Minimum Qualifications
- Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field, plus two (2) years of experience in developing and presenting youth programs.
- Experience may substitute for education up to four (4) years.
Licenses or Certifications:Valid Class “C” Driver’s License.
Notes to Applicants
The Teen Program Specialist is a 35 hour position (7 hours a day, 5 days per week, no telework) and will work with a team of professionals providing exceptional customer service for Teens age 13-18 at the downtown Central Library. The Teen program specialist will engage in a variety of duties such as answering book-and-research-related questions at a public service desk; design, develop, host, and evaluate programs for teens aged 13-18 (mostly high school age) tied to teen interests; create opportunities for teen community-building; and work with teen volunteers and staff to create peer-led learning opportunities for other young people, and work with youth-led organizations and youth-serving organizations in our community to create a supportive ecosystem for young people across Austin.
Required Documents Please DO include a digital flier for a unique library program you’d want to offer to teens (you will be asked to tell us more about it in the supplemental questions below).
Please DO include a cover letter, telling us about yourself and why you are interested in this job.
Please DO NOT include a resume - a resume will not be sufficient for providing your work experience. Instead, enter all relevant work experience in the online application form.
SALARY * Important: Please Read*Should you be selected as the top candidate for this position, your salary offer will be calculated
only using the job experience you type in the City’s online application (resume will not be considered). To ensure you qualify for the highest possible offer based on your experience,
please clearly list ALL your work experience, including whether it was full time or part time, and be sure you list in your duties whether that position was working with youth or not. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
All new employees are required to attend City of Austin and Austin Public Library training as scheduled and should arrange their outside schedules to accommodate such training.
The Austin Public Library reserves the right to close posted positions prior to the advertised close date, based on recruitment strategies and business needs.
Working with the City of Austin provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, training opportunities, and more.
VETERAN APPLICANTS :
If you are identified as a top candidate, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 before confirming a start date.
DRIVING REQUIREMENT :
This position requires a valid Texas Class C Driver’s License or the ability to acquire one by your hire date. External New Hires must meet the City of Austin’s Driver Record Evaluation ( DRE ) requisite. To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months.
Pay Range
Commensurate
Hours
35 hour a week position (7 hours a day, in-person only: no telework)
Hours will include a regular weekly evening shift and weekend shifts in rotation. Specific schedule will vary based on business needs. Possible shifts could be scheduled any time the library is open during the following hours:
Monday - Thursday: 9 am - 8 pm
Friday: 9 am - 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday: 12 pm - 5 pm
Job Close Date 09/02/2024 Type of Posting External Department Austin Public Library Regular/Temporary Regular Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Professional Location Teen Central, Central Library - 710 W. Cesar Chavez Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of best practices for supporting teens through community building, Connected Learning, and youth-as-expert collaborative program design. (essential)
- Fondness and familiarity with recently published teen and children’s literature from the past 2 years (essential).
- Experience and passion for collaborating with high-school-aged students in a supporting role
- Warm and inclusive customer service practices and comfort working in-person daily with people from a wide range of identities, cultures, ages, and communities.
- Strong organizational and communication skills and dedication to teamwork.
- Experience and comfort speaking in a welcoming and engaging way in front of large groups of youth (50-150 people)
- Experience partnering with external organizations on collaborative projects, youth organizing, or outreach initiatives.
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.Develops and conducts educational and interactive youth programs that meet department objectives and highlight department services. Organizes and implements outreach programs and projects. Assists youth and families in finding and accessing department services and resources. Evaluates and recommends public access resources and materials for purchase. Acts as City representative before public groups of children, teens, and adults. Compiles data/information/statistics for reports, cost estimates, etc. Orders and issues program, craft, and office supplies. Attends meetings and seminars to stay current in job practices. Develops and conducts training in program design and delivery, for department staff and for the public. Researches relevant information. Manages files and records.
Responsibilities- Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:
May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, and guidance to others.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed. - Knowledge of books and information resources for youth.
- Skill in planning and presenting effective programs for youth that fulfill departmental objectives.
- Skill in designing and constructing effective, educational exhibits for youth that promote department resources and services.
- Skill in public speaking.
- Skill in effective oral and written communication.
- Skill in presenting and connecting youth and families with departmental resources.
- Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with other City employees and the public.
- Skill in time management, organization, and staff/volunteer coordination.
- Skill in working as part of a team, as leader or member.
- Skill in using computers and related software, including Microsoft Office products.
- Ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds.
Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA
City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.
The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS , AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.
Information For City Employees: If you are an employee within the department, are in good standing and meet both the minimum and preferred qualifications, then you will receive an initial interview.
Supplemental QuestionsRequired fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* The minimum qualifications for the Youth Program Specialist position are graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field, plus two (2) years of experience in developing and presenting youth programs. Experience may substitute for education up to four (4) years. Do you meet the minimum qualifications?
* This position requires a Texas Class C Drivers License. Do you have a Texas Class C Drivers License or if selected for this position, do you have the ability to acquire a Texas Class C Drivers License by your hire date?
* The City of Austin Driver Eligibility Standards require that External New Hires meet the City’s Driver Record Evaluation (DRE) requisite. To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months. Do you meet this requirement?
* How many months of full-time experience do you have working with youth ages 0-18?
- less than 6 months Full Time experience
- 6-12 months Full Time experience (1 year or less)
- 13-24 months Full Time experience (1-2 years)
- 25-36 months Full Time experience (2-3 years)
- 36-48 months Full Time experience (3-4 years)
- 49-60 months Full Time experience (4-5 years)
- 61-72 months Full Time experience (6 or more years)
* Of your years of experience working with youth, how many were specifically working with teens between the ages of 13-18?
- Less than 1 year
- 1-3 years
- 4-5 years
- More than 5 years
* This position requires a criminal background investigation (CBI). By selecting the following, you are acknowledging that you understand if you are selected as a top candidate for this position, you will need a successful CBI to be hired.
- I acknowledge and understand this position requires a Criminal Background Investigation.
* This job involves keeping up with recently published books for youth, and we are looking for someone with a love of reading who can help our readers find their next great book. Tell us about one recently published book for teens that you've read in the past year, and why you would or would not recommend that book to a teen reader.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe 2 programs, workshops, events, or classes you have taught to teens in the past. How did you involve teens in the creation of those programs, and how did you keep them involved throughout the process, and how did you determine success for each.
(Open Ended Question)
* Teen Services at the Central Library regularly partners with youth-led and youth-serving organizations in order to support teens in many communities. What organizations would you most want to work with as a member of our team, and why?
(Open Ended Question)
* The Public Services Division has an obligation to provide in-person support to communities in our libraries seven days a week, which means that opportunities to telework are rare for our team. What keeps you excited about working daily with young people in an in-person setting.
(Open Ended Question)
* The Central Library regularly hosts field trips for visiting middle and high school students. What is one idea you have for making field trips to the Central Library memorable for teens, that would encourage them to come back on their own and visit again?
(Open Ended Question)
* As part of your application, you will be asked to attach a flyer as an "other document" for a unique teen program idea you have for the Central Library that would serve high school age teens. By "unique" we mean not the types of programs you typically associate with libraries (book clubs, writing groups, etc). Please use the space below to tell us about your program idea, how you would involve teens in the creation of it, and why you think teens would be interested in it, and why you think the idea is unique.
(Open Ended Question)
Optional & Required DocumentsRequired Documents Cover Letter Other Document
Optional Documents
