Civic Life Program Specialist

The Civic Life Program Specialist will design, lead, and deliver large-scale programs and signature cultural events system-wide, including major initiatives such as Alt Press Fest, Diwali, Spring Festival/Chinese New Year, Día de Muertos, Eid/Ramadan, and Las Posadas.

The ideal candidate will have a Master's Degree in Event Management, Cultural Studies, Public Administration, Education, Library and Information Science, or a related field, and experience planning and facilitating large-scale cultural events or community festivals.

Responsibilities:

• Design, plan, and execute large-scale, system-wide cultural programs and community festivals
• Establish clear engagement and cultural learning goals for each major event
• Maintain deep knowledge of cultural traditions, community practices, and festival programming
• Serve as a subject matter expert and advisor across the library system for authentic, inclusive cultural programming
• Lead, develop, and support other adult programming on the Civic Life team across the system
• Create a safe, inclusive space where participants feel they belong
• Foster good working relationships with diverse people including staff, participants, volunteers, vendors, and community partners
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with community leaders, cultural organizations, performers, vendors, and internal stakeholders
• Design and deliver programs in parks, plazas, and other public spaces across the city
• Coordinate closely with the Event Services team at the Main Library and branch leads regarding room bookings, stage/AV setup, security, logistics, equipment needs, and day-of operations for system-wide events
• Direct the work of associates, event staff, and volunteers during major events
• Mentor team members in event logistics, audience engagement, and program facilitation
• Keep supplies, kits, and equipment stocked and in good condition
• Collect attendance, outcome, and participant feedback to improve the next program
• Oversee project life cycles for major events, managing master planning timelines, resource allocation, cross-departmental coordination, contracts, and vendor payments
• Partner with Communications to establish promotional timelines, submit publicity requests on schedule, review marketing collateral, and ensure effective outreach to target communities across channels

Requirements:

• Completion of a Master's Degree in Event Management, Cultural Studies, Public Administration, Education, Library and Information Science, or a related field
• 1 year of experience leading and mentoring other experts in end-to-end event project management
• Enthusiasm for teaching people of all ages and a genuine pull toward working with the public
• Comfort learning by doing
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience taking a leadership role on a workgroup, task force, or project
• Experience mentoring other employees or volunteers
• Intermediate knowledge of operating a computer and common software applications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience planning and managing signature, system-wide cultural events and community festivals in public or non-profit settings
• Experience designing programs with clear learning goals
• Experience delivering programs in a public library, museum, school, or community setting
• Experience activating parks, plazas, and outdoor public spaces through large-scale programming and community events
• Desire to serve all age ranges: children, teens, and adults
• Spanish language and/or other non-English language skills