Chief Librarian/Chief Executive Officer
Greater Victoria Public Library

General

Serving a diverse and growing regional population through 12 branches within a multi-municipal governance structure, the Chief Librarian/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides strategic leadership to advance literacy, lifelong learning, and inclusive community spaces.

In an era of increasing social complexity, the Chief Librarian/CEO leads the organization in shaping the evolving role of the public library as a trusted, inclusive, and responsive community institution. This includes advancing the library’s role as a hub for knowledge access, digital inclusion, civic engagement, cultural expression, and community connection.

As the senior executive leader of the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL), the CEO is accountable to the Board of Trustees for overall organizational performance, including strategic direction, operations, and financial stewardship. Leading a unionized workforce and working in partnership with municipal and community partners, the CEO ensures the effective delivery of services while positioning GVPL as a trusted, responsive, and evolving public institution that supports community connection, access to knowledge, and civic engagement.

Accountability and Authority

Reporting directly to the Board, the Chief Librarian/CEO:

• Exercises general supervision and direction over all GVPL operations and staff, in accordance with the British Columbia Library Act, applicable legislation, and Board policy.
• Implements policies, strategic priorities, and budget decisions approved by the Board.
• Serves as the employer representative in collective bargaining and labour relations matters.
• May enter into contracts and agreements consistent with Board-approved policies and budgets.
• Ensures that all statutory reporting, regulatory obligations, and corporate responsibilities are fulfilled.
• Advises the Board of any material risks, liabilities, or significant organizational developments.
• Has authority to recruit, appoint, evaluate, discipline, and release employees in accordance with legislation, CUPE 410 Collective Agreement, and Board policy.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership and System Direction

• Articulates and advances a clear vision for the future of public libraries within the Greater Victoria region, ensuring GVPL remains responsive in a changing social, technological, and fiscal environment.
• Positions GVPL as an inclusive, innovative, and community-centered library system responsible to evolving public needs.
• Anticipates and responds to emerging trends in public library services, digital innovation, community development, and public-sector governance, positioning the library to adapt, evolve, and remain responsive to the needs of its communities.
• Leads long-term planning for library infrastructure and branch development, ensuring library spaces evolve as welcoming and inclusive civic hubs that support learning, connection, and community life.
• Leads the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of GVPL’s Strategic Plan in collaboration with the Board.
• Ensures alignment between strategic priorities, resource allocation, service delivery, and organizational performance.
• Ensures integration and coordination across executive portfolios, holding the Executive and Senior Leadership Team members accountable for results.
• Establishes performance measurement frameworks and ensures regular reporting on service, financial, and operational outcomes.
• Aligns organizational structure, resources, and service delivery across all 12 branches to achieve Board-approved priorities.
• Provides data-informed analysis and performance reporting to support strategic decision-making.

2. Governance and Board Relations

• Serves as Secretary to the Board in accordance with the British Columbia Library Act.
• Advises the Board on governance best practices, strategic implications, policy development, and risk.
• Collaborates with the Board Chair in preparing agendas, reports, and supporting documentation.
• Ensures trustees are fully apprised of trends, legislative changes, financial matters, and emerging risks that may impact GVPL.
• Provides transparent and accurate reporting regarding financial performance, service outcomes, and organizational health.
• Supports trustee development, orientation, and governance education.

3. Municipal Relations and Public Accountability

GVPL operates within a multi-municipal funding structure.

The Chief Librarian/CEO:

• Promotes GVPL as an essential civic institution supporting literacy, lifelong learning, and community well-being.
• Engages municipalities and regional partners in shaping the long-term role of public libraries within the region.
• Maintains productive and professional relationships with participating municipal councils and senior administrative staff.
• Represents GVPL before municipal councils and funding authorities to secure sustainable operating and capital funding.
• Leads the development and presentation of annual operating and capital budgets.
• Clearly articulates GVPL’s community impact, service outcomes, and financial stewardship.
• Ensures responsible, transparent management of public funds.

4. Financial Stewardship and Risk Management

• Provides responsible financial management, ensuring alignment between strategic priorities and budget allocations.
• Leads development of operating and capital budgets and monitors financial alignment.
• Ensures sound internal controls, financial reporting integrity, and compliance with audit requirements.
• Establishes and maintains organization-wide risk assessment processes, including identification, evaluation, and mitigation of organizational risks.
• Ensures business continuity planning, emergency preparedness, and operational resilience.
• Identifies and advances opportunities for alternative revenue streams, partnerships, and funding models to support long-term financial sustainability.

5. Organizational Leadership and Culture

• Leads and develops a high-performing Executive and Senior Leadership Team, establishing clear expectations, shared accountability, and collaborative decision-making practices.
• Fosters a culture grounded in service excellence, integrity, inclusion, innovation, and public trust. 
• Establishes clear expectations and performance standards for executive leaders and evaluates results.
• Serves as the employer representative in collective bargaining and labour relations matters, providing strategic direction for negotiations and approving collective agreements prior to Board ratification.
• Ensures effective and positive labour relations within a unionized environment.
• Promotes workforce planning, succession development, and leadership capacity across the organization.
• Models ethical leadership, transparency, professionalism, and sound judgment.
• Ensures a psychologically safe and respectful workplace consistent with GVPL’s values and legislative obligations.
• Leads the organization in adapting to evolving workforce expectations and service delivery models, ensuring employees are engaged, supported, and equipped for change.

6. Service Delivery and System Operations

• Ensures library services respond to the needs of diverse communities. Holds overall accountability for the quality, consistency, and sustainability of service delivery across all branches and digital platforms.
• Works with the extended leadership team to ensure library environments remain welcoming, inclusive, and responsive public spaces while balancing safety, accessibility, and service excellence.
• Ensures that executive and senior leaders design and implement high-quality programs, services, and collections aligned with community needs.
• Establishes performance benchmarks and ensures evaluation against appropriate standards.
• Guides the organization through change management and service improvement initiatives.
• Ensures accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion are embedded in service planning and operations.
• Ensures management information systems support informed decision making and performance evaluation.
• Identifies and implements opportunities for operational efficiencies while maintaining high-quality service delivery.

7. Organizational Governance and Executive Accountability

• Provides organization-wide leadership to ensure alignment across executive portfolios and coordinated implementation of Board-approved priorities.
• Ensures organizational risk management, compliance, and business continuity frameworks are in place and regularly reviewed.
• Makes final determinations on significant organizational, financial, and service matters within Board-approved policies and authorities.
• Maintains overall accountability for organizational sustainability, public trust, and long-term resilience.
• Ensures policies, procedures, and internal controls support effective governance and operational integrity.

8. Community and Sector Leadership

• Advocates for the continued relevance and value of public libraries in a rapidly evolving social and fiscal environment, including advancing the role of libraries as community anchors that support literacy, digital access, civic engagement, and social connection.
• Serves as the public spokesperson for GVPL.
• Builds and sustains partnerships with community organizations, educational institutions, provincial bodies, and sector associations.
• Represents GVPL in provincial and national library networks.
• Identifies opportunities to strengthen community relationships and enhance public engagement.
• Advances the role of public libraries as essential civic infrastructure supporting literacy, lifelong learning, and community connection.