Senior Manager of Communications

Position Summary

Riverside Park Conservancy has an immediate opening for a Senior Manager of Communications (SMC). The SMC will be passionate about parks and environmental issues and understand the vital importance of urban green space. The ideal candidate will be someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, likes being engaged in a wide variety of public campaigns and fundraising initiatives and wants to play a critical role in a busy development department. This individual will be an energetic self-starter who independently partners with program staff to promote the organization’s mission, services, and events, and to recruit participants and donors. They will oversee the Conservancy’s social media and online presence, design electronic and print marketing materials, update web design, and maintain photo archives. A successful candidate is a flexible collaborator who can balance competing priorities and serve as a spokesperson and ambassador for the Conservancy.

Reporting to the Director of Development, the SMC is a key member of the development department. This four-person team promotes the work of Conservancy as a whole, as well as its individual programs, through online and print publications, traditional and social media, digital communications including website and email marketing, in-park signage, public events and fundraisers. The goals are to promote and maintain the Conservancy’s brand identity; recruit participants, volunteers and donors; and communicate the organization’s mission, goals, and history to the public.

Background

Riverside Park Conservancy cares for six miles of parkland on the west side of Manhattan from 59th to 181st Street. Working alongside the New York City Parks Department, we make improvements as diverse as the park itself and the city it serves. Founded by a small group of volunteers in 1986, the Conservancy now employs more than 70 professional staff who work alongside hundreds of volunteers and dozens of NYC Parks employees to care for 400 acres of green space along the Hudson River.

As a neighborhood-based environmental nonprofit, our work is grounded in local partnerships. We leverage public and private funding to make meaningful capital improvements in the park, such as replacing staircases and pathways, restoring gardens and renovating playgrounds. We employ 25 Zone Gardeners who provide specialized horticultural care for the Park’s varied landscapes. We produce over 400 free public events every year and run a sports summer camp attended by more than 1,500 children.

With a current annual operating budget of $12 million, the Conservancy serves approximately 3 million visitors to our parkland annually. Central to our mission is a commitment to fairness and inclusivity. We recognize that park needs are not uniform across all areas; rather, they reflect the diverse communities we serve. Our goal is to ensure that resources are distributed equitably and that the standard of care across all six miles is of the highest caliber.

Our Vision & Values: We are committed to ensuring that our park is a dynamic and vibrant space for all to enjoy. Our vision is grounded in comfort, community, environmental stewardship, and opportunities for active engagement. As we look to the future, we see a park where users feel safe and welcomed, where nature is nurtured and protected, and where recreation and programming flourish.

Our Strategic Direction: Under the leadership of a seasoned CEO and with the strong support of an engaged Board, Riverside Park Conservancy is on a solid trajectory of growth and increased visibility. The new SCM will play a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s future at a time when the value of urban public parks has never been more important or widely recognized.The Conservancy’s priorities include:

• A proactive response to climate change and an increased focus on sustainable park operations, green infrastructure, and closed loop organic waste cycles that can serve as a model for other public spaces
• A comprehensive approach to neighborhood engagement through volunteering and community collaboration
• Making meaningful changes in the distribution of resources along the park's six-mile footprint to address historical underinvestment and inequities in the role of public space serving communities of color
• Establishing and furthering partnerships with local, like-minded educational, research, cultural, and social justice organizations

Candidates are encouraged to visit www.riversideparknyc.org for more information.

Primary/Essential Responsibilities and Duties

Reporting to the Director of Development and working closely with the President & CEO, the Senior Manager of Communications will:

• Help develop, manage and execute the Conservancy’s overall marketing & communications strategy, timeline and calendar
• Lead the Conservancy’s social media program, including content creation (video, photos, graphics, text, tags), scheduling, and collaborations with other accounts
• Lead the organization’s email marketing efforts, including developing and compiling content for monthly e-newsletters
• Write, assign and edit blog posts for the Conservancy’s website
• Ensure consistency and integrity of the Conservancy’s brand across all materials
• Build strong relationships with all departments to understand, collaborate and execute on various marketing and communications needs, including signage, flyers, brochures and educational materials.
• Collaborate with fundraising staff to develop annual appeals and other campaign materials for both online and print production, including direct mail
• Manage the organization’s website via Wordpress, working with outside consultants, and design donation pages on the organization's fundraising platform
• Take photographs of events and park settings; edit photographs as needed for marketing purposes
• Write and distribute press releases and manage relationships with local reporters
• Maintain archives of digital photos and press clippings
• Foster and maintain strong community relationships by participating in events and serving as a point of contact with media and elected officials
• Future projects will include serving as the point person in the development of a comprehensive wayfinding system for the park
• Additional responsibilities as assigned

Required Skills and Qualifications

• A creative thinker and problem solver
• Bachelor’s degree
• Three (3) years of digital communications experience, particularly with social media and e-marketing, preferably in a non-profit organization and/or parks environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Expertise with graphic design software including Adobe Creative Suite, especially InDesign and Photoshop; advanced use of Canva a plus
• Experience managing a website via Wordpress and Google Analytics
• Proficiency with MS Office, including PowerPoint
• Experience with MailChimp or similar email software
• A portfolio of demonstrated professional graphic design experience (i.e. flyers, postcards, social graphics, webpages, etc.)
• Ability to shoot photographs/videos using a digital SLR camera
• Strong passion for and desire to promote the work of Riverside Park Conservancy
• Ability to take direction and work independently
• Ability to perform with a high level of discretion and integrity
• A positive attitude, flexibility, and a sense of humor
• Solutions-oriented and highly organized

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Hybrid work environment – office, remote, and within Riverside Park
• Will require some evening and weekend work
• Local travel within NYC for meetings and special event attendance required

Riverside Park Conservancy is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment for all applicants and employees. We recognize the importance of diversity and offer equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, height, weight, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

We offer a competitive compensation package, which includes medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, 401(k)+match, commuter benefits, flexible spending, and generous paid leave.