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Library Director Jobs in Alabama (NOW HIRING)

Dothan Houston County Library

Custodian I

Dothan, AL · On-site

$10.30/hr

Performs routine general library maintenance and Janitorial duties related to the direct and/or indirect operation of any DHCLS branch or departmental location, including janitorial, custodian, and ...

Shipt

Director of Product Design

Birmingham, AL

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Impact Shipt's design system is moving past being a static component library. We are building a ... As the Director of Product Design, you will lead the multi-year vision for Shipt's design platform ...

Auburn University

IT Student Assistant

Auburn, AL · On-site

$15.50 - $21/hr

... Direct users to appropriate resources or personnel when issues cannot be resolved at the initial level • Assist with setting up, transporting, and organizing technology equipment for library ...

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Library Director information

See Alabama salary details

$35.8K

$90K

$158.6K

How much do library director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for library director in Alabama is $89,955.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $64,800.00 and $115,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What qualifications do you need to be a library director?

A library director typically needs a master's degree in library science or information management from an ALA-accredited program. Relevant experience in library management, strong leadership skills, and knowledge of library operations and technology are also important qualifications.

What are some common challenges faced by library directors when balancing traditional library services with digital transformation initiatives?

Library Directors often encounter the challenge of integrating new technologies and digital resources while maintaining high-quality traditional services like physical collections and community programs. This balancing act can involve budget constraints, staff training needs, and addressing varying patron preferences for print versus digital materials. Directors must also ensure equitable access to digital resources and manage change within their teams, fostering a culture that embraces innovation while honoring the library’s core mission. Open communication and ongoing professional development are key strategies for success in this evolving landscape.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a library director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Library Director, you need expertise in library science, management, budgeting, and strategic planning, typically supported by a Master's in Library Science (MLS/MLIS) and relevant administrative experience. Familiarity with integrated library systems (ILS), digital cataloging tools, and data management platforms is often required. Strong leadership, communication, and community engagement skills help foster a collaborative environment and drive library initiatives. These competencies are crucial for effectively managing library operations, adapting to technological changes, and meeting the evolving needs of patrons and staff.

What is a library director?

Library Directors are senior administrators responsible for overseeing the operations, staff, and strategic direction of a library or library system. They manage budgets, develop policies, coordinate services, and often represent the library within the community or to governing bodies. Library Directors ensure that the library meets the needs of its users, stays current with technological advancements, and complies with relevant laws and regulations. Their leadership is crucial for the ongoing success and development of the library.

What do you do as a library director?

A library director oversees the daily operations of a library, manages staff, develops budgets, plans programs, and ensures the library meets community needs. They often coordinate with city officials, implement policies, and may hold a master's degree in library science or a related field. Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills are essential for this role.

What does a library director do?

A library director oversees the daily operations of a community or public library. The duties of a library director vary, depending on the size of the library. Typical responsibilities include managing librarians and other staff members, organizing shelves, assisting patrons, and supervising library events. As a library director, you may also work closely with the library’s board of directors or other public officials to ensure the library stays on budget while meeting the needs of the community.

More about Library Director jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Library jobs in Alabama? The most popular types of Library jobs in Alabama are:
What are popular job titles related to Library Director jobs in Alabama? For Library Director jobs in Alabama, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Library Director jobs in Alabama look for? The top searched job categories for Library Director jobs in Alabama are:
What cities in Alabama are hiring for Library Director jobs? Cities in Alabama with the most Library Director job openings:
Library Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Library Director job openings in Alabama as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $89,955 per year, or $43.2 per hour.

Senior Director of Research

Heron Foundation

Birmingham, AL • On-site

$184K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 4 days ago

Job description

Senior Director of Research
Reporting to the Managing Director of Programs.
Position based in Birmingham, Alabama.
About Heron
Founded in 1992, Heron is dedicated to helping people and communities to help themselves. Heron works directly with local organizations that are embedded in, deeply trusted by, and inherently driven by the voice and vision of their neighbors. Heron partners with communities to source relevant and actionable research, nurture a learning collaborative of peers, help communities reclaim their narrative of place and self, foster stronger collective agency and social bonds, and provide long-term financial support. Heron works mainly in rural communities experiencing persistent poverty, systemic challenges, historic disinvestment, and a legacy of disenfranchisement.
Over the coming 8-10 years, Heron will pursue an exciting, innovative set of strategies to
(1) empower dozens of distressed rural communities across the country, (2) help rewrite the playbook for national funders working in rural community advancement, and (3) position Heron, not as a traditional grantmaking private foundation, but as a resourceful, experienced, and well-regarded rural community advancement agency, poised to perform this important work effectively well into the future. Heron will:
  • Provide our community partners with extensive data and research, technical assistance, communications support, and networking opportunities.
  • Share its growing knowledge broadly to help increase capital flow to the direct control of rural communities.
  • Invest significant financial capital into local organizations leading community-driven projects and initiatives to advance the vitality and well-being of their community.

