Careers

Community Engagement Professional

Are you passionate about building connections and making a real difference in your community? The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library is looking for a dynamic and driven Community Engagement Professional to join our team!

We’re looking for someone who is:

• An excellent communicator
• Organized and energetic
• Passionate about public service and community outreach
   

In this role, you’ll be a vital bridge between the library and underserved populations. You’ll help lead outreach efforts, develop strategic partnerships, and champion library services that make a lasting impact. If you love cultivating relationships and believe in the transformative power of libraries, this is the job for you.

Help us expand our reach and connect more people to library resources. 

As the Community Engagement Professional some of the things you will do are:

Community Engagement

• Initiates engagement with underserved populations to offer library resources.
• Facilitates library card sign-ups and provides training on library digital tools.
• Builds trust with individuals and organizations, actively listening to their needs.

Programming

• Proposes and experiments with data-driven service changes based on real, identified needs of underserved communities, and tracks outcomes to measure impact.
• Designs and implements programs that are responsive to the cultural backgrounds, diverse abilities, and varied life experiences of community members.
• Develops and distributes resources such as informational handouts, specialized events, or new engagement strategies.

Community Impact and Service Enhancement

• Enhances the library’s effectiveness in reaching and supporting underserved populations.
• Establishes partnerships with organizations to co-create solutions that enhance access to library services.
• Coordinates with the Community Connections Librarian and library leadership to refine referral pathways and improve access to support services.

Collaboration and Digital Opportunity Initiatives

• Works closely with the Core Technologies Librarian and team to extend digital literacy and opportunity programs into the community.
• Identifies potential locations for public MiFi hotspot access and advocates for their implementation.
• Collaborates with the library’s Statistical Research Analyst and community partners to identify areas of need for digital services in Topeka & Shawnee County.
• Expands the library’s reach by introducing innovative methods of service delivery.

Coordination and Communication

• Maintains close communication with leadership regarding partnership development, community insights, and evolving service needs.
• Ensures alignment of outreach efforts with the library’s broader mission and goals.

Attendance

• Maintains prompt arrival and efficiently and dependably maintains scheduled hours.

Position Requirements/Preferences

Required:

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Four years of customer service experience, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred:

• Two years of experience working professionally with community partner organizations.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Multi-lingual fluency in English and one other language.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Demonstrated evidence of strong commitment to service excellence.
• Ability to work with diverse populations.
• Ability to find new ways to reach non-users and forge meaningful relationships.
• Knowledge of technology tools and learning resources such as databases, print and online resources.
• Knowledge of trends in technology tools, equipment, resources, training and use.
• Research skills such as data mining, critical thinking and analysis.
• Demonstrated organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to perform detailed work with accuracy.
• Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral formats.
• Ability to work cooperatively with customers, volunteers, community partners, colleagues, and supervisors.
• Ability to work independently or in a team and adapt quickly in a fast-paced work environment.

• Ability to work scheduled hours, arrive promptly and maintain regular and reliable attendance.

A pre and/or post-employment drug screen, criminal history record check and physical capacity testing are required as a condition of employment.

SCHEDULE: 40 hours per week. Days, nights and some weekend hours are required.  

PAY & BENEFITS: Starting salary will be in the range of $47,923.20 to $53,934.40 depending on experience and qualifications. Excellent benefits including health & dental insurance with pre-tax premiums, and a retirement plan (Kansas Public Employees Retirement System KPERS). Group life, disability coverage and accidental death benefits are also provided. Other optional benefits available at employee's expense include vision, life and cancer insurance and a deferred compensation plan.

Applications must be submitted by May 4, 2025.

Employment Application Supplemental Employment History