Director - Des Moines Public Library

Director – Des Moines Public Library (IA) 

The Des Moines Public Library (IA) Board of Trustees is seeking a visionary and strategic thinker to lead the organization as the library’s next Director. This leader will possess exceptional communication skills and will inspire staff to excel in their roles while also fostering an environment that promotes growth within the organization and innovation to meet evolving community needs. The Director collaborates with the Library Board of Trustees to formulate and update library policies and maintains an up-to-date strategic plan to implement those policies. The Director should be flexible and able to creatively adapt to changing circumstances within the library, the community and city and state government.

The Des Moines Public Library (DMPL) is a cornerstone of the community, providing free access to information, resources, and lifelong learning opportunities for all. DMPL has six branches throughout the city, including the Central Library downtown, designed by British architect David Chipperfield. It employs approximately 70 full-time staff along with 65 temporary and part-time members. From bestselling books and interactive workshops to free WiFi, historical archives, storytimes for children, and the library-of-things, the library offers something for all ages and interests. DMPL provides a range of digital resources, including eBooks, audiobooks, streaming media, newspapers and periodicals, and research databases. The library hosts an array of events and programs year-round at all locations, such as book clubs, Central’s rotating Art Gallery, the annual Summer Reading program, a variety of community outreach initiatives, and the celebrated AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines) speaker series. The library also meets community needs with services such as Library by Mail for homebound patrons, reservable meeting rooms, notary services, test proctoring, and access to Community Fridges. Tech Central, the library’s innovation lab, encourages hands-on exploration of technology and creative projects. Guided by its mission to educate, inspire, and connect the lives of Des Moines residents, the library is a space where ideas thrive, communities come together, and everyone can access materials and services to help them lead their best lives.

The vital and vibrant city of Des Moines is proud to serve as Iowa’s state capital, the county seat of Polk County, and the most populous city in the state. Centrally located in Iowa, Des Moines spans approximately 90 square miles, is home to an estimated 215,000 residents, and is part of a metropolitan area of over 750,000 residents. Its downtown area, where hundreds of new apartments and condos have been built in the past decade, is a magnet for young professionals. The city has a balanced and diversified economy, serving as the financial, commercial, industrial, trade, transportation, and health care center of Iowa. The community is a cultural center for the state and home to several world-class institutions, including Des Moines Performing Arts, which hosts touring Broadway shows; the Des Moines Symphony; the Des Moines Art Center, a modern and contemporary art museum; the prestigious Pappajohn Sculpture Park; the Des Moines Metro Opera; and the World Food Prize headquarters. Des Moines hosts festivals year-round, including the Des Moines Arts Festival, the World Food and Music Festival, the Drake Relays, and the Iowa State Fair. The metro area also boasts the Lauridsen Skatepark, the largest skatepark in the U.S.; an extensive network of bike trails; and a growing network of water trails, which will soon include a downtown whitewater kayaking course.

Responsibilities: The ideal candidate will become a highly visible public figure who will cultivate positive relationships with local government and community residents, effectively manage and oversee the annual budget, collaborate with the Library Foundation to assure the delivery of quality programming, champion intellectual freedom, and have extensive knowledge of the philosophies, principles and current best practices of public library operations. The Director will work with governmental financial management and accounting procedures, manage personnel, and communicate effectively both orally and in writing. For a full list of responsibilities, please see the job description linked below.

Qualifications: A master’s degree in library science from an American Library Association-accredited program is required. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of experience in management and administration, budget oversight, customer service, programming development, or other relevant work in a similarly sized public library system. The Director is required to establish residency within the City of Des Moines within 12 months of hire.

Compensation: The position has a salary range of $138,500 – $197,000 (with placement negotiable dependent on experience and qualifications) and comes with an excellent fringe benefits package.

For further information, contact Bradbury Miller Associates (https://bradburymiller.com/). Interested candidates should submit their resume through the application portal (https://bradburymiller.com/current-clients/) by selecting the position and then the “Apply” button. This position closes on Sunday, August 24, 2025.

 

Visit our website (https://bradburymiller.com/current-clients/) to access the latest version of this announcement in full, along with all related links.