Assistant Park Manager

Little Island is a uniquely ambitious public park – open 365 days per year, welcoming approximately 1.5 million visitors annually, and hosting artists and audiences for a performance season each summer. Set over the Hudson River and maintained to an exceptional standard of horticultural, operational, and visitor-experience excellence, Little Island requires a level of care, coordination, and real-time decision-making far beyond that of a typical public space.

To meet peak-season needs, the Park Operations team scales to as many as 40 frontline employees working across extended daily hours, complex event schedules, and dynamic environmental conditions. Strong, visible leadership in the field is essential to delivering safe, welcoming, and seamless park experiences.

Little Island seeks an Assistant Park Manager to join the Park Operations leadership team. This is a highly visible, field-driven management role with direct supervisory responsibility for all Park Supervisors and Attendants. Reporting to the Park Operations Manager, the Assistant Park Manager is a hands-on people leader and operational decision-maker who balances essential administrative responsibilities with a consistent presence in the park. The role directly impacts staff performance, visitor experience and daily operations through assessment of real time conditions, coaching staff, resolving issues and ensuring Little Island’s standards of safety, accessibility, cleanliness, and hospitality are upheld.

As a member of the Park Operations leadership team, the Assistant Park Manager also serves as a strategic thought partner – contributing to policy development, operational planning, and cross- departmental coordination in support of a large, diverse frontline workforce operating on variable schedules.

What You’ll Do

Supervision and Team Leadership

• Hire, train, supervise and support the development of Park Supervisors, Assistant Park Supervisors and Park Attendants, including setting clear expectations and providing ongoing verbal and written feedback.
• Lead performance development conversations with direct reports and foster a culture of ongoing feedback that supports staff growth and retention.
• Maintain a flexible schedule that allows for regular check-ins, presence during peak operations and events, and observation across all operating hours.
• Foster a culture of care, professionalism, accountability, and collaboration through regular one-on-one engagement, conflict de-escalation, and proactive problem-solving.
• Ensure all park operations staff are trained on safety protocols, facilitating and tracking quarterly protocol review.
• Partner with Human Resources and Park Operations leadership on interviewing, onboarding, and offboarding of both internal staff and vendor staff, including the security vendor.
• Maintain Park Operations storage spaces, employee break spaces, and shared park offices, coordinating closely with the Assistant Park Administration Manager to communicate needs and ensure stocking of regular inventory items.

Scheduling and Administrative Oversight

• In coordination with Assistant Park Administration Manager, create and adjust weekly schedules to address coverage needs, operational changes, unscheduled absences, special projects, and events.
• Provide coverage when staffing gaps are critical to safe park operations.
• Support staff in using appropriate communication and request channels for attendance tracking, facility needs, and operational updates.
• Review and approve time and attendance records, addressing discrepancies consistently and in alignment with policy.
• Collaborate with the Park Operation’s administrative team to maintain and refine systems for incident reporting, data collection, and operational documentation.
• Coordinate and track Park Operations purchases - including team meals and car services, in alignment with the departmental budget.

Safety, Operations, and Cross-Department Collaboration

• Work closely with the Park Operations Manager to develop, implement, and refine policies and procedures that strengthen daily operations and enhance park safety.
• Lead the field-based team in activating protocols to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and emergency conditions, including snowstorms, heat events, and flooding, in coordination with Operations and Park Administration.
• Participate in decision-making related to early park closures or delayed openings due to safety concerns, in alignment with established protocols.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with the park’s security vendor, Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP), and NYPD; attend community council meetings as required.
• In partnership with Human Resources, facilitate organizational safety tours and workshops for all Little Island staff as needed.
• Maintain close communication with the programming, production, education, house management, horticulture, facilities, custodial, and food & beverage teams to ensure coordinated execution of all events and daily operations.
• Participate in cross-departmental initiatives as directed, in collaboration with the Assistant Park Administration Manager and Marketing & Communications team.
• Coordinate park signage deployment as directed by the Assistant Park Administration Manager and in collaboration with the Marketing & Communications department.
• Perform other duties related to park operations as assigned.

What You Bring

• 3+ years’ experience in hiring, training, and leading a public-facing team; experience in public, outdoor, cultural, or artistic environments strongly preferred
• Experience supervising others and with demonstrated strength in people management, including coaching, performance feedback, and supporting teams working variable schedules.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to adapt approach to support individual staff success and growth.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage schedules, documentation, and administrative follow-through while balancing real-time field leadership and shifting priorities.
• Sound judgment and a calm, solutions-oriented approach to decision-making and conflict resolution in dynamic, high-volume environments.
• Comfort working outdoors for extended periods in varied weather conditions, including heat, light rain, and direct sunlight.
• Availability to provide on-call leadership support outside of scheduled hours as operational needs arise.
• Ability to lift and move equipment and materials weighing up to 50 lbs.
• OSHA 30 certification preferred or willingness to obtain.
• Eligibility to work in U.S.

Benefits and Perks

• 25 PTO Days and 2 Floating Holidays (prorated based on hire date), up to 10 Little Island Observed Holidays
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental & vision care (available first of the month after hire date)
• Flexible spending accounts
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match (eligible after 90 days with immediate vesting)
• Commuter benefits
• Basic Life Insurance, Short & Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Access to professional development resources
• Partial cell phone reimbursement
• Access to discounts for Little Island food & beverage and at neighborhood businesses