Job Posting: Program Officer, REACH 21 grant, ALA Office for Diversity, Chicago, IL

Program Officer, REACH 21 grant
Office for Diversity, Chicago, IL

Responsibilities: This position will manage the outreach and support services component of the ALA/IMLS-funded Spectrum Scholarship Program. This is a grant-funded 36-month position based at ALA's Chicago headquarters. Position is responsible for administration of the Spectrum Scholarship Program, ALA’s national diversity and recruitment effort designed to address under-representation of ethnic librarians within the profession while serving as a model for ways to bring attention to larger diversity issues in the future. Additionally this position will support ALA in delivering IMLS grant deliverables by providing active consultation supporting the retention goals of similar library diversity initiatives; and creating processes and methods to improve collaboration among organizations recruiting for LIS positions, graduate LIS institutions and programs, and individual stakeholders to build capacity around the issue of diversity. This position is funded by the REACH 21 grant, funding may not be available after 2011. Will develop an outreach plan, communication vehicles and tools to build a nationwide network of partners in the recruitment and retention of a diverse library workforce. Will organize trainings at national and regional conferences. Will be responsible for scholarship administration including processing scholarship applications and payments, communicating scholarship qualifications and eligibility criteria to students, ensuring scholarship award guidelines are adhered to, providing ongoing support and communication for scholarship recipients, and assisting in grant and financial reporting.

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree required. Master's degree from an ALA-accredited library and information science program preferred. Excellent communication skills (oral, written, electronic) and project development and management experience are required. Candidates possessing backgrounds in marketing or outreach and awareness of issues related to diversity, especially in regards to LIS professional recruitment are strongly preferred. Knowledge of web content development and publishing and social networking technologies and usage, and experience managing design and print production vendor teams desired. Not-for-profit and event planning background also a plus. Familiarity with a variety of the budget concepts, practices, and procedures preferred. Public speaking and travel required. Resume submissions should be accompanied by two writing samples.

Salary Range: from $40,000 Grade Level: E
Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt
Date Posted: 04/04/08 Date Closed:

Applicants may forward resumes via fax at 312.280-5270 or email Mary Pullen at mpullen@ala.org.