Director of Facilities

Jersey City Free Public Library • Jersey City, NJ

8d • $120,000 - $135,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Jersey City Free Public Library (JCFPL) is seeking a highly skilled and experienced leader to oversee all aspects of Library facilities operations, maintenance services, security operations, building upkeep, capital project coordination, and operational stewardship across the system. With the oversight of the Chief Operations & Strategy Officer, the Director of Facilities will be responsible for leading the daily facilities function, supervising maintenance and security staff, overseeing building repair and upkeep activities, establishing and strengthening facilities operating standards, and ensuring that Library facilities are maintained at the highest quality standards to provide Welcoming Spaces for Library patrons and staff. This role is crucial in ensuring that facilities and security operations are carried out in a timely, safe, efficient, and cost-effective manner and that Library buildings, grounds, and systems remain functional, compliant, secure, and well cared for. The Director of Facilities will also play a key role in helping reimagine and strengthen the Library’s facilities and security operation in a way that is both practical and progressive. This includes evaluating team structure and workflows, establishing standard operating procedures and protocols, strengthening inventory control practices, promoting training and staff development, and advancing a culture of safety awareness, accountability, and continuous improvement across the facilities and security functions. The Director of Facilities will oversee a systemwide facilities and security function serving 13 locations, including a diverse portfolio of buildings of varying age and condition, with the oldest dating to 1891, and will lead approximately 25-35 employees across maintenance, security, and related facilities operations. This position will also supervise the Construction & Capital Projects Manager, who is responsible for construction and capital project coordination across the system. In that capacity, the Director of Facilities will provide strategic direction, oversight, and alignment across day-to-day facilities operations, security, vendor-supported work, and capital project activity to ensure that immediate operational needs and longer-term building priorities are effectively coordinated. The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of and enthusiasm for facilities operations, preventive maintenance principles, building systems, staff leadership, security operations, and operational improvement; a willingness to learn and grow as a member of a team; an energetic approach to managing a rapidly growing and evolving portfolio; and cultivates a courteous, nimble and friendly culture.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Construction Management, Public Administration, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience.
• At least 5 years of supervisory experience, preferably 7 or more years of progressively responsible experience, in facilities, maintenance, building operations, security operations, capital project oversight, or related work across a large, complex, multi-site environment.
• Experience in a municipal, library, education, healthcare, or similarly complex institutional setting, including experience leading facilities, maintenance, security, and/or capital-project-related staff across a complex, multi-site environment.
• Experience overseeing multiple buildings of varying age and condition, including older or historically sensitive facilities, with the ability to support operational needs across a diverse physical portfolio.
• Experience modernizing a facilities or maintenance operation through standard operating procedures, training, process improvement, performance management, and stronger operational accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to lead facilities operations across a complex, multi-location environment, including balancing urgent operational issues with longer-term planning and prioritization.
• Strong knowledge of preventive maintenance principles, corrective maintenance practices, building systems, operational planning, work control, service delivery, and coordination of project-related work, including core building systems and infrastructure such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, roofing, life-safety systems, building envelope, interiors, and related facilities components.
• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to assess team structure, clarify roles and expectations, strengthen accountability, coach staff, supervise managers, and build a more effective operating model.
• Ability to develop and implement standard operating procedures, workflows, inventory controls, training plans, inspection protocols, documentation standards, and service expectations, including experience establishing or improving inventory control practices for maintenance supplies, tools, equipment, and other operational resources.
• Knowledge of safety practices, risk management, emergency preparedness, and security operations related to facilities, staff, vendors, and public-facing environments, along with the ability to manage vendors, contractors, budgets, competing operational priorities, and project-related coordination needs across multiple locations.
• Strong communication, judgment, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills, including the ability to work effectively with executive leadership, branch leadership, frontline staff, contractors, vendors, and public safety partners, as well as the ability to use or quickly learn maintenance tracking systems, inventory systems, operational reporting tools, and other electronic or manual systems used to support facilities and security operations.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Construction Management, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
• Certified Facility Manager (CFM) strongly preferred.
• Other relevant credentials, such as CEFP, FMP, PMP, OSHA-related training, or comparable facilities, operations, safety, or project-management certifications, also valued.
• Experience in a unionized environment.
• Experience overseeing facilities and security functions in a public-facing, multi-site organization.
• Experience working with older infrastructure, historically sensitive buildings, and complex building systems.
• Experience supporting or overseeing construction, capital projects, and coordination with external project vendors.
• Experience with public procurement, bid processes, contractor oversight, and regulatory compliance in a municipal or similarly structured environment.
• Experience with inventory systems, maintenance tracking systems, work-order systems, and operational reporting tools.
• Experience using data, inspections, incident trends, and operational reporting to inform decision-making, prioritize resources, and improve service delivery.
• Experience developing and implementing staff training, safety protocols, emergency procedures, and service standards across a multi-site operation.
• Experience leading or supporting organizational change, team restructuring, or operational redesign in a facilities, maintenance, or security setting.
• Knowledge of Jersey City, local government operations, or public-sector service delivery.
• Facility in a non-English language spoken in Jersey City, such as Spanish, Hindi, Arabic, Gujarati, Tagalog, or Portuguese.

Responsibilities

• Lead the daily operation of facilities, maintenance, and security services across all Library locations.
• Supervise maintenance staff, security staff, the Construction & Capital Projects Manager, and other assigned personnel responsible for facilities operations, building upkeep, and related support functions.
• Evaluate team structure, staffing patterns, workflows, and service delivery models and implement practical improvements to strengthen effectiveness, accountability, and consistency across the system.
• Establish, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures, protocols, and service expectations for facilities, maintenance, inventory control, security operations, inspections, documentation, and emergency response.
• Oversee preventive maintenance programs to support the long-term integrity, safety, and functionality of Library buildings, grounds, interiors, and building systems.
• Oversee routine and corrective maintenance work, inspections, repairs, and operational follow-through to ensure facilities are safe, clean, functional, and welcoming.
• Direct inventory control practices for maintenance supplies, tools, equipment, and other operational resources, including storage standards, usage tracking, reordering practices, and resource stewardship.
• Promote training, coaching, and workforce development for maintenance and security staff, including onboarding, standard work expectations, safe work practices, and ongoing performance support.
• Advance a culture of safety awareness, accountability, and operational discipline across facilities and security functions.
• Oversee security operations across the system, including staffing, scheduling, service expectations, incident response coordination, and alignment with Library priorities for safe and welcoming spaces.
• Coordinate with branch leadership, Library administration, vendors, contractors, and public safety partners as needed to support effective facilities and security operations.
• Provide direction and oversight to the Construction & Capital Projects Manager to ensure effective coordination of capital projects, construction activity, vendor-supported project work, and alignment with Library operational priorities.
• Ensure effective coordination among day-to-day facilities operations, security functions, maintenance needs, capital planning, and construction activity across the system.
• Coordinate operational priorities and project impacts with the Construction & Capital Projects Manager so that capital work is sequenced appropriately and minimizes disruption to Library services.
• Monitor vendor and contractor performance related to both operational services and project-related work and ensure that work is performed in accordance with Library expectations, applicable regulations, and service standards.
• Assist with operating budgets, cost estimates, resource planning, and prioritization of facilities-related needs, including coordination of operational and project-based priorities.
• Prepare reports, recommendations, and updates related to facilities conditions, operational priorities, staffing, safety, security, and service delivery.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 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.
• Life & AD&D insurance
• 403(b)
• participation in a pension plan (dependent on age at the time of hire date).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director