Overview

Reports to: Manager, Natural Areas

Department: Landscape Management

Status: Exempt

 

About the Park and the Central Park Conservancy

Central Park is one of the most famous and beloved urban public spaces in the world. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1857, the 843-acre park was the first purpose-built public park in the country and is a National Historic 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 that time, the Conservancy has overseen the investment of approximately $1 billion in the restoration of the Park, and now hosts over 40 million visitors a year.

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. Committed to sharing the best practices in urban park management, the Conservancy also serves as a resource for other NYC parks and for public-private partnerships around the world. The Conservancy employs roughly 325 people and has an operating budget of $80 million.

The Conservancy recently completed a seven-year plan, Central Park Conservancy, A Plan for the Stewardship of Central Park: 2020-2027, which focuses on the ongoing capital investment of the last four decade’s investment of more than $1 billion into Central Park.

 

Position Summary

The Assistant Manager – Natural Areas is responsible for the supervision of the day to day operation of the Natural Areas, for implementation of all programs of work set by the Manager and to work as part of a team that manages Park Operations as a whole. Working under the general supervision of the Manager the Assistant Manager is primarily responsible for the supervision of the staff and grounds of the Natural Areas consisting of Hallett Nature Sanctuary, Ramble, North Woods and meadow areas within Central Park. It is expected that the Assistant Manager will work across departments and with other staff on Park Operations to perform their primary tasks.

 

Essential Duties

Supervisory Responsibilities:

  • Responsible for supervising all staff and the organization of work schedules to meet daily and weekly workloads and projects for all landscapes, plant bed, hardscape including management of invasive plants and maintenance of native and aquatic plants.
  • Guides and gives technical assistance to Foreperson and Natural Area Technicians engaged in daily landscape maintenance tasks.
  • Delegate and hold subordinates responsible for satisfactory performance of assignments.
  • Lead and coach employees using established performance management and staff development effort providing consistent feedback.
  • Works in collaboration with Manager in the hiring, performance reviews and discipline staff. Makes recommendations for improvements
  • Monitors and ensures employee engagement, productivity, compliance and status of work assignments.
  • Oversee safety and work training program of natural area employees and tracks individual progress and ensure requirements are met at regular intervals
  • Performs the duties of Manager when absent

 

Collaboration:

  • Coordinates with other departments within CPC on plantings, restoration projects, trail and path maintenance and repair and on all events, vendors, concessions and general Park use
  • Collaborate with other Assistant Managers in Landscape Management, Volunteer Department and other departments within Park Operations to achieve set work plan goals.
  • Daily reports of malfunctioning infrastructure, furnishings, safety hazards, quality of life issues
  • Perform tours of Natural Areas discussing plants, ecology and maintenance as needed
  • Interact with Park patrons in a professional manner

 

Program Management:

  • Assists in the development of annual work plan, and conducts inspections of all landscape management activities within the Natural Areas and ensures all indicators are met.
  • Work with Manager to develop measurements against and will participate in reporting on annual progress of set work plan.
  • Assist Manager in the development of an annual budget and collaborate to monitor expenses throughout the year.
  • Inspect and monitor work to ensure compliance of organizational standards of methods and practices, safety and other established requirements
  • Maintains the inventory and proper care of all tools, equipment, materials, supplies and staff uniforms appropriate to support the landscape management functions.
  • Use computer based management systems for budget control, scheduling, timekeeping and inspections.

 

Related Work:

  • Maintains inventory of all signage and directs the repairs and installation. Makes requests for replacements as needed
  • Initiates the purchase of supplies, tools and other related equipment to Manager
  • Ensure the removal of all trash from landscape, gardens, grounds, hardscape and facilities in the natural areas; collaborate with Park Maintenance on inspections notifications of unsatisfactory conditions.
  • Although not part of day to day tasks, the Assistant Manager may be called upon to mow, water, weed, rake, remove snow and perform other related landscape management tasks as needed and/or required
  • Respond to emergency situations including, but not limited to, storms and snow events
  • Perform related work as assigned 

 

Minimum Requirements

  1. Bachelor’s Degree from accredited college in a related field; 6 years of increasingly responsible experience in maintenance work in the field of Landscape management and/or urban woodland restoration including a minimum of 6 years in the management and supervision of others; or
  2. Education and/or experience equivalent to “1” above. However all candidates must possess the 6 years of management and supervision of others
  3. Valid Drivers’ License that must be maintained for duration of employment
  4. Possess a fundamental understanding and knowledge of Landscape management using modern practices; native and invasive plants; urban woodland ecology; experience in urban parks is desirable 

 

Abilities Required

  1. Ability to provide both oral and written communication that is easily understood and direct in its content
  2. Ability to engage in critical thinking skills that allow for prioritizing issues, coordinating multiple projects and problem solve
  3. Knowledge of computer equipment and Microsoft Office applications
  4. Ability to work overtime, weekends and holidays as needed
  5. Ability to lift 50 lbs. and perform heavy physical labor on a daily basis in all weather conditions

 

Salary range: $65K-$77,100 (based on level of experience) 

 

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.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

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