About Jersey City and the Jersey City Free Public Library (JCFPL)

JCFPL is the largest municipal library in the State of New Jersey, with ten locations and growing, and a collection comprising over 2.5 million print and digital items. Our staff of nearly 120 dedicated individuals serves the residents, students, and workers of Jersey City: the largest city in Hudson County, N.J., and the second-largest city in New Jersey.

The staff of JCFPL reflects the cultural and linguistic diversity of Jersey City, which is consistently ranked as the most diverse community in the United States. Collectively, our staff speaks over 16 languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Tagalog, Gujarati, Marathi, Igbo, Portuguese, and others.

JCFPL is committed to building on our strong foundation and expanding our ability to meet the needs of Jersey City’s growing and increasingly diverse community.

About the Position

The JCFPL is seeking an outgoing, self-motivated, highly dependable individual to actively develop the Library’s Lifelong Learning Department and coordinate ongoing efforts to significantly increase the outreach efforts, participation, and grant funding to achieve the Library’s mission.

Under the direction of the Engagement Director, the Literacy Program Coordinator will be responsible for driving the Library’s efforts in the Lifelong Learning Department’s participation, recruitment, cultivation, retention and stewardship. This role includes significant responsibility for building new administrative processes to support current and future programming. The individual in this role will work closely with Library leadership and staff, including the Communications & Marketing Department, the Youth & Adult Program Coordinators, the Business Office, as well as branches and other public-service departments. The Literacy Program Coordinator will also serve as the primary Library liaison for partnership with local city departments and organizations that help support the Library’s purpose and commitments.

The ideal candidate will have a facility with and enthusiasm for adult education and development; a willingness to learn and grow as a member of a team; courtesy, flexibility and a sense of humor.

* Please note, this vacancy announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for the employee for this job. The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as an illustration of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

Specific Job Duties:

• Manage the day to day operations of department, effectively coordinating activities involving routine to complex issues with system-wide impact, like creating staff schedules, adhering to, explaining, and recommending policies and rules to staff and patrons, overseeing department maintenance; assisting patrons ensure adequate staff is scheduled to run the department each day
• Supervise and train staff; assign tasks and projects to staff and volunteers; review and evaluate staff, including themselves, with continuous assessments to ensure growth; proactively help resolve staff complaints and conflicts; communicating with leadership on issues regarding staff and patrons; help recruit, interview, and onboard new hires and/or volunteers; foster and maintain a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible work environment
• Responsible for customer delivery of Adult Learning Program services including but not limited to: English Language Learning (ELL); Adult Basic Education (ABE); High School Equivalency; General Education Development; High school diploma program; National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC); Integrated Education and Training (IET); Adult Computer Classes; workforce development opportunities including transition services, career training, and the development of employment pathways for students; may include travel between library branches and local partners
• Coordinate, prioritize and assign tasks and projects; track and review work progress and activities; set goals for the department
• Develop, maintain, and monitor annual service or program budget to achieve established goals and utilize library resources in an efficient and effective manner
• Assist with the oversight of projects, programs, vendors, and committees to support and achieve service or program initiatives and goals
• Monitor performance of program participants in LACES and CASAS databases including measurable skills gains, retention, high school completions earned, credentials earned, employment, and career training; identify and implement performance improvements, growth, and outcomes
• Develop relationships, engage, and communicate with the community to help establish outreach programs and support community and library goals; develop opportunities to co-enroll students; develop digital and financial literacy opportunities in terms of finding grants, creating learning opportunities, etc.
• Monitor compliance with all federal, state and local laws, regulations, codes, best practices, and District Policies and Procedures.
• Assist with the preparation of RFA’s (Request for Agreement) and CFA’s (Continued Funding Agreement) for grants; track grant spending, maintain fiscal records, collaborate with Library Director, Development Office, and Business Office to submit grant budgets and revisions, and initiate purchases
• Represent the library at state adult education leadership meetings, professional development training opportunities, and database/software system meetings (as needed)
• Stay up to date on current and future trends in adult education, workforce development, and public administration; make recommendations regarding future library strategies and planning
• Prepare and submit reports relating to department activities, including statistical reports, timesheets, cash reports, and monthly reports; attend meetings and serve on committees as needed; submit timesheets correctly and on time
• Promote good customer service, including some public speaking involving tours and teaching literacy skills to small groups; effectively handle patron complaints; develop and maintain a positive, helpful and professional approach to the overall community as well as individual library customers
• Network and collaborate with Engagement department, educational entities, City departments, and other service agencies to promote services, activities, and goals of the library; represents the library in a positive manner
• Stay up to date on trends and innovations in the fields of technology management and administration
• Know and develop the building, consistently monitor physical location and work closely with facilities management staff for preventive maintenance
• Embodies cultural sensitivity and supports diversity
• Perform other duties as assigned

