What are the responsibilities and job description for the Public Services Manager position at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
Job Description
The Church History Department seeks a strong leader to oversee and develop the Public Services Team in the Church History Library. Demonstrated leadership experience and a good understanding of Church history are needed. This person’s primary responsibilities include managing a diverse and professional team of employees and missionaries, building relationships with researchers, and assisting patrons with research strategies. They also participate in various department projects and committees. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and a solid foundation in library and archival standards and practices are required .
Responsibilities
Public Services team leadership
Education and Experience:
About Us
Church employees find joy and satisfaction in using their unique talents and abilities to further the Lord’s work. From the IT professional who develops an app that sends the gospel message worldwide, to the facilities manager who maintains our buildings— giving Church members places to worship, teach, learn, and receive sacred ordinances—our employees seek innovative ways to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. They are literally working in His kingdom.
Only members of the Church who are worthy of a temple recommend qualify for employment. Apart from this, the Church is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its employment decisions on any basis that would violate U.S. or local law.
Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, national origin, color, gender, pregnancy, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or other legally protected categories that apply to the Church. The Church will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities.
The Church History Department seeks a strong leader to oversee and develop the Public Services Team in the Church History Library. Demonstrated leadership experience and a good understanding of Church history are needed. This person’s primary responsibilities include managing a diverse and professional team of employees and missionaries, building relationships with researchers, and assisting patrons with research strategies. They also participate in various department projects and committees. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and a solid foundation in library and archival standards and practices are required .
Responsibilities
Public Services team leadership
- Oversees the work of a team of librarians, archivists, and historians, including hiring, training, development, and performance management
- Supervises employees and missionaries in in-depth reference, consultation, and historical research projects; provides clear and professional evaluation and feedback
- Reviews and edits employee work and provides guidance
- Responsible for library policies, programs, events, and presentations
- Ensures reference desk and reading room are properly staffed
- Ensures online requests for assistance are responded to accurately and in a timely manner
- Understands, and instructs researchers in the use of research tools available in-house, on the internet, and throughout a world-wide Church history network
- Develops and shares a deep understanding of the library’s collections and resources
- Communicates with and responds to requests from patrons, scholars, and Church departments
- Works with researchers to identify research needs and create research strategies
- Participates in Church history scholarship; studies, develops, and maintains subject specialization and knowledge
- Works with other teams to identify opportunities, solve problems, and design process improvements
- Collaborates to increase audience awareness of how to access library services and expertise, including contributing to improvement of online content and print materials
- Actively contributes to efforts to evaluate and refine the overall on-site and online customer experience
- Seeks out, explores, and proposes innovative ideas for streamlining and accelerating the work of the Church History Library in collecting, preserving, and sharing the history of the Restoration.
Education and Experience:
- Master of Library Science or other related degree and 7 years of experience in library science, archival studies, or other related information field
- Demonstrated experience and strong leadership skills in managing work processes and people
- Demonstrated professional development and participation in professional organizations and committees in libraries, archives, or related fields
- Good understanding of Church history and related resources, and demonstrated expertise in multiple Church history topics/areas
- High performing, productive, engaged, and self-motivated; works cooperatively and performs well with time-sensitive projects
- Excellent oral and written communication and editing skills, including strong public presentation and training abilities
- Demonstrated customer service skills
- Strong organization and planning skills; strong ability to perceive and analyze problems and find appropriate solutions
- Good research skills and ability to understand and use several types of electronic research tools; proficient in archival research and information literacy in a digital age
- Willingness and ability to think creatively, learn quickly, take initiative, and operate with autonomy
- Experience overseeing the work of volunteers is preferred
- Ability to read, write, and communicate in a foreign language is desirable
About Us
Church employees find joy and satisfaction in using their unique talents and abilities to further the Lord’s work. From the IT professional who develops an app that sends the gospel message worldwide, to the facilities manager who maintains our buildings— giving Church members places to worship, teach, learn, and receive sacred ordinances—our employees seek innovative ways to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. They are literally working in His kingdom.
Only members of the Church who are worthy of a temple recommend qualify for employment. Apart from this, the Church is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its employment decisions on any basis that would violate U.S. or local law.
Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, national origin, color, gender, pregnancy, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or other legally protected categories that apply to the Church. The Church will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities.