Overview

Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. As a leader in developing modern 21st-century libraries, we provide resources to support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.7 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. BPL provides nearly 60,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and across the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.

BKLYN Incubator is an innovation fund administered through BPL’s Department of Strategic Planning. The program, which has been operating for 9 years with extensive philanthropic support, is the Brooklyn Public Library’s primary platform for staff-driven innovation. It supports staff driven initiatives by providing professional development, mentorship, planning resources, and funding for pilot projects. Through BKLYN Incubator, staff have created nearly a hundred new innovative programs, including many now permanent BPL services, such as the Musical Instrument Lending Library, Fashion Academy, BookMatch Teen, and The Brooklyn Robotics League.  

The BKLYN Incubator Coordinator will work with the Director of Innovation Learning to manage the day-to-day operations of the program. This includes coordinating staff meetings and trainings, answering questions about applications and deadlines, assisting with project implementation, and nurturing community partnerships. The coordinator will be responsible for helping staff understand their project budgets, helping them procure services, and get contracts signed. The coordinator will also help the Director of Innovation Learning manage BKLYN Incubator foundation funds, reconciling spending and helping to write grant reports when they are due.  

Responsibilities:

  • Prepare emails and announcements for Incubator’s various programs throughout the year, including the Planning Lab Grants, Replication Initiatives, Pilot Projects, and Innovation Fellowships.  
  • Help plan and implement information sessions, trainings, and the pilot project pitch competition. 
  • Coordinate meetings and check-ins with staff and community partners during their participation in the program.  
  • Help coordinate In Service Trainings for pilot participants to learn about BPL project management requirements. 
  • Work with individual project teams to procure services and ensure timely payment.  
  • Help manage the Bklyn Incubator budget, which includes working with the Director of Innovation Learning, Finance and Development to reconcile spending when necessary and creating grant reports. 
  • Ensure paperwork, data tracking, and records are kept up to date. 

Qualifications:

Must have: 

  • High school diploma or equivalent required.
  • Community-centered problem framing and solving skills intended to support the work of innovators and public library staff working to explore new territory. 
  • Working knowledge of budgets and a willingness to navigate internal policies and procedures to ensure payments are made in a timely manner.  
  • Demonstrated community engagement abilities using strategic approaches to keep people engaged, informed, and supported.  
  • Knowledge of Airtable (or an interest in learning) including data input, clean-up, automations, reporting, etc. 
  • A collaborative approach with high level communication savvy to keep teams consistently on the same page. 
  • A self-starter mentality and the ability to understand where you’re needed most. This often means a willingness to travel to program sites and library branches throughout Brooklyn. 
  • Applicants must prioritize diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion with all aspects of this role. 

Nice to have: 

  • Skills in project management, strategic planning, and leadership. 
  • Strong interest or experience in library innovation, public programming, technology education, and/or library innovation. 
  • Proficiency in resource allocation, technology management, data collection, evaluation methods, and reporting. 
  • Competence in Tableau, Microsoft Office Suite, Canvas, Adobe Creative Suite, and Miro. 
  • Strong interest or experience in public institutions, design thinking/learning/doing, and service design.   

This is a non-union, exempt position with a salary range of $54,000-$58,500.

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