Director of Sustainability

Position Summary:

Riverside Park Conservancy seeks a highly motivated individual with a demonstrated record of success in environmental strategic planning to lead its Sustainability Initiative. The Director of Sustainability will be responsible for the development, planning and implementation of climate resiliency and sustainability initiatives involving multiple departments, partners and stakeholders and will supervise a staff of two.

The Director’s primary focus will be to improve Riverside Park’s resiliency to the impacts of climate change by identifying solutions, cultivating partnerships with experts in the field, and managing projects – including new green infrastructure – across all phases, from concept and fundraising to implementation and sustained operations. Reporting to the President and CEO, the Director of Sustainability will work closely with Conservancy senior leadership, including the Vice President of Operations and the Directors of Horticulture and Development, and with the park’s administration at NYC Parks, to propose and execute tangible improvements to decrease flooding and erosion, improve plant and soil health, reduce waste and pollutants, increase biodiversity, and make other climate-forward enhancements to the park environment. At the same time, they will help ensure long-term project success by establishing clear systems and methods for ongoing, sustainable maintenance. This role will contribute to fundraising efforts by helping to identify potential funding sources, drafting grant proposals, and supporting donor communications related to sustainability initiatives. They will also play a key role in expanding the Conservancy’s public outreach and environmental education efforts through programmatic events and workforce development opportunities.

Background:

Riverside Park Conservancy works to restore, maintain and improve six miles of public parkland along the Hudson River in Manhattan from West 59th Street to West 181st Street. Working in partnership with NYC Parks, 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 partnerships. We leverage public and private funding to make meaningful capital improvements, 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 over 1,600 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.

As one of the largest parks in New York City, our biggest threats are the external realities of climate change and government disinvestment in the parks system. We embrace innovation to expand our internal capabilities and use advocacy to direct more of the City’s budget to our priorities. Working in close partnership with NYC Parks, we recognize the unique strengths and challenges of each entity. As a nonprofit, the Conservancy moves nimbly to fill certain gaps by interweaving smaller-scale solutions alongside the major infrastructure improvements that only government can make possible.

With a large portion of our park built on top of landfill and engineered along steep slopes at the water’s edge, Riverside requires multi-layered solutions to mitigate the ongoing damage from severe storms and sea level rise. This includes a multimillion-dollar City investment in repairing the Park’s traditional drainage systems, paired with more innovative nature-based solutions like rain gardens, bioswales, and wet meadows.

Among the Conservancy’s other recent sustainability initiatives is our conversion to electric vehicles for park maintenance and the creation of the first-ever, large-scale, on-site compost program for horticultural waste in an NYC park.

More information can be found at https://riversideparknyc.org/.

Primary Responsibilities:

A newly elevated role within the Conservancy, the Director of Sustainability will evolve their own strategic priorities and build a portfolio of signature projects commensurate with available time and resources. Initial responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Serve as the Conservancy’s sustainability expert, enhancing organizational expertise in environmental and climate science, policy and advocacy matters.
  • Work with Conservancy and NYC Parks district leadership to identify new green infrastructure solutions to specific park challenges (i.e. flooding, erosion, forest degradation, combined sewer overflow), develop proposals, commission engineering studies, help secure partners and funding, and guide implementation strategies.
  • Working with Development staff, identify prospective funders with aligned interests in climate resiliency, environmental education and green infrastructure projects; draft proposals and help secure funding for key initiatives; craft reports and presentations for existing funders.
  • Perform audits of operational functions, recommend and implement best practices and new technologies to improve overall organizational sustainability.
  • Work with the Communications and Programming Departments to develop educational programs, materials and articles that engage the public in sustainability and climate resilience efforts within Riverside Park.
  • Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives; collaborate with colleagues across departments to develop and track metrics and report on progress toward sustainability goals.
  • Participate in citywide coalitions, attend public forums and represent the Conservancy on climate and sustainability-related panels and committees.
  • Supervise and mentor junior staff working on research partnerships, data collection, community outreach and workforce development; meet regularly with staff to set priorities and balance workload.

Skills and Qualifications:

• 4+ years of applied experience in sustainability, environmental science, ecological design/engineering, conservation or related field; experience with green infrastructure projects preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in related field; master’s degree preferred
• Strong written and oral communication skills
  • Excellent research skills
  • Experience managing a team of direct reports
  • Strong project management skills, including experience navigating projects that require cross-department collaboration, as well as coordination with external stakeholders
  • Experience working in or with non-profit organizations, preferably with an understanding of nonprofit funding structures, including prospect research, grant writing, funder cultivation, and donor-funded projects.
  • Proven ability to think strategically, exercise creativity, and effectively launch and carry out new initiatives
  • Ability to self-direct and work on multiple projects simultaneously
  • Proficiency in data analysis and metrics tracking related to sustainability goals; familiarity with GIS asset management software is a plus.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite applications
  • Passion for New York City Parks and commitment to parks equity
  • Possess a valid NYS driver license

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• • Hybrid office/remote/fieldwork schedule including walk-throughs, site visits, and relevant community events
  • Candidate must be comfortable being outdoors in all seasons and weather
  • M-F schedule; will require occasional evening and weekend work for events or external coalition meetings
  • Local travel within NYC required

To Apply: Submit your resume and cover letter via email to jobs@riversideparknyc.org with “Sustainability Director” in the subject line.

Salary: $90,000-$95,000 commensurate with experience.

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.

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.