Project Coordinator

Reports to: Vice President for Program Management

Department: Capital Projects

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

About 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 $1.6 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.

Position Summary:

The Project Coordinator is a key member of a highly functioning and dedicated Capital Projects team who are responsible for all of the restoration and reconstruction projects in Central Park. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating and assisting the Senior Vice President for Capital Projects and Vice President for Program Management with projects, and work across the department providing organizational and administrative support to the entire Capital Projects team.

The ideal candidate will possess strong written and verbal communication, administrative and organizational skills and exercise good judgement. We are seeking a candidate with a strong administrative background and an interest in Central Park.

Responsibilities:

• Provide high-level administrative support to the Capital Projects senior leadership team on projects and executive activities including managing calendars, handling complex scheduling, and coordinating meeting set-up.
• Work with the Vice President for Program Management and other senior managers on substantive preparation for CPC Board of Trustees Committee meetings, departmental and internal meetings, including creating presentation materials, agendas, and graphics.
• Update the department’s internal SharePoint site on a weekly basis to provide timely capital project information for staff in other departments. Coordinate with the Communications team to update capital project information on the Conservancy’s website as needed.
• Respond to written correspondence received for the team. Ensure replies are made in a timely fashion.
• Manage all photography needs for the department. This includes coordination of all pre-construction, construction and post construction photos, Coordinate with Capital Design and Construction staff, the Director of Video Production and/or external consultants when photos are needed for high-profile capital project milestones, Board Committee meetings, and donor books.
• Serve as a key member of the department’s digital file management project. Assist with the team’s file management project to improve folder structure and file naming conventions, create project closeout documents, and streamline the photo management process. Coordinate with department staff and Institutional Planning and IT teams as needed.
• Manage the team’s vehicle calendars. Resolve any scheduling conflicts as they arise.
• Manage the department’s monthly lunch n’ learn meetings. Coordinate with speakers on scheduling, meeting content, and room set-up. Work with Office Services and IT as needed.
• Interact with internal and external contacts including other departments, contractors and vendors, consultants, and the public on behalf of the team.
• Facilitate collaboration and communication across teams.
• Maintain and organize the sample storage library.
• Perform other duties as needed including assisting with special events for the department, retrieving off-site storage materials, and restocking supplies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two to five years of relevant work experience; background or interest in design and construction, architecture, urban planning, historic preservation, public space management, or a related field helpful.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving and prioritization skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to handle sensitive situations and confidential information.
• Exceptional written communication skills and editing proficiency.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment.
• Must be highly proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Working knowledge of database use and management helpful. Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign), a plus.
• Valid Driver’s license.

Salary range: $55K - $67K (based on 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 potentially 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.