Chief Operations and Strategy Officer

JCFPL JOB TITLE: Chief Operations and Strategy Officer

LOCATION: Administration

REPORTS TO: Library Director

CIVIL SERVICE JOB TITLE: Director of Administration and Program Development

STARTING SALARY RANGE: $150K - $170K

FULL-TIME/PART-TIME: Full-Time

WORKWEEK: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (scheduled up to 35 hours/week). Evening and weekend hours as required.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 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, 403(b), participation in a pension plan (dependent on age at the time of hire date). 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 twelve locations and growing, and a collection comprising over 2.5 million print and digital items. Our staff of nearly 170 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 Chief Operations and Strategy Officer serves as a senior executive partner to the Executive Director and a key member of the Executive Leadership Team. This role combines executive-level operational leadership with strategic alignment, leadership development, and organization-wide systems strengthening.

The Chief Operations and Strategy Officer is responsible for ensuring that the Library’s operational infrastructure, leadership practices, and internal systems fully support its mission, values, and service goals. The ideal candidate is a seasoned leader capable of operating at both strategic and operational levels, bringing clarity, consistency, and accountability across the organization while guiding long-term institutional growth and stability.

Job Duties:
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP – Serve as a strategic partner to the Executive Director; support executive-level alignment, prioritization, and decision-making; provide leadership for complex organizational initiatives; and strengthen cohesion and shared accountability across departments.
OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT – Oversee key operational areas to ensure policies, procedures, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance efforts align with the Library’s mission and strategic priorities. Strengthen internal systems to promote efficiency, transparency, and consistency.
ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS – Monitor organizational performance related to leadership, operations, and culture. Identify operational risks and performance gaps, and implement improvements that enhance effectiveness and staff experience.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & ACCOUNTABILITY – Establish leadership competency expectations and performance benchmarks. Support leadership growth through coaching and accountability frameworks. Promote timely, transparent, and aligned decision-making processes.
COMMUNICATION & CULTURE – Establish effective internal communication practices; improve clarity, trust, and follow-through; foster a workplace culture grounded in respect, equity, accountability, and collaboration; and address organizational dynamics that impact morale or effectiveness.
STRATEGIC PLANNING & SYSTEMS ALIGNMENT – Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and implement strategic goals. Define success metrics and accountability structures. Ensure operational systems align with library-wide strategic plans and support long-term sustainability.
OTHER – Perform all other reasonable duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Required Education/Experience:
Nine (9) years of professional supervisory experience in the business management and administration of a large public or private organization including the planning, promoting, organizing, and/or administering of comprehensive programs.
OR
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience.

Preferred Education/Experience:
Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field.
Senior executive experience managing complex operations in a public, nonprofit, or similar setting.
Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, and operational leadership.
Proven ability to lead large teams and manage complex organizational change.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and public service.
Exceptional communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills.

Preferred Skills:
Experience working in a library system or cultural institution.
Background in data-driven decision-making and performance management.
Experience working in highly diverse and/or unionized environments.
Fluency in a language other than English, especially one or more of those spoken by a substantial portion of Jersey City's population, including Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Gujarati or Tagalog.

Optional Relocation: Relocation support is available for qualified candidates outside of the Greater New York City area.

NOTES:
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this position. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

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.