About Our Job

The Denver Public Library (DPL) isn't just a place to borrow books; it's a vibrant, essential hub for our diverse city. As a growing urban library system with 28 locations and over 4 million annual visitors, we're deeply woven into the fabric of Denver.

Join a team where your values align with your work. At the Denver Public Library, we're not just serving our community; we're building a culture guided by values that empower both our staff and the public.

• Welcoming: We make our resources, services, and expertise accessible for all, recognize the inherent dignity in each person, and provide safe places where everyone can be themselves.

• Curiosity: We foster a culture of exploration, innovation, and forward thinking by creating environments that support learning and growth.

• Connection: We are neighbors. We foster relationships, listen and act to build and strengthen our community. We bring people together to share information, ideas, and experiences.

• Equity: We work to change inequitable practices, structures and policies, and attitudes that drive them, to provide opportunities for every person in our community to thrive. As we do so, we actively examine our roles in perpetuating oppressive systems.

• Stewardship: We are accountable to our community, using our resources responsibly. We lead with honesty and integrity, protect privacy and preserve and share the full history of our Denver community.

If you're passionate about service, community engagement, and creating positive change, we invite you to explore career opportunities with us. Come join a team that believes in the power of knowledge, connection, and equity.

Unrivaled Benefits

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but is not limited to:

• Four (4) Medical Plans, Dental, Vision Insurance

• Pension Plan for Life (employee contributes 8.45%, employer matches at 17.95%) and 457 (b) Retirement Plan

• PTO (over 3 weeks in your first year), 4 paid wellness days, and 12 paid holidays

• CARE Bank, Family Leave Benefits

• Enhanced Work/Life Balance: Employee Assistance Program (6 counseling sessions per year, legal assistance, financial counseling, discounted recreation center passes), Employee Volunteer Program

• Learning and Development Opportunities; Courses and Career Development Resources

• EcoPass (unlimited free RTD bus/train rides)

• For more information please visit our website.

About Our Department

Older Adult Services (OAS) serves people aged 50+ across all aspects of library service in all locations and beyond. We have pioneered a positive aging approach grounded in research and current understanding of geriatric psychology, neurology, neuroplasticity, and adult developmental stages.

At DPL, we view age as a gift. We provide older adults with the information, services, and programs they need for a fulfilling, meaningful, connected, and healthy life. We also recognize the real challenges of aging, particularly for those who are economically disadvantaged, living with a physical or cognitive disability or medical condition, unhoused, or members of a marginalized community.

Our work is culturally aware and intersectional. We recognize that the experience of aging is shaped by race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, ability, and other identities. We work intergenerationally and support older adults who are raising children or grandchildren. Programs and services are offered in English, Spanish, and other languages.

OAS has six overarching goals. For folks age 50+ in Denver, we:

• Foster a sense of intrinsic worth

• Provide resources (tech, tools, information) to solve problems

• Provide opportunities for learning and growth

• Create experiences that cultivate joy

• Provide opportunities for connection

• Work toward a library, community, and culture that is age positive and anti-ageist and that treats older adults with warmth and respect

About Our Position

Ideal candidate

• Create a vision and framework for the Older Adult Services team that is in line with our positive aging approach and the broader goals of the Adult Services Department.

• Oversee all of the work that the library does for older adults across the entire library system and across all departments. This includes customer service best practices, staff training, public programs, information dissemination, resource curation, and space evaluation.

• Manage and track the OAS budget.

• Build and maintain relationships with branch staff across the library system.

• Build and maintain relationships with community partners and government agencies.

• Advance anti-ageist practices within the library and community.

• Research the circumstances and needs of older adults to identify trends and service gaps, making adjustments as needed.

• Evaluate DPL’s programs and services for older adults and implement changes as needed.

• Bring services to older adults into community spaces such as older adult living communities and partner sites.

• Guide and supervise the work of the OAS Library Programming Associates.

• Oversee external communication and marketing efforts for older adults.

• Act as a subject matter expert and advocate in serving older adults.

• Act as a public representative for DPL and OAS.

• Represent DPL and OAS publicly, including regular presentations at community partner sites and government agencies.

What You Would Bring

• A passion for serving older adults and an affection for this population.

• A knowledge of and passion for public libraries.

• Understanding of adult and older adult development.

• Strong communication skills, including written communication and public speaking.

• Strong organizational skills.

• Experience managing projects with multiple timelines and details. Knowledge and experience in managing budgets.

• Knowledge and experience in managing employees.

• Ability to travel all over Denver and present programs and services in geographically diverse locations.

• Ability to translate demographic and other information in order to understand the surrounding community.

• Ability to thrive while working in an environment with constant public contact with people from all backgrounds and age groups, including people without English language proficiency.

• Ability to facilitate group conversations.

• Knowledge and experience in developing and presenting programs for older adults and/or programs for the dementia community.

• Ability to work remotely and at any of our 27 locations on various days at various times.

• Ability to work independently and within a team to creatively solve problems in a positive manner.

• A positive attitude, excellent interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and a sense of humor in working with people.

• Ability to use workplace technology including email, internet, databases, social media, and other software.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Management, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, or a related field.

• Three (3) years of professional or technical level experience planning the administrative aspects of a program(s) or training program participants and/or volunteers.

Substitutions:

One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A Master's Degree in a related field of study (for example, library science, gerontology, social work, physical therapy, music therapy, occupational therapy, art therapy, psychology, education, nursing, and so on).

• Demonstrated knowledge of the needs of older adults

• Experience programming for older adults and/or people with Alzheimer’s/dementia.

• Experience in managing budgets and employees.

• Proficiency in a language other than English.

We welcome applicants from diverse academic backgrounds, such as Social Work, Arts Education, Public Health, and Communications.

Don't let a "checklist" hold you back! Research shows that women and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups often self-select out if they don't meet every qualification. If you're reading this and feel a true passion for making an impact, we wholeheartedly encourage you to apply, as an equal combination of education and experience will be considered for all applicants. Your excitement for this work matters just as much as your resume. Please provide a resume and cover letter with your application highlighting your relevant skills. Your cover letter should explain with specificity why you are interested in the position.

Work Environment & Location

The Denver Public Library's branches are the arms to the community—each a unique reflection of the dynamic, diverse communities we serve. At DPL, we pride ourselves on showing up and providing support whenever there is a need. While you may be hired for a specific location, please know that we are hiring with the expectation that at any time, you may be required to work at any one of our branches based on operational needs. This allows our staff to experience the full breadth of Denver's communities and ensures we consistently deliver the highest level of service across our branches.

DPL employees may be redeployed to work in other locations or capacities to support core functions of the library system during branch closures or other emergencies.

The schedule will be determined by the needs of the department and will include occasional evening and weekend hours.

This position will require you to be at the Central Library at least twice a week, which does not have free parking options.

Application & Additional Info

Ensure that the 'Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. Job postings will close at 12AM on the posted ending date. If interested in this opportunity, please apply as soon as possible.

Offer of employment contingent upon successful completion of criminal history and employment verification

All Denver Public Library employees must apply through their internal profile.

Ready to learn more and see how you can contribute? Visit us at denverlibrary.org and connect with our community on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

About Everything Else

Job Profile

LA1716 Program Administrator

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Library Hiring Range

$60,064.00 - $79,584.00

Target Pay

Agency

Denver Public Library

Assessment Requirement

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days’ notice.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.