Location: Linden, NJ
Position Type: Full-Time
Civil Service Title: Assistant Library Director
Salary Range: $75,000 - $95,000 annually, depending on experience
Reports To: Library Director

Job Summary

The Linden Public Library is seeking an experienced, service-oriented professional to serve as Assistant Library Director. This is a senior administrative and supervisory position that supports the Library Director in implementing Board policy, managing day-to-day operations, supervising staff, and maintaining consistent, high-quality service to the community of Linden.

The ideal candidate will possess strong supervisory, organizational, and communication skills; use sound independent judgment within delegated authority; and foster a collaborative workplace in which staff roles, responsibilities, and professional expertise are respected.

The position's primary functions are administrative and supervisory. The Assistant Director also helps maintain administrative continuity during evenings, weekends, and in the absence of the Library Director.

The Library seeks a candidate who values teamwork, accountability, respectful supervision, public service, and community engagement.

About Us

The Linden Public Library serves a vibrant and diverse community of approximately 43,000 residents in Union County, New Jersey. The Library is committed to providing welcoming, inclusive, and responsive library services that support lifelong learning, literacy, digital access, and community engagement.

The Library offers a broad range of collections, public programs, outreach initiatives, technology services, and educational opportunities for residents of all ages.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Administration & Operations

• Supports the Library Director in administering Library operations, carrying out Board and management priorities, and maintaining organizational accountability.
• Provides administrative oversight of day-to-day operations by establishing priorities, monitoring service delivery, and addressing matters requiring management attention.
• Serves as acting administrator in the Library Director's absence and exercises the authority delegated by the Director or Board of Trustees.
• Implements Library policies and administrative procedures by communicating expectations, monitoring compliance, and reporting material issues to the Library Director.
• Leads or participates in administrative planning, interdepartmental coordination, and operational review meetings.
• Compiles and analyzes operational information and prepares management reports, recommendations, and documentation for the Library Director and Board of Trustees.
• Supports strategic planning, organizational goal setting, budgeting, resource allocation, and the implementation of priorities that advance the Library's mission.

Staff Supervision & Scheduling

• Exercises day-to-day supervisory authority over assigned librarians, circulation staff, and other employees in accordance with Board policy, Civil Service requirements, and applicable collective negotiations agreements.
• Assigns work and priorities; provides direction and feedback; monitors performance and completion; and documents matters requiring supervisory follow-up.
• Coordinates the supervisory aspects of employee onboarding; identifies training and development needs; and participates in coaching and performance evaluations.
• Develops and adjusts staffing schedules and coverage plans to meet operational needs while considering service demands, employee classifications, and applicable agreement requirements.
• Addresses and documents attendance, conduct, performance, and workplace concerns at the supervisory level and refers or recommends appropriate follow-up to the Library Director.
• Responds to escalated patron and service issues, supports staff in resolving difficult situations, and ensures appropriate documentation and follow-up.
• Provides evening, Saturday, and emergency administrative coverage as scheduled and helps ensure that a designated supervisor is available during public service hours.

Public Services & Technical Services

• Provides managerial oversight of public and technical service functions by monitoring service levels, policy compliance, workload distribution, and coordination among departments.
• Reviews workflow information, backlogs, quality indicators, and service concerns; establishes or recommends priorities; and identifies resource or staffing adjustments for management consideration.
• Facilitates coordination among librarians and support staff, clarifies responsibility for assignments, and resolves cross-departmental operational issues.
• Analyzes recurring bottlenecks, complaints, and inefficiencies and recommends or implements approved process improvements.
• Monitors the consistent application of Library policies, procedures, and service standards and elevates systemic issues to the Library Director.

Community Engagement

• Represents Library administration at meetings, community functions, and public events as assigned.
• Serves as the Library Director's designee at Board of Trustees and public meetings when requested.
• Provides administrative coordination and oversight for special projects and Library-wide initiatives by defining responsibilities, monitoring timelines, and reporting progress.
• Develops and maintains institutional partnerships and provides administrative oversight of outreach and accessibility initiatives to ensure alignment with the Library's strategic goals.

Other Duties

• Performs other supervisory, administrative, and management-related duties consistent with the Civil Service title, Board policy, and applicable collective negotiations agreements, as assigned by the Library Director.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Library Science from a program accredited by the American Library Association (ALA).
• Possession of a valid New Jersey Professional Librarian Certificate issued by Thomas Edison State University.
• Residency in New Jersey within one year of hiring as required by the NJ First Act.
• Minimum of four (4) years of professional library experience.
• At least one (1) year of demonstrated supervisory or management experience in a library setting, including responsibility for directing work, monitoring performance, and addressing staff or service issues.
• Excellent communication, writing, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supervising employees in a unionized, Civil Service, or other public-sector environment.
• Project management experience, including responsibility for timelines, assignment coordination, implementation, and follow-up.
• Familiarity with strategic planning, policy implementation, personnel administration, and working with an oversight board.
• Fluency in a language other than English is strongly preferred, particularly Spanish or Haitian Creole.

Schedule & Work Environment

This is a full-time position that requires flexibility in scheduling. The successful candidate will be expected to work a combination of daytime, evening, and Saturday hours as part of the Library's administrative and supervisory coverage structure.

The position requires regular interaction with staff, patrons, vendors, community organizations, and public officials in a busy public library environment.

Benefits

Benefits are provided in accordance with Library policy and include:

• Health, vision, prescription and dental insurance
• Pension enrollment through the New Jersey Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS)
• Paid vacation, sick, and personal leave
• Flexible spending health savings account
• Professional development opportunities

How to Apply

Interested candidates should email a cover letter, resume, and three (3) professional references to Joshua Melissari, Library Director, at librarydirector [at] lindenpl.org (librarydirector[at]lindenpl[dot]org). 

Please place “Assistant Library Director Application” in the subject line.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, though priority will be given to candidates who apply before November 20, 2026. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

The Linden Public Library is an equal opportunity employer. The Library encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.