Salary : $135,000.00 - $175,000.00 Annually
Location : Denver Metro, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 09008-AssoComm-Comms-0726
Department: Department of Education
Division: Communications
Opening Date: 07/23/2026
Closing Date: 8/28/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address: Downtown/Denver Metro/Eligible for a hybrid (office/remote) work environment.***
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:
Type of Announcement: This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Department Information
This position is not part of the classified personnel system; applications will be accepted from Residents and Non-Residents of Colorado.
Incumbent will be required to live in and complete work for CDE within Colorado.

Work Environment:
This position is full-time, state-funded (funding is contingent upon the continued availability of those funds), and is eligible for a hybrid work environment.

• Extended hours during the evening or the weekend may be required by business needs.
• Approximately 25% of travel required within the State of Colorado for meetings/trainings and consultations.
• Overnight travel is required.
• Out-of-state travel is required.
• Driving Required (Please see description under Conditions of Employment).
• A Remote (Home) office is required.
• Required to report to the work location per business needs.
• Essential Functions (ADAAA)
  • LIGHT/Office environment:
    • Required to sit, view a computer screen, and utilize a keyboard and mouse for extended periods of time.
    • May be required to lift and move up to 10 lbs of force frequently or 20 lbs occasionally.
    • Required lifting, bending, stooping, pushing, walking, etc.
    • Light work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree.
  • Colorado Driver's License Required: Required to safely operate a motor vehicleto complete travel requirements.

Position Summary:
Colorado seeks an experienced, collaborative, and forward-looking library leader to serve as State Librarian. The Colorado State Librarian sets the vision for, and leads the implementation of, the Colorado State Library's statewide programs, services, partnerships, and resource-sharing efforts to strengthen library service across Colorado. The State Librarian oversees library development, talking book services, state publications, institutional library services, statewide resource sharing, community outreach, state and federal grants, research, and emerging initiatives, and provides executive leadership for approximately 40 employees and an annual budget of approximately $10 million.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Statewide Library Leadership and Service

• Provides leadership and vision for the Colorado State Library and libraries across Colorado in support of formal education, lifelong learning, professional development, services to underserved residents, and the sharing of resources, expertise, and systems statewide.
• Serves as a thought leader on library issues and communicates with leaders in Colorado and nationally about Colorado's vision, priorities, and goals for exemplary library service.
• Works with libraries, library groups, state agencies, educational partners, and library users to develop and implement programs that advance and improve library services statewide.
• Ensures that public and school libraries are connected to broader K-12 education priorities, including opportunities for collaboration in support of early literacy initiatives.

Strategic Planning, Policy, and Compliance

• Leads, develops, and implements the strategic planning process for Colorado State Library.
• Collaboratively develops and implements Colorado's Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) five-year plan, aligning vision, resources, and goals for Colorado libraries.
• Administers applicable state and federal library laws and ensures that Colorado State Library programs and services comply with relevant requirements.
• Provides information and advice on library matters to the State Board of Education, the Commissioner, Chief External Relations Officer, Colorado Department of Education leadership teams, and other organizations in Colorado.
• Supports planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs, services, and initiatives that advance the goals of the Colorado State Library and strengthen libraries statewide.

Staff and Organizational Leadership

• Provides leadership to Colorado State Library staff in a cooperative, team-based environment.
• Supports a positive workplace culture grounded in collaboration, communication, accountability, and shared commitment to statewide library service.
• Leads through supervisors, managers, functional leads, project leads, and cross-departmental teams to advance organizational priorities and support effective decision-making.
• Promotes professional development, leadership growth, and effective coordination across programs and service areas.

Budget, Grants, and Resource Stewardship

• Works in cooperation with CDE and Colorado State Library fiscal leaders to create, implement and revise a budget that supports the State Library's vision, priorities, programs, and legal responsibilities.
• Respond to state or federal budget changes while maintaining alignment with State Library priorities.
• Ensures compliance with applicable state and federal fiscal guidelines, including Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) requirements and reporting expectations.
• Oversees state and federal grant-related responsibilities for library materials, services, programs, and statewide initiatives.

Partnerships, Communication, and Professional Engagement

• Works closely with the Colorado Association of Libraries, the Colorado Library Consortium, library consortia, state agencies, educational partners, and other organizations to further library and learning goals in Colorado.
• Builds and maintains statewide and national relationships that support collaboration, resource sharing, professional development, improve library service to Coloradans, and inform and educate the public about libraries.
• Participates in relevant state, regional, and national professional organizations and meetings, including groups such as the Colorado Association of Libraries, American Library Association, Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, and the Western Council of State Librarians, as appropriate.
• Represents the Colorado State Library in professional, governmental, educational, and community settings.

Leadership Competencies

• Knowledge of current issues and trends affecting libraries, including the needs and operating contexts of public, school, academic, institutional, special, and state library environments.
• Knowledge of state-level library service, federal and state library programs, LSTA planning, grant administration, resource sharing, professional development, and statewide initiatives.
• Ability to provide strategic leadership across a complex statewide service environment with sound judgment, transparency, accountability, and a commitment to public service.
• Ability to coach, develop, and support collaborative teams, positive workplace culture, and team-based decision-making.
• Ability to contribute to organizational planning, strategy, service development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Ability to manage administrative responsibilities such as budgeting, financial management, personnel leadership, project coordination, planning, policy development, and resource alignment.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively through public speaking, interpersonal communication, written communication, and presentations to professional, governmental, and public audiences.
• Commitment to literacy, lifelong learning, education, equitable access to library services, and service to historically underserved communities and populations.
• Ability to work collaboratively across organizations, including with library leaders, government partners, community partners, educational institutions, professional associations, and internal teams.

Supervisory Responsibilities
This position does have supervisory responsibilities. The duties and responsibilities for employees who supervise staff include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Models and ensures consistency with organizational values and policies.
• Clearly communicates expectations and standards to staff.
• Conducts timely performance management of staff, including formal evaluations, ongoing and routine feedback, and holding staff accountable.
• Awareness and approval of employee time worked and work schedules. This includes approval of time worked for payroll and monitoring and approval of all work schedules, including remote work and flex schedules, in accordance with CDE's policies.
• Provides the tools and resources staff need to perform their jobs.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
This position requires seven (7) years of experience and a Master's degree in library and information sciences (MLIS) from an institution accredited by the American Library Association.
Education and Experience

• Master's degree in library and information sciences (MLIS) from an institution accredited by the American Library Association.

And

• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible library experience, and five (5) of which shall be in administrative positions (24-90-104 (3) CRS) in large library-related organizations such as a state library, library, other consortia, or the equivalent
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff