Marion Branch Manager (Librarian II)

JCFPL JOB TITLE: Marion Branch Manager

LOCATION: Marion Branch

REPORTS TO: North Regional Manager

SALARY RANGE: $73,646-$78,438 per year

CIVIL SERVICE JOB TITLE: Librarian II

FULL-TIME/PART-TIME: Full-Time

WORKWEEK: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Scheduled 35 hours/week). May be required to work evenings and weekends as needed.

APPLICANTION DEADLINE: January 5, 2026

BENEFIT SUMMARY: This summary outlines the general benefits available to library employees, designed to support their health, financial security, and work-life balance. Benefits available to Full-Time Employees: Medical coverage 60 days from the first day of employment, Prescription coverage is the first of the month following 60 days of employment at no cost to the employee and additional cost per each dependent added. Dental coverage is provided at no cost 60 days after the first day of employment. Vision coverage is provided at no cost and reimbursed at $250.00 per year. Additional Full-Time benefits include Life & AD&D insurance, 403b, Participation in pension plan (dependent on age at the time of hire date). Part-Time Employee benefits include participation in pension plan and sick/vacation leave. A more detailed summary can be found on our Employment Opportunities page located at

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 Branch Manager plays a key role in supporting library operations through professional-level work in public service, programming, and collection development. This position involves planning, coordinating, and implementing library services that meet the diverse needs of the community, as well as providing leadership and guidance to staff. The Branch Manager collaborates with management to ensure high-quality service delivery, promotes library resources and programs, and contributes to the overall mission and goals of the Jersey City Public Library.

JOB DUTIES:

• 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, overseeing building maintenance; assisting patrons at the circulation desk or with technology; answer reference questions; conduct readers’ advisory; ensure adequate staff is scheduled to run the department/branch 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; foster and maintain a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible work environment
• Create and coordinate programming with staff; share program information with Communications team, including photos, blurbs, booklists, etc.; may compose publicity releases, newsletters, etc.
• Coordinate, prioritize and assign tasks and projects; track and review work progress and activities; set goals for the department; adapt priorities based on community needs
• Manage collection development and budget for the branch, including weeding, buying, and shelf-reading the branch collection; compile and submit book orders; complete item requests; create displays, special sections, etc. to support collection circulation
• Prepare and submit reports relating to branch activities, including statistical reports, timesheets, cash reports, and monthly reports; attend meetings and actively serve on committees as needed; submit timesheets correctly and on time; explain/demonstrate policies and procedures to staff
• 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
• Network and collaborate with other branches, Outreach Services, educational entities, City departments, and other service agencies to promote services, activities, and goals of the library; represent library at events; actively participate in professional organizations
• Stay up to date on trends and innovations in the fields of technology management and administration; improve ADA accessibility (physical and digital access)
• Know and develop the department’s physical space, consistently monitor location and work closely with facilities management staff for preventive maintenance
• Perform other duties as assigned

CORE COMPETENCIES:

Support/Collaboration with Library Director and Leadership Team

• 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/EDUCATION:

• At least one (1) 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 successful completion of relevant manager training within the organization.
• 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.

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.).

NOTES:

For all employees, regardless of full-time or part-time status, JCFPL is considered the primary employer. Work hours are assigned according to the Library’s operational needs. Work hours are not scheduled to accommodate employees’ other employment, academic, or other outside obligations, except in circumstances agreed upon in writing by the employee and the employee’s supervisor.

This vacancy is associated with a New Jersey 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 and not available for work visa sponsorship.