About the Job
Heron is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Director of Research to build and lead its Community Research function - a cornerstone of Heron's work to support healthy and resilient rural communities. As Heron transfers the majority of its financial capital to local community partner organizations and establishes a national learning network, the Senior Director of Research will develop the data infrastructure, analytical frameworks, and knowledge resources that enable communities to understand their conditions, set priorities, track progress, and drive meaningful change. This position will be based in Birmingham, Alabama.
The Senior Director of Research will oversee the development and execution of six interconnected research program areas:
  1. Tracking communities experiencing persistent poverty
  2. Building and maintaining the Heron Community Data Library
  3. Assessing external trends and threats
  4. Identifying healthy community systems and prospective community partner organizations
  5. Creating comprehensive community profiles
  6. Curating project support resources.

This is a unique opportunity for a research leader to shape how communities understand and strengthen their stores of human, natural, civic, and economic capital-and to help demonstrate that community-driven development, grounded in rigorous data and local voice, can break cycles of persistent poverty.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Research Agenda
  • Lead the development and execution of Heron's comprehensive research agenda across six program areas.
  • Serve as a key thought partner to executive leadership on research strategy, community selection, and data-driven decision-making.
  • Build Heron's reputation as a credible, innovative source of research and data on rural community health, persistent poverty, and community capitals.
  • Build and lead a high-performing research team, including hiring and managing a data analyst and additional research staff.
  • Collaborate closely with Community Partnerships Network, Outreach, and Investment teams to ensure research informs all aspects of Heron's work.

Heron Community Capitals Database
  • Launch and continuously refine the Heron Community Data Library-an expert-advised set of community vitality indicators linked to human, natural, civic, and economic capital for every U.S. county.
  • Partner with research institutions and experts to ensure data quality, accessibility, and usability.
  • Create user-friendly tools and guides that enable community partners and other communities to access, interpret, and apply community capitals data.

Communities Experiencing Persistent Poverty
  • Maintain a comprehensive catalog of communities facing persistent poverty in the U.S.
  • Establish rigorous, equity-centered parameters for identifying candidate communities for Heron partnerships.
  • Track and report on the health of these communities over time using expert-supported methodologies.
  • Collaborate with staff to identify and recommend priority communities for development.

Community Profiles & Deep Research
  • Lead the creation of comprehensive community health profiles for each Heron partner community in collaboration with community members, regional experts, and Heron staff.
  • Ensure community voice shapes the research process and final products through meaningful engagement and co-creation.
  • Update profiles every several years to track progress and changing conditions.

External Trends & Threats Analysis
  • Develop reports that help communities anticipate and prepare for trends such as climate change, demographic shifts, and economic disruption.
  • Engage experts to inform trend analysis and community resilience planning.
  • Create expert-informed frameworks and toolkits communities can use to assess their vulnerability and build adaptive capacity.

Healthy Community Systems & Community Partners
  • Research and document the critical systems (health, education, infrastructure, enterprise) and local community-based organizations that sustain community health.
  • Develop a rubric for identifying and assessing community partner organizations based on their permanence, community embeddedness, and collaborative approach, among other critical domains.
  • Build a knowledge base on best practices for system strengthening and organizational development.

Project Support Resources & Knowledge Management
  • Assemble and curate an accessible library of strategies, evidence-based solutions, case studies, and lessons learned from communities addressing similar challenges.
  • Launch and manage the Heron Library as a resource for community partners and the broader field.

Net Contribution Framework & Enterprise Assessment
  • Develop and refine a standardized framework for rating enterprises and investments based on their net contributions to human, natural, civic, and economic capitals.
  • Conduct retrospective analysis of Heron's historic investment portfolio and grantees using the net contribution framework.
  • Collaborate with the Investment team to score Heron's current investment portfolio and identify alignment with community capitals objectives.
  • Support internal teams and community partners in aligning net contribution assessment with the community capitals framework.

Desired Skills and Experience
  • Minimum 10 years of experience in applied research, community development research, or related fields, including leadership and team management.
  • Deep alignment with Heron's mission and principles, including a commitment to community agency, equity, and systems change.
  • Expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods, data analysis, and indicator development.
  • Experience developing and managing data systems, libraries, or knowledge platforms.
  • Strong understanding of community development, rural economies, persistent poverty, and place-based strategies.
  • Proven ability to translate complex research and data into accessible insights for diverse audiences including community leaders, funders, and policymakers.
  • Experience conducting participatory or community-engaged research that centers local voice and knowledge.
  • Familiarity with impact measurement, asset-based community development, or similar holistic approaches to community health. Previous familiarity with community capitals frameworks is desirable.
  • Track record of building productive partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, and community-based organizations.
  • Exceptional project management skills with ability to oversee multiple interconnected research initiatives.
  • Strong writing and communication skills across formats and audiences.
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across internal departments and with external stakeholders.
  • Comfort navigating ambiguity and building new research infrastructure in an evolving organization.

Salary, Benefits, and Location
The salary range for this position is $184,000 to $220,000 based on skills and experience. Heron offers an attractive benefits package.
The Senior Director of Research position will be based in Birmingham, Alabama, working in Heron's planned office there, with some flexibility for occasional remote work. Out-of-state travel is expected for up to 20% of time, estimated to be a minimum of one trip/month, including some overnight stays.
To Apply
Interested candidates should provide a cover letter and resume by clicking the link on this page.
All applications are due by March 31, 2026. Note: this position opening may close earlier if sufficient applications are received.
Attachments
  • Strategic Matrix - Streamlined
  • Heron's Team Qualities

Apply