Overview
Reports to: Manager of Daytime Park Maintenance
Department: Park Maintenance
Status: Full
time, Nonexempt
Schedule: Tuesday – Saturday (hours vary depending
on project work)
About the
Central Park Conservancy:
Central Park is one of the world’s most famous and
beloved public spaces. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in
1858, the 843-acre Park was the country’s first purpose-built public park and
is a National Historic Landmark and a New York Scenic Landmark. The Central
Park Conservancy, a private, not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1980
to rescue the Park, which had fallen into serious disrepair. Since then, the
Conservancy has overseen the investment of over $1.5 billion in the restoration
of the Park, which now hosts over 40 million visitors a year.
The
Conservancy is one of the largest and most successful public private
partnerships in New York City and is considered a major civic institution given
its impact on the health and vibrancy of both the Park and the City. The
Conservancy’s mission is to preserve and celebrate Central Park as a sanctuary
from urban life. The City of New York has formally entrusted the care of the
Park to the Conservancy which is responsible for every aspect of its care,
including landscape maintenance, capital improvements, and the visitor
experience. The Conservancy employs roughly 400 people and has an annual
operating budget of $100 million.
The
Position:
Working under the supervision of the Manager for Daytime
Park Maintenance, the Volunteer
Coordinator for Park Maintenance is the
primary liaison between the Park Maintenance Department and CPC’s volunteer
program. The position is responsible for determining and planning engaging projects
for volunteers based on the needs of the department, directing volunteers in
the execution of those projects, and ensuring all work meets acceptable
organizational practices. The Volunteer Coordinator will work across
departments and with other staff in Park Operations to
perform their primary tasks.
Essential
Duties:
Program
Responsibilities
·
Works closely with
Manager and Supervisors of Park Maintenance and Technical Services to identify
projects appropriate for volunteers
that are supportive of the organizational goal of improving how the park looks
·
Coordinates, schedules,
plans, and implements all projects
that involve individuals who are volunteering including adults, family, teen,
school, and corporate groups
·
Communicates with volunteers in person, via email and
phone regarding project descriptions and safety bulletins intended to promote
engagement
·
Works alongside and provides instruction to volunteers in
painting, picking up litter, separating recycling and organic matter for proper
disposal, detail cleaning under park benches and stormwater catchment areas,
and other critical tasks
·
Guides volunteers in the proper use and care of tools,
equipment and materials and ensures volunteers have appropriate uniforms
·
Maintains
records and provides a weekly report to Supervisor and Volunteer Department
summarizing completed projects, pounds of
waste and recycling collected, volunteer hours and attendance and any other
required reports needed by the Volunteer Department
·
Plan and execute all activities aligned with the goals of
the Park Maintenance department including those outlined in the Sustainability
Framework such as achieving zero waste
Collaboration
·
Engages Park Maintenance staff in
the volunteer program and its purpose and
provide opportunities to staff to plan and support projects
·
Perform
regular park inspections to plan projects and assign maintenance
tasks through a computer-based work order system as needed
- Support
- and lead staff training related to hard
- surface cleaning techniques, organic and special waste management, and
- other topics as needed. Organize
- field trips to promote team building among staff and leadership
·
Create
and disseminate daily and weekly electronic reports in formats that are clear
to others
·
Coordinate
with other departments within CPC responding to emergencies, supporting events,
and general Park use
·
Interact
with Park patrons in a professional manner and respond to staff needing support
with interactions or emergencies
·
Support
with some of the duties of forepersons when they are absent
Minimum
Requirements
·
Bachelor’s Degree from accredited college in a related
field; 3 years of increasingly responsible experience in maintenance work in the field of Landscape Management or Volunteer Management; demonstrated
ability to work well and collaborate with others; or
·
Education and/or experience equivalent to “1” above. However,
all candidates must have demonstrated the ability to work well and collaborate with others
·
Valid Drivers’ License
that must be maintained for duration of employment
·
Possess a fundamental understanding and knowledge of urban
park maintenance using modern practices and volunteer management.
Abilities
Required
·
Ability to provide
both oral and written communication that is easily understood and direct in its
content
·
Ability to engage in critical thinking skills that allow for prioritizing
issues, coordinating multiple
projects and problem solve
·
Knowledge of computer
equipment and Microsoft
Office applications
·
Ability to work weekends
and holidays as part of regularly scheduled shifts, and ability to work
overtime as needed
·
Ability to lift 50 lbs. and perform
heavy physical labor daily and in
all weather conditions
Salary
range: $65K – $81K (based on level of
experience)
Note: This is an on-site position.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
The
Central Park Conservancy’s work is guided by the belief that Central Park, and
all public parks, must be managed and actively protected as an inclusive and
democratic space for all.
Working
closely with our New York City partners, we will always strive towards creating
and sustaining a sense of belonging for all visitors and advocating for
equitable and accessible public use of the Park.
In
service of this belief, we are committed to fostering a workforce and
organizational culture that is as diverse as Central Park itself and the
dynamic city it serves.
Safety
Requirements
Establishment
and maintenance of a safe work environment is the shared responsibility of this
organization and employees at every level. The Conservancy will make every
effort to assure a safe environment and be in compliance with federal, state,
and local safety regulations. Employees are expected to obey safety rules
and to exercise caution in all their work activities. Accordingly,
employees should be aware of any hazards, which could cause an injury or
accident (e.g., spills, obstacles in walkways, etc.). If an employee
discovers a potential dangerous condition, he/she should alert other employees
and notify his/her supervisor immediately.
Disclaimer
The
above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work
being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive
list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so
classified. All personnel may be
required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time
to time, as needed.