Chief Operations and Strategy Officer - Jersey City Free Public Library
Job Description:
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 6, 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 www.jclibrary.org.
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.
Application link or email address: https://jerseycityfreepubliclibrary.applytojob.com/apply/9msGnmFCwn/Chief-Operations-And-Strategy-Officer
Salary range or hourly wage: $150,000 - $170,000
MLS required: No, an MLS is not required.
Job focus: Administration/Management
Work schedule: Full-Time