JCFPL JOB TITLE: Branch Manager

DEPARTMENT: Communipaw Branch Library

LOCATION: 295 Johnston Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07304

REPORTS TO: Assistant Library Director

CIVIL SERVICE JOB TITLE: Librarian III

FULL-TIME/PART-TIME: Full-Time

WORKWEEK: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (35 hours/week). May be required to work evenings and weekends as needed.

SALARY EXPECTATION: $78,000 – 82,000 / year

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 Communipaw Branch Manager, will oversee the general operations of the library branch and help hire an amazing team that are also interested in STEAM.  Manage the day to day operations of the library branch, 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, and overseeing building maintenance; assisting patrons at the circulation desk and with technology; answer reference questions; conduct readers’ advisory; ensure adequate staff is scheduled to run the branch each day

* 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

 

·         Supervise and train staff; assign tasks and projects to staff and volunteers; train and evaluate staff; counsel and motivate staff; develop staff skills, 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

·         Coordinate programming for all ages; share program information with Communications team, including photos, blurbs, etc.; collaborate with Program Coordinators to host programming

·         Coordinate, prioritize and assign tasks and projects; track and review work progress and activities; set goals for the branch; act as STEAM hub for JCFPL system, sharing resources and expertise when possible

·         Manage collection development and budget for the branch, including weeding, buying, and shelf-reading the department collection; compile and submit book orders; complete item requests; create displays, special sections, etc. to support collection circulation; order STEAM materials and kits that can be shared

·         Prepare and submit reports relating to branch 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 library 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; meet the needs of a diverse community

·         Network and collaborate with outreach services, educational entities, City departments, and other service agencies to promote services, activities, and goals of the library within the community

·         Stay up-to-date of trends and innovations in the fields of technology, management and administration, especially in the STEAM field

·         Know and develop the building, consistently monitor physical location and work closely with facilities management staff for preventive maintenance

·         Perform other duties as assigned

 

Core Competencies: The incumbent in this role:

 

Support/Collaboration with Library Director and Leadership Team

• Assists with initiatives to execute enterprise-wide deliverables by monitoring individual branch-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/Education:

• Two (2) years of library experience.
• A Master’s degree in Library or Information Science in a library program accredited by the American Library Association or from a New Jersey college Master’s program in Library Science that has been deemed acceptable by Thomas Edison College.

Preferred Experience:

• Four (4) years of library experience demonstrating a practical knowledge of library functions, services, terminology, techniques, procedures, and standard tools such as ILS (Integrated Library Systems), shelving arrangements, Dewey Decimal Classification System and equipment, and one (1) year of which must have been in a supervisory capacity

ADDITIONAL RELEVANT SKILLS:

• Knowledge of library administration and 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.).
  
  

Apply online here