Business Specialist

Description

Under the supervision of the Adult Services Manager, the Business Specialist at the Champaign Public Library assists customers who want to create, start, or grow their business. This position is responsible for developing business-related programs, community partnerships, young entrepreneur programming, seminars, round tables, and coordinating guest speakers. The Business Specialist is responsible for providing customized business reference assistance to individuals and training staff to use the library’s business-related resources.

This position requires initiative and the ability to build partnerships with local experts, execute programming, and recruit speakers.

Schedule includes a mix of daytime, evening, and weekend hours.

• Develop, implement, and evaluate business-related programming
• Coordinate business-related programs requiring outside speakers
• Develop and expand library’s holding of business-related print and digital resources
• Conduct outreach to educate public and raise awareness of business resources at the library
• Build partnerships with relevant leaders, businesses, organizations, and groups
• Attend networking events to build rapport with community members and local businesses
• Train staff to use and understand business-related resources to assist customers with business information needs
• Maintain current awareness of developments in technology as they relate to libraries and library users, including knowledge of mobile and handheld devices
• Assist and advise customers with their use of library resources, including books, movies, music, media, and digital resources
• Assists with training staff and volunteers
• Answer informational and reference questions for customers
• Attend and participate in professional activities, conferences, and committees, including on-site and virtual professional development opportunities and training
• Assist with monitoring and correcting customer behavior to ensure a safe and welcoming environment
• Participates in departmental and library-wide training and activities, including technology and safety training
• Provides excellent internal and external customer service
• Other duties as assigned

• Experience with entrepreneurship, business practices and business development
• Ability to maintain a varied schedule, including day, evening, and weekend rotations
• Knowledge of business trends
• Knowledge of business-related print and digital resources
• Ability to issue guidance and ensure compliance with the Library’s Rules of Conduct
• Exceptional customer service skills and enthusiasm for working with the public
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Proficiency with workplace productivity software, including skills in Microsoft Office Suite
• Able to vary work schedule as needed
• Valid driver’s license, acceptable driving history, and personal automobile for job-related transportation
• Satisfactory pre-employment background check

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Library Science degree (MLS) from ALA‑accredited institution required
• Customer service experience in a public library experience preferred
• Knowledge of Spanish and/or French is helpful
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities

• 4.3846 hours per bi‑weekly pay period for the 1st year (114 hours, or three 38‑hour weeks)
• 5.8462 hours per bi‑weekly pay period for the 2nd through 7th years (152 hours, or four 38‑hour weeks)
• 7.3077 hours per bi‑weekly pay period for the 8th and succeeding years (190 hours, or five 38‑hour weeks)

• 98.8 hours per year, accruing at 3.8 hours per pay period.

Sick Leave can be used as soon as accrued, according to the guidelines in the Staff Handbook.

The Library is closed on the following nine days:
New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day, and Christmas Day. With the exception of Easter Sunday, all of these days are paid holidays. The Library will remain open for Juneteenth and staff members will receive a floating holiday.