Department:

Libraries & Historical Resources

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

Are you passionate about impacting your community, with a strong background focused in on teamwork and customer service? We are in need of a Community Outreach Specialist, capable of serving as the Libraries & Historical Resources liaison for Adult Literacy opportunities, outreach, and support to the community. Our programs are offered to all ages including technology instruction and promotion of library services via partners and at off-site locations, utilizing the outreach vehicle. The ideal candidate is equipped with experience in communication, technology, and staff development. Pay begins at $52,936.00, there is an outstanding work-life balance, and benefits begin within 60 days of hire! Apply today and leave your mark on both our permanent residents and visitors alike.

About the Position

In this role you will be responsible for...

Community Outreach

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with community partners, local non-profits, and other County departments. Assist with a regularly scheduled calendar of visits for outreach vehicle to sites across Sarasota, especially those serving children, seniors and underserved populations throughout the County.

• Develop and present outreach programs for diverse audiences.

• Promote the understanding and use of the library and its resources.

• Provide technology programming and instruction. Participate in one-on-one training.

• Load and unload book trucks on the Pop-up Library vehicle and drive vehicle to outreach facilities.

• Perform collection development and maintenance for the Pop-up Library vehicle.

• Continually seek new opportunities to improve outreach effectiveness.

Customer Service

• Represent Sarasota County to library users, volunteers, staff, and donors.

• Implement standards of service that ensure the prompt and efficient resolution of inquiries and requests from internal and external customers, delivered with the utmost courtesy and respect.

• Demonstrate the impact and value of literacy programs and communicate this through public speaking engagements, presentations and by meeting with community leaders.

• Provide literacy education and resource information to diverse adult audiences, including adult new readers.

• Correspond with partners; send program publications and updates on literacy-related services.

• Recommend collection resources to support adult literacy activities.

• Monitor trends in adult literacy resources to include materials for English language learners.

• Recommend materials for the Libraries' Reader Development collections.

• Develop Reader Development kits for at-home use on a variety of themes.

Administration

• Assist in materials checkout/check-in, retrieve and process reserves, billing and missing items processes as needed.

• Gather statistical information as required.

Staff Development

• Participate in cross training in other sections and aid in cross training in their section.

• Attend agency, system-wide, local, regional, state, and national meetings and workshops to enhance professional skills.

• Participate in the development of goals and objectives for Outreach Services Team

About the Schedule

Work hours:

• Full-Time, 40 hours per week.

• Must be available to work 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Must be available to participate in all hours of operation including daytime, evening, and weekend hours, as well as hours at other locations, depending upon library system service needs.

About You

Minimum Qualifications: Associate degree in Communications, Education, Planning or related field and two (2) years experience in adult education, community events and activities planning and implementation f luency in Spanish or second language. A background in adult literacy and collaboration with social service agencies preferred.

Subject to Passing Substance Screening: This position is subject to passing a pre-employment substance screening. An applicant who fails to pass a required drug screening test shall be disqualified from employment in any class for a period of five (5) years.

About Everything Else

Starting Pay: $52,936.00

Benefits:

• Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! Starting January 2024, choose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits!

• For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net (https://www.scgov.net/government/human-resources/employee-health-and-benefits) for additional information.

• Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms and classes at multiple Sarasota County Government locations.

• Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)​​

A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.

We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different.

Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally.

A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353.

Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).

Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.

Do you like leaving things better than you found them? We serve the greater good! Our team is here to make Sarasota the premier community to live, work and play!

Sarasota has 37 miles of award-winning beaches, over 80 parks and 100 golf courses, and is known as the cultural capital of Florida with museums of art, theaters, an aquarium, botanical gardens and the annual international film festival. Unsurpassed beauty, rich cultural offering, diverse educational opportunities, wide-ranging recreational possibilities make Sarasota a great place to live and work!

We believe in work-life balance with a generous leave plan.

“US News & World Report: Sarasota is No. 1 in Florida and No. 18 in the country for best place to live.”

We need YOU to help create wonderful experiences for residents and vacationing guests enjoying Sarasota! Apply today!