Civic Life Program Associate

Civic Life Program Associate

Salt Lake City Public Library  |  Programming and Outreach

Location:                       System Wide

Salary:                           $27.30/hour - Depending on Qualifications

Grade:                            15

Posted:                          November 6th 2026

Closes:                          January 4th 2027

Interviews:                    January 4th-15th, 2027

FLSA Status:                 Full-Time/Non-Exempt

Union Status:                Represented (AFSCME Local 1004)

Reports to:                    Civic Life Manager

Eligible For Hire:             Internal Employee, Regularly Scheduled Applicants

About the Library

The Salt Lake City Public Library connects all people to free resources, knowledge, and one another to build a thriving community. Across nine locations and through outreach citywide, we are working toward a Salt Lake City where everyone belongs, where knowledge and opportunity are shared by all, and where our connections to one another make the whole community stronger. Guided by our 2026–2034 Strategic Plan, staff advance this work through four priorities: creating belonging through access, reading and literacy for all, strengthening civic life, and building the capacity to sustain our impact.

Library employees are stewards of this vision in every interaction. They bring joy to their service, treat every person with dignity, act with courage and good judgment, and work as one team across the system. People who thrive here believe a library is more than a place to find information; it is a place where a community comes to know itself.

Click here to learn more about what makes The City Library a great place to work

Important Note:

The City Library is currently engaged in strategic planning implementation. This position may evolve in the future based on organizational needs and strategic priorities.

About the Position

The Civic Life Programming Associate is a hands-on teacher who keeps the team running by assisting with planning, preparing, and delivering library programs and outreach for adults across the system. Associates deliver programs, coordinate activities, connect with participants, and adjust activities in the moment with live audiences at any of our nine locations and in the community. They also spend part of their week maintaining program materials and kits, backing up other Specialists across the team when programs need extra hands, and supporting volunteers and newer staff. This role is the entry point to the Programming career path and mirrors the Associate Librarian role in Public Services.

Every role on the Programming team is a teaching role. We’re looking for people who enjoy helping others learn, who learn best by doing, and who get energy from working with the public. We try new ideas early and at a small scale, watch how participants respond, and improve from there. When a program doesn’t work the way we hoped, we treat that as useful information and adjust. Programming staff work in and from our nine locations, but they are also excited and willing to take programs outside the library's walls to other places where people gather across the city. We work with residents and partners to bring library programs into shared public spaces and help make them places people want to spend time.

Strategic Plan Alignment

This position directly supports the Salt Lake City Public Library’s 2026–2034 Strategic Plan, with a primary focus on advancing the Strengthening Civic Life and Creating Belonging Through Access priorities. As a hands-on teacher and support staff member, the Civic Life Programming Associate delivers programs, helps transform library locations into trusted civic commons, talks directly with community members to bring feedback back to the team, and manages logistics and kit maintenance to ensure successful programming across public and outdoor spaces.

Primary Responsibilities

• Program Delivery & Execution. Delivers adult programs at library locations and community sites. Adapts and adjusts programming and activities in the moment to meet participants where they are. Maintains high public contact and enthusiasm when serving people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
• Community Engagement & Presence. Shows up where the community is, talks directly with patrons, and brings feedback back to the programming team to help inform future program design.
• Public Spaces & Outdoor Logistics. Handles the practical side of outdoor and public-space programming, including hauling equipment, adapting to weather, and managing walk-up crowds at parks, plazas, and community sites.
• Kit & Material Maintenance. Maintains, prepares, and organizes program supplies, kits, and materials to keep programming logistics running smoothly across the team.
• Specialist Backup & Team Support. Backs up other Specialists across the team when a program needs extra hands for setup, facilitation, crowd support, or breakdown.Learns the basics of multiple program areas to flex across team needs.
• Volunteer & Staff Support. Supports, guides, and assists volunteers and newer staff members during program delivery and event execution.
• Event Logistics & Facility Coordination. Coordinates closely with Event Services at the Main Library and branch staff to ensure seamless room setups, AV equipment staging, and overall execution of events in building spaces.
• Other Duties. Performs other duties as assigned or required. Actively supports other teams in the Programming and Outreach division as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Completion of a Bachelor's Degree and one year of related experience in project management, partner relations, or community program coordination; or an equivalent combination of education and experience which demonstrates the knowledge and skill to perform the primary responsibilities.
• 1 year of experience teaching or leading program delivery in adult education settings.
• Enthusiasm for working with the public and teaching people of all ages.
• Strong organizational skills with proven ability to manage multiple projects, budgets, presenter payments, and marketing timelines simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills, ability to work with teams, and the ability to motivate and connect with diverse individuals and groups.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams, Event Services, branch personnel, and external community partners.
• Willingness to support programs outside your own specialty and to learn the basics of other areas.
• Intermediate knowledge of operating a computer and common programs.
• Ability to work days, nights, or weekends as scheduled and to travel between library locations and community sites.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in civic engagement, adult education, public forums, or community organizing.
• Experience managing supplies, kits, or inventory for a classroom, camp, theater, makerspace, or similar setting.
• Experience working with adult patrons in a library, civic, or community setting.
• Experience running activities in public or informal settings where plans change on the fly.
• Experience with outdoor or public-space events.
• Spanish language and/or other non-English language skills.

Working Environment

• Work is performed inside library locations and outside them in public and community settings such as parks, plazas, schools, shelters, public spaces, and partner sites. A significant share of work happens outdoors and in shared public spaces.
• Regular travel between library locations and community sites. Must have transportation. If using a personal vehicle, must maintain state required insurance.
• Subject to repetitive movement; standing, walking, bending, reaching, and lifting of objects. May be subject to standing or sitting for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to lift/carry program materials and equipment, up to 50 lbs, and push/pull carts.
• Must have good hand mobility and coordination.
• Subject to intermittent periods of inclement weather during outdoor programs and outreach.

Schedule

• Full-time, 40 hours per week. Evenings and weekends will be required based on program schedules.

Other Information

• Completion of criminal background check will be required if the candidate is over eighteen (18) years of age.
• The City Library participates in the federal Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). Employment is contingent upon confirmation of your employment eligibility through the E-Verify system.
• The City Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a diverse workforce.

Compensation

• Starting Range Grade 15; Minimum $27.30/hr Compensation is commensurate with experience.
• This is a full-time position and includes excellent benefits such as paid vacation, health and life insurance, and Utah Retirement Systems benefits.