Job Description
Director, Logistics
Department: BookOps
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Library Services Center
Reporting To: Rosa Caballero-Li
Compensation: $160,000 - $185,000 / year
BookOps is a pioneering collaboration between The New York Public Library (NYPL) and Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) that makes it possible for essential materials and resources to be available and delivered quickly and efficiently to millions of users across New York City.
The Director, Logistics is responsible for planning, directing, and administering the multi-shift daily operations of BookOps units involved in large-scale materials movement and materials processing, including Receiving, Central Processing, Sorting, and Distribution for NYPL and BPL branch materials and special programmatic projects. The Director also oversees Shipping/Trucking and Mail Room operations at NYPL Research centers and designated BPL locations, as well as delivery between the ReCAP facility in Princeton, NJ, and NYPL Research and Columbia University Libraries. Additionally , the Director oversees logistics for the MyLibraryNYC program, a partnership involving the New York City Department of Education and the city’s three public library systems—Queens Public Library, NYPL, and BPL.
We are looking for someone we can count on to:
Own
- Lead and coordinate two Logistics Teams: Receiving & Processing and Sorting & Distribution.
- Develop clear, measurable goals for each team that align with departmental objectives of the member libraries’ overarching strategy.
- Create contingency, short-term and long-range plans spanning one to three years to ensure operational resilience.
Teach
- Establish clear team and individual goals that align with the broader strategic objectives of the library, ensuring all efforts contribute meaningfully to organizational success
- Inspire and motivate cross-functional teams by fostering a culture of high morale, collaboration, accountability, and innovation. Employ dynamic leadership and team-building strategies to drive engagement and performance.
- Collaborate closely with managers and supervisors, assessing individual and team strengths while identifying areas for growth and professional development
Learn:
- Stay current with emerging industry trends, technologies, and best practices, and apply them appropriately to enhance efficiency and productivity.
- Understand and prioritize the public service impact BookOps Logistics operations offer to member libraries.
Improve
- Utilize data-driven analysis to evaluate current performance metrics and guide the development of service benchmarks.
- Identify and implement financial efficiencies to optimize resource allocation and reduce operational costs.
- Collaborate with the Bookops leadership team to achieve interdepartmental alignment and provide seamless service to member libraries.
- Develop and implement best practice solutions to ensure service levels, efficiencies, and cost-effectiveness for BookOps member libraries.
Some expectations for this role are that within:
1 month
- Develop an understanding of logistics workflows.
- Become familiar with the Library’s strategic priorities.
- Develop a plan for integrating and aligning departmental efforts with annual goals.
3 months
- Establish key working relationships with direct reports and broader teams across both library systems to gather initial operational feedback.
- Develop an understanding of the team's performance metrics and reporting procedures, and prepare the quarterly report for the BookOps Collaborative Board meeting.
6 months and beyond
- Begin reviewing current workflows with the goal of developing a comprehensive operational plan with a focus on enhancing efficiency and service quality.
- Understand vendor relationships and establish target metric goals.
- Update Business Continuity Plan and lead cybersecurity table top exercises.
- Support and advance high-level strategic priorities that contribute to the member libraries’ missions and long-term goals.
Responsibilities:
- Design and execute logistics related strategies that align with NYPL and BPL’s overarching goals, driving improvements in efficiency, scalability, and service quality.
- Support the planning, decision-making, and implementation of BPL and/or NYPL library policy around logistics-related issues, such as large-scale collection movement.
- Formulate and manage a recommended budget for BookOps materials & shipping supplies, fleet maintenance, and sorter maintenance, anticipating and aligning with the changing needs of BookOps member libraries.
- In conjunction with the Senior Director of BookOps, develop, recommend, review, and negotiate bids, licenses, and vendor/consultant contracts for the purchase of goods or services supporting BookOps Logistics operations. Monitor vendor and consultant contract compliance and performance.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with senior leadership on special projects and initiatives.
- Select, appoint, lead, evaluate, and direct the BookOps Receiving & Processing Senior Manager and Senior Manager of Sorting & Distribution.
- Forecast future needs and growth opportunities for service level enhancement and operational efficiencies.
- Establish and manage emergency plans and procedures that support the 24-hour nature of some activities, e.g., during weather emergencies, library closings.
- Represent BookOps, and by extension, each member library, in professional and public forums.
- Maintain regular statistics and other performance information for use by BookOps members, both collectively and individually, in evaluating BookOps deliverables, strategic planning, and annual reports.
- Perform related duties as required.
Required Education, Experience & Skills
Required Education and Certifications
- Bachelor’s degree or demonstrated experience
Required Experience
- 7-10 years of management/supervisory experience; 10+ years of relevant experience.
Required Skills
- Demonstrated experience managing a significant strategic or highly skilled operation, sub-department, or several sub-departments.
- Thorough knowledge of practices, trends, activities, tools, and vendors associated with the library materials management and logistical operations.
- Thorough knowledge of theories, practices, trends, activities, tools, and vendors associated with the selection, acquisitions, cataloging, processing, collection arrangement, promotion, and weeding of public library materials.
- Wide knowledge of publishing industry trends and library vendors. Knowledge of the principles of Intellectual Freedom in library Selection.
Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Experience managing at the senior level.
- Ability to manage a staff of 75 or more in a union environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Successfully demonstrated ability to work effectively, manage change, and provide vision in a team environment.
- Excellent analytic and project management skills including successfully demonstrated ability to evaluate and design workflow.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to lead and manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a demanding environment.
- Demonstrated budget analysis & planning skills, especially within a large, complex organization.
- Demonstrated experience in negotiating, contract development, and vendor relations.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, including those necessary to participate in interviews and presentations.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a diverse group of staff and individuals.
- Demonstrated long-range planning, workflow improvement, and project implementation skills.
- Demonstrated flexibility, reliability, punctuality and attention to detail.
More...
Core Values
All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:
- Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
- Be Resourceful in solving problems
- Be Curious in all aspects of your work
- Be Welcoming and Inclusive
Work Environment
- Warehouse environment
- May require travel throughout NYC
Physical Duties
- Some light lifting/moving may be required
- May require travel throughout NYC
Pre-Placement Physical Required?
Union/Non Union
FLSA Status
Schedule
- Onsite; Monday - Friday 9-5
This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.
The New York Public LibrarySalary Statement
At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees. When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills. No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.
Union Salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement(s).
