheduling, assigning, and evaluating work. Oversees staff development and training.
• Conducts analysis for annual budget planning, projections, justification, and implementation. Monitors expenditures for effective fiscal management.
• Coordinates the Library Capital Improvement Program and participates in the design and construction planning for new or renovated library facilities.
• Assists the Library Director in formulating and coordinating plans for library services.
• Performs statistical analysis and prepares various reports to measure and evaluate the effectiveness of library services and programs.
• In coordination with the IT and Collection Management teams, develops and evaluates customer access to resources.
• Manages projects from initiation through completion, including oversight of tracking measures to ensure accountability in accordance with the strategic plan.
• Serves as Acting Director in the absence of the Library Director.
• Responds orally or in writing to comments, inquiries, or complaints from patrons and co-workers.
• Assists the Director with record keeping and the preparation and submission of all required reports and grants.
• Monitors grant writing and expenditures as well as fiscal management of Friends of the Library appropriations.
• Oversees the maintenance of divisional emergency plans and preparations as well as departmental safety and evacuation procedures. Ensures appropriate safety training for staff and patrons.
• Works with staff to develop and keep job descriptions and operating policies and procedures current, relevant, and in compliance with all applicable governmental regulations.
• Works with Human Resources to ensure staffing levels are appropriate to meet the needs of each branch and address personnel-related concerns.
• Maintains knowledge of standard library principles, practices, and concepts of freedom of speech, copyright, collection development, weeding, patron confidentiality, censorship, and other library ethical issues.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Public Library Experience Preferred.
• Emergency Management Experience Preferred.

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in business or related field.
• ALA accredited master’s degree in library science and/or master’s degree in business or public administration strongly preferred.