Core Competencies: The incumbent in this role:

Support Library Mission and Initiatives

• Assists with initiatives to execute enterprise-wide deliverables by monitoring individual department-level operational plans, encouraging strategic use/coordination of resources and eliminating operational obstacles
• Performs a variety of responsibilities inherent in managing system-wide services and staff including timely and quality decisions, process management, conflict management, motivating and developing staff, and policy development and implementation
• Understands the nuances of local politics and how to work with mayors, city managers, and other elected officials

Communication/Collaboration

• Communicates effectively using a variety of methods
• Effectively communicates relevant and timely information to appropriate stakeholders
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with others to achieve common goals
• Works effectively on teams with strong team-building skills and attitudes
• Applies effective strategies to manage organizational politics, conflict and difficult coworker behaviors
• Communicates effectively with a variety of audiences and individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Selects and applies the most appropriate and effective communication means to meet situational needs

Customer Service

• Contributes to and models customer service standards that enhance the user experience
• Models standards and practices for the delivery of quality internal and external customer service
• Applies customer service skills to enhance the level of user satisfaction
• Applies effective techniques to address difficult situations with users and staff
• Understands and acts in accordance with the basic values and ethics of library service

Leadership

• Aligns efforts with the vision and direction of the organization
• Demonstrates leadership qualities and behavior, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Employs sound project management principles and procedures in the planning and implementation of programs and services
• Anticipates and adapts to change and challenges effectively
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with others to achieve common goals
• Works effectively on teams with strong team-building skills and attitudes
• Applies effective strategies to manage organizational politics, conflict and difficult coworker behaviors
• Demonstrates critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Uses leadership skills to provide vision and guidance to library staff, board members and the community
• Contributes effective strategies and decisions regarding library services and resources
• Embraces change and fosters understanding and acceptance by all stakeholders
• Contributes to a productive workforce through effective recruitment and selection
• Leads and empowers employees to deliver effective, high-quality library service
• Establishes effective strategies for performance management
• Leads work teams with clear direction and effective communication
• Monitors and evaluates projects and adapts as needed
• Performs ongoing evaluation to gauge the success of division and enterprise-wide initiatives, programs, and services

Professional Development

• Manages the development of one’s own learning and ongoing improvement of skills and knowledge
• Uses creative and innovative approaches
• Establishes strategies and long-range initiatives to create a learning environment within the division and the library
• Plans for and supports staff career development opportunities
• Contributes to the development and implementation of a culture that embraces ongoing learning

Community Engagement

• Demonstrates the impact and value of the library to the community through ongoing evaluation and assessment of library services
• Maintains positive public relations through communication and promotion of the library’s values, services, accomplishments and needs to all stakeholders
• Builds relationships and support for the library with community organizations
• Contributes to creating a welcoming and user-friendly physical environment that encourages all community members to use library services

Technology

• Performs basic functions of email, calendar applications, and task management
• Understands and uses basic computer hardware, peripherals, software, and operating system functions
• Demonstrates information literacy and understands common security protocols related to Internet use

Required Experience:

• At least three (3) years’ experience in adult education setting with at least one (1) of those years in a supervisory role.
• A Master’s degree in Education, English Language Learning, or related field.
• Experience writing and administering grants.
• Experience implementing programs.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of management techniques.
• Ability to manage and administer a library program.
• Ability to analyze, comprehend, and utilize approved public library standards, methods, techniques, budgeting systems, and classification and pay plans.
• Knowledge of Jersey City’s population, geography, and/or local government.
• Facility in a non-English language spoken in Jersey City (such as Spanish, Hindi, Arabic, Tagalog, etc.).

 

NOTES:

This vacancy is associated with a N.J. Civil Service job title; the New Jersey Civil Service Commission requires all incumbents to possess and be prepared to verify the minimum experience and skills required for the associated Civil Service job title.

This position is subject to residency requirements as set forth in the New Jersey First Act.

Apply online here