Position Title: Director of Government & Community Affairs

Department: Marketing

Reports to: President & Chief Public Affairs Officer

FLSA Status: Full-time, Exempt

Grade: 5

Position Description:

The director of Government and Community Affairs is responsible for developing, implementing, sustaining, and evaluating Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s programs in government and community outreach, advocacy, and funding.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead the Garden’s strategy to obtain public funding from the city, state, and federal governments.
• Develop relationships with federal, state, and municipal elected and appointed officials and their staffs to communicate the role and needs of the Garden.
• Lead advocacy-support efforts of staff, volunteers, and community members.
• Represent the Garden at State in advocacy coalitions including the state-level Coalition of Living Museums and the City’s Cultural Institutions Group in order to support the Garden’s annual operating budget and advance the Garden’s legislative priorities.
• Serve as the Garden’s liaison with the Department of Cultural Affairs and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.
• Prepare regular correspondence with elected and appointed officials. Support the president in preparing for meetings with elected officials.
• Coordinate and host, along with the president, appearances of elected officials at Garden events.
• Write grant proposals as necessary to obtain government funding.
• Prepare reports and correspondence related to City and State funding as well as various noncompetitive government grants.
• Attend community meetings, such as local Community Board meetings, and related events.
• Plan and direct community events and community outreach efforts in coordination with other Garden departments.
• Supervise activities of the Garden’s lobbyist for budget advocacy and land use issues. Evaluate the lobbying team.
• Write testimony and represent the Garden at public hearings or arrange for members to give testimony.
• Provide regular, thorough, written notes from key conversations with lobbyists and officials.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Seven years’ experience in government affairs and community affairs, including lobbying and securing public funding or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent written, communication, and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Regular evening and weekend work required.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary Range – $81,000-$105,000
  Brooklyn Botanic Garden considers several factors when determining the appropriate salary to offer a candidate within the listed salary range. These factors include (but are not limited to), the scope and responsibilities of the position, a candidate’s relevant work experience and education/training, prior union/ DC37 experience (for union positions), job skills, equity across the institution, as well as market and organizational considerations.
• BBG offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Health Insurance that begins the date of hire; employees are offered coverage through the City of New York’s Office of Labor Relations and can choose from a variety of plans, some at no cost to the employee.
• Dental/Vision/Prescription Benefits
• Pre-Tax Benefits including flexible spending, dependent care, transit/parking accounts
• CIRS Pension/401K/Life Insurance: BBG is a member of the Cultural Institutions Retirement System (CIRS) and offers a pension and 401K plan for eligible employees. Life insurance is provided through CIRS as well.
• Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off including sick time, vacation time, and 13 annual holidays
• As a 501(c)3, BBG is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Eligible Employer.
• Museum Pass, which provides employees the opportunity to enter many museums in New York City for free

To be considered for this position, please submit an application by clicking Apply below. Applications submitted without a résumé and cover letter will not be considered.

No telephone calls for position inquiries, please. Applicants with disabilities who need assistance with the online system, or who may require a reasonable accommodation during the application process, should contact Human Resources at hr@bbg.org.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.