Overview

ABOUT CITY PARKS FOUNDATION  

At City Parks Foundation (CPF), we are dedicated to invigorating and transforming New York City parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through arts, environmental education, sports, and community building programs for all New Yorkers. Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks mean thriving communities. 

  • We produce SummerStage, the iconic free, outdoor performing arts festival in NYC, presenting world-class artists from across the globe and our own neighborhoods on our mainstage in Central Park and in local parks in all five boroughs, and our Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre and roving PuppetMobile present marionette puppet theater throughout New York City. 
  • Partnerships for Parks, a public-private program of City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks, supports and champions a growing network of community leaders who care and advocate for the transformation of our neighborhood parks. Engagement also includes the nascent Parks and Open Space Partners-NYC coalition of conservancies and alliances, coordinated by CPF, and management and administration of the pandemic-related NYC Green Relief & Recovery Fund, which has regranted more than $8 million to parks and open space nonprofits and grassroots organizations over the last 2.5 years.
  • We connect youngsters to nature in the urban environment through progressive, experiential teaching. Using parks as classrooms, we provide learning experiences and hands-on activities in urban forests, coastal areas, and gardens. 
  • Free golf, tennis, track & field, soccer, and fitness programs bring high-quality instruction and equipment into areas where few organized athletic opportunities exist. We offer leveled training, year-round scholarship coaching, and special pro events.

POSITION SUMMARY  

The Government Relations and Special Projects Manager will join the nascent Partnership Development team, engaging nonprofits, donors, and government partners in support of our parks and open spaces through fundraising, fiscal sponsorship, grant-making and administration, coalition building work, and strategic initiatives. 

This position will confidently manage a $1.3M+ portfolio of government funding and support special projects as needed including developing case studies to document success and supporting fundraising for the NYC Green Fund. The manager is an integral member of the CPF team, showcasing CPF programs, understanding funding needs, identifying opportunities for support, seeking funding, and coordinating with program directors to ensure that grant requirements are met. The Manager reports to the Director of Partnership Development and more team members may be added as the department evolves. This position will be a hybrid between the office and work from home. Direct supervision will be remote.  

RESPONSIBILITIES 

  • Strengthen organizational relationships with elected officials to secure funding and exposure for City Parks Foundation.
  • In collaboration with senior staff, develop annual revenue goals and fundraising strategy to secure public funding. 
  • Write and submit clear, compelling funding proposals. 
  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with elected and appointed officials, government agencies, community boards, and other organizations.
  • Serve as the main point of contact with CPF lobbyists, scheduling meetings, developing agendas, facilitating meetings, and conducting follow up.
  • Act as primary point of contact for elected and other government officials and keep them apprised of programs in their districts.
  • Schedule, prepare for, present, and conduct follow up for meetings and hearings, including creating compelling and comprehensive testimony and briefing materials. 
  • Assist in the strategic management and expansion of grant-making, fundraising and programmatic initiatives that support the organizations working in the open space sector. Prepare and submit compelling letters of inquiry, proposals, and reports for the NYC Green Fund and other department initiatives. 
  • Work collaboratively across CPF and especially with Finance, Development, Marketing, and Partnerships for Parks.

QUALIFICATIONS

The Manager brings a strong background in open space stewardship and community relations. They have:

  • Minimum of 3-4 years of experience in government relations, development, and/or related fields in NYC, existing relationships in government is strongly preferred
  • Detail-oriented and organized project manager, pro-active planner and communicator
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to distill complex messages into clear and cogent communications for multiple audiences
  • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and meet frequent deadlines
  • Excellent editing and proofreading skills
  • Comfortable dealing with sensitive financial information and working independently
  • Cultural sensitivity and ability to work in cooperation with diverse populations required; demonstrated ability to work effectively with many types of stakeholders including community volunteers, agency representatives, elected officials, and funders
  • Familiarity with the open space sector, urban planning, and environmental justice issues 
  • Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including nights and weekends as needed for SummerStage shows and special events 
  • Familiarity with Google Suite, Salesforce, and Zoom 
  • Strong work ethic, enthusiasm, sense of humor, creativity, flexibility, and patience

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