Job Description

About Our Job

The Denver Public Library (DPL) is a growing urban library system that serves the residents of the City & County of Denver. DPL sees more than 4 million visitors every year across its 27 locations, serves Denver’s most vulnerable communities through outreach and mobile services, hosts thousands of programs a year and manages a collection of more than 1.4 million physical and digital materials. We believe a strong library is vital for a strong community. DPL is committed to serving the evolving needs of Denverites through inspired programming, diverse collections, culturally representative spaces, and equitable policies & procedures.

The mission, vision and values of the Denver Public Library reflect a strong commitment to advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA). We understand that in order to create a strong community where everyone thrives, it is of highest importance that all aspects of the library’s presence and operations offer an environment that celebrates diversity and embraces inclusion.

About Our Job

The IDEA Specialist is a strategic project manager and subject matter expert in embedding equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility across complex organizations. This role oversees bias reporting, facilitates advisory group initiatives, and provides operational support for affinity groups. They also manage IDEA communications and ensure assessment and reporting efforts align with organizational equity goals. This position strengthens DPL’s commitment to equity by managing key systems that promote accountability, improve workplace culture, and drive systemic change.

This position will report to the IDEA Director.

About Our Team

The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Subdivision at DPL serves as a strategic consulting and organizational change team dedicated to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into all aspects of DPL’s internal operations and external services. With a focus on empowering staff, aligning policies and practices with equity principles, and fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging, the subdivision seeks to address systemic inequities and operationalize equity across DPL’s work. The team provides tailored support while ensuring equity is a shared responsibility across the organization.

Our team office is located at the Central Library in downtown Denver; however, the location is hybrid in nature with requirements of working in person in the office, at a branch location, or from home. We invite you to visit the link and learn more about us.

What You Would Do

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Lead cross-functional initiatives that integrate IDEA strategies into organizational policies, decision-making, and leadership development.
• Oversee and refine the bias reporting process, ensuring consistent tracking, resolution, and integration into IDEA strategy.
• Lead advisory committee operations, ensuring alignment between recommendations and organizational priorities.
• Provide structural guidance and project management to sustain and enhance employee-led groups.
• Align data collection, analysis, and reporting across IDEA initiatives to track impact and drive systemic change.
• Develop and manage IDEA-related communications, ensuring transparency and accessibility across channels.
• Partner with internal and external teams to ensure equity insights inform decision-making and strategy execution.

About You

• An IDEA expert who understands institutional bias, systemic inequities, and power dynamics—and knows how to apply this knowledge to drive real organizational change in public-serving institutions.
• A strategic project manager with experience leading complex, multi-constituent initiatives that advance equity, inclusion, diversity, and accessibility.
• A skilled facilitator who can lead advisory groups, committees, and affinity spaces, ensuring diverse voices contribute to organizational change.
• A data-informed decision-maker who can translate data into actionable insights that shape IDEA strategy and drive accountability.
• A strong communicator who can develop clear, accessible messaging and facilitate conversations on equity, bias, and organizational change.
• A systems thinker who understands how to embed equity into organizational structures, policies, and culture for long-term, sustainable impact.
• A collaborative relationship-builder who can engage leadership, staff, and external partners in meaningful, trust-based IDEA work.
• An adaptive problem solver who can navigate resistance, address challenges with nuance, and develop solutions that foster inclusion and belonging.
• A passionate advocate for systemic change who is committed to moving beyond performative DEI efforts to create a more just and equitable organization.
• A lifelong learner who is self-reflective, open to growth, and committed to evolving IDEA practices based on new insights and community needs.
• Able to navigate sensitive conversations with professionalism, discretion, and care.

Minimum Qualifications

• Has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Development, Diversity Management, or a related field based on the job responsibilities.
• Has three (3) years experience performing full performance professional level duties within IDEA.
• One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post high school education. A combination of appropriate education and experience may be substituted for the minimum education and experience requirements.

About Everything Else

Job Profile

LA2331 Administrator I

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Library Hiring Range

$67,161.00 - $88,988.00

Starting Pay

Agency

Denver Public Library

Assessment Requirement

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact [email protected] with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.

Job Tags

Full time, Local area,

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