Adult Services Coordinator

Description

JCFPL JOB TITLE: Adult Services Coordinator    

REPORTS TO: Assistant Library Director

CIVIL SERVICE JOB TITLE: Program Specialist 2

FULL-TIME/PART-TIME: Full-Time

WORKWEEK: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (35 hours/week scheduled). Evenings and weekends will be scheduled as needed.

The JCFPL is seeking an outgoing, self-motivated, highly dependable individual to actively develop the Library’s adult services and programs throughout the Library system’s ten locations. They will coordinate ongoing system-wide efforts to significantly increase outreach efforts, participation, and grant funding for adult (ages 18+) services and programs.

Under the direction of the Community Engagement Director, the Adult Services Coordinator will be responsible for driving the Library’s efforts in the increasing participation, recruitment, cultivation, retention and stewardship of our adult patrons. This role includes significant responsibility for building new administrative processes to support current and future adult programming and services. The individual in this role will work closely with Library leadership and staff, including the Communications & Marketing Department, the Youth Services Coordinator, the Business Office, as well as branches and other public-service departments. The Adult Services Coordinator will also serve as the primary Library liaison for partnership opportunities (regarding our adult community) with local city departments and organizations.

The ideal candidate will have a facility with and enthusiasm for adult services and programming; 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:

• Create a welcoming, pleasing, creative, vibrant and dynamic space for adults across the library branches, with the support of branch staff
• Coordinate adult services 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; communicate with leadership on issues regarding staff and patrons; help recruit, interview, and onboard new hires; train and evaluate staff; counsel and motivate staff; develop staff skills; foster and maintain a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible work environment
• Cultivate and maintain partnerships, provide programs, and introduce library services to local senior centers, interest groups, and other adult-related organizations to promote reading and digital literacy; play a role in library’s community engagement efforts; identify library and literacy outreach opportunities for local adults; stay informed of activities and services for adults and families within the community; serve as liaison to adult and senior organizations, and coordinate visits and programs outside of the library such as senior visits, book talks, and book clubs; assist with social media accounts
• Actively pursue self-development in library services and programming for adults; stay current with emerging technologies and how they relate to trends in adult programming (e.g. digital literacy, book clubs, crafts, etc.) and libraries in general; attend conferences and workshops, and read professional literature to stay informed on issues related to adult library services and creative learning activities; actively use Internet resources
• 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
• 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; participate in public speaking, including 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 Engagement department, local entities, City departments, and other service agencies to promote services, activities, and goals of the library
• Stay up to date on trends and innovations in the fields of technology management and administration
• 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 situation 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

Requirements

Required Experience:

NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.

• Six (6) years of professional experience in planning, monitoring, coordinating, implementing, modifying, and/or evaluating agency programs and services.
  
  OR
  
  
• Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. 
  
  OR 
  
  
• Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in a discipline appropriate to the position; and one (1) year of the above-mentioned professional experience. 

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.).