Catalyst Organizer

City Parks Foundation; New York (NY); On-site; USD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

City Parks Foundation in New York City seeks a Catalyst Organizer to launch and grow active community park groups across up to four sites, and to develop local partners into sustainable park stewards. This role involves outreach, relationship building, programming, leadership development, data reporting, and strategy, with in-person work across Manhattan and other boroughs, including evenings and weekends.

The position requires travel around NYC, a valid driver’s license, and the ability to lift

Qualifications

• Motivated, resourceful, and creative self-starter with a passion for sustainable community engagement who is confident working both individually and as part of a team
• Experienced in community organizing, coalition-building, public service/administration, and/or programming - degree in related field helpful and preferred, but not required
• Experienced in outreach, flyering, and / or door knocking
• Experienced in planning community-led events and/or collaborative projects that feature multiple stakeholders and interests
• Experienced with qualitative and quantitative data collection
• Demonstrable ability to work with diverse constituencies
• Strong public speaking, writing, and listening skills
• Comfort and facility with office software and Google apps
• Responsible, detail-oriented, and strong project management skills
• Adaptable and flexible
• Understanding and ability to effectively represent and advance NYC government programs and policies. Clarity at all times we are working with and at the behest of NYC Parks and NYC government
• Catalyst is traditionally a place-based, on-the-ground engagement effort and requires:
• Willingness and ability to consistently engage with stakeholders through in-person and digital engagements, including frequent travel around NYC and regular, on-site work.
• Flexibility to work significant hours during evenings and weekends in addition to regular business hours
• Physical ability to lift up to 40lbs and participate in physical activities required in the job. This includes the ability to provide direct support in leading stewardship, landscaping and beautification projects in parks plus a range of community and park events, including transporting, setup and breakdown of event materials
• Driver’s license required
• Bi or multilingual strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Outreach & Facilitation: Develop understanding of assigned Catalyst parks, conduct onsite outreach, canvassing, flyering and door knocking, coordinate and facilitate public & community group meetings, and foster collaboration among partners.
• Relationship Building: Build relationships with community members, Partnerships for Parks team, City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks staff; connect to resources and act as liaison.
• Programming & Events: Support stewardship events like It’s My Parks clean-ups and plantings; plan community events such as health fairs, mutual aid, yoga, and art classes.
• Leadership Development, Group Development & Coaching: Support leadership development of local partners and provide ongoing coaching.
• Data & Reporting: Track Catalyst work, maintain records, input outcomes, and develop reports as needed.
• Program Strategy: Contribute to work plans and coordinate with Catalyst Director and CPF fundraising team; assist with cross-program initiatives.

Skills

Community organizing

Public speaking

Multilingual

Project management

Communication

Flexibility

Education

Related field degree (preferred)

Tools

Google Apps

Office software

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

As a Catalyst Organizer, you will (1) support the start-up, launch, and/or development of an active community park group in up to 4 community park sites, and (2) support the leadership development of local partners as ongoing, sustainable green space stewards. Through asset mapping and onsite/neighborhood outreach, events, and other activations, the Organizer will identify stakeholders interested in caring for their park and community, facilitate communication and collaboration among interested partners, support the leadership development of local partners as programmers and stewards of their parks, and guide the group as they develop into an independent, sustainable “Friends of” group. Typical project timelines for our work as we support and help groups develop is 18 - 30 months.

The Catalyst Organizer will be required to conduct in-person work in Manhattan and other boroughs as directed, in parks, community settings, and NYC Parks offices. Ability to work on location in Manhattan and other boroughs as needed on weekdays, nights, and weekends is required.

COMPENSATION:

$50 - 60,000 per year

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Outreach & Facilitation
  • Develop a thorough understanding of assigned Catalyst parks and local issues, demographics and opportunities
  • Conduct onsite/neighborhood outreach to identify stakeholders interested in caring for their park and community
  • Conduct outreach, canvassing, flyering and door knocking in the park and surrounding neighborhood
  • Coordinate and facilitate public & community group meetings
  • Facilitate communication and collaboration among interested partners
• Relationship Building
  • Build consistent, effective, and collaborative relationships with key stakeholder groups, starting with these core groups: Community members/partners; Partnerships for Parks team members; and City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks agency staff members.
  • Build community connections to Partnerships for Parks and other hands-on park projects, events, skill building, and engagement opportunities
  • Connect and leverage local and regional resources to support and amplify community partner efforts
  • Serve as a visible, in-community and park presence, acting as an effective liaison between community partners and NYC Parks, CPF and other organizations, mindful of the needs and interests all all parties
• Programming & Events
  • Encourage and support community members with planning and execution of stewardship events in the park including It’s My Parks clean-ups and plantings
  • Support community members with planning community events like health fairs, mutual aid, yoga classes, and art classes that reflect their vision of thriving activity for the park and neighborhood.
• Leadership Development, Group Development & Coaching
  • Support the leadership development of local partners as ongoing, sustainable park and waterfront stewards
  • Conduct ongoing coaching for partners in alignment with Catalyst goals
• Data & Reporting
  • Track Catalyst work in database - maintain individual and organizational records, input outcomes and other important details as determined by the Catalyst Director and develop internal and external reports as needed
• Program Strategy
  • Participate in work plan development and strategic planning
  • Work closely with Catalyst Director and CPF fundraising team to inform fundraising plans and reporting
  • Support ongoing Partnerships for Parks/City Parks Foundation/NYC Parks initiatives as needed, working collaboratively and effectively as needed. Tasks and assignments will come from all three areas of our organization. Catalyst team members are accountable to and receive direction/assignments from each area of our public/private program

QUALIFICATIONS

• Motivated, resourceful, and creative self-starter with a passion for sustainable community engagement who is confident working both individually and as part of a team
• Experienced in community organizing, coalition-building, public service/administration, and/or programming - degree in related field helpful and preferred, but not required
• Experienced in outreach, flyering, and / or door knocking
• Experienced in planning community-led events and/or collaborative projects that feature multiple stakeholders and interests
• Experienced with qualitative and quantitative data collection
• Demonstrable ability to work with diverse constituencies
• Strong public speaking, writing, and listening skills
• Comfort and facility with office software and Google apps
• Responsible, detail-oriented, and strong project management skills
• Adaptable and flexible
• Understanding and ability to effectively represent and advance NYC government programs and policies. Clarity at all times we are working with and at the behest of NYC Parks and NYC government
• Catalyst is traditionally a place-based, on-the-ground engagement effort and requires:
  • Willingness and ability to consistently engage with stakeholders through in-person and digital engagements, including frequent travel around NYC and regular, on-site work.
  • Flexibility to work significant hours during evenings and weekends in addition to regular business hours
• Physical ability to lift up to 40lbs and participate in physical activities required in the job. This includes the ability to provide direct support in leading stewardship, landscaping and beautification projects in parks plus a range of community and park events, including transporting, setup and breakdown of event materials
• Driver’s license required
• Bi or multilingual strongly preferred

ABOUT CITY PARKS FOUNDATION

At City Parks Foundation (CPF), we are dedicated to invigorating and transforming New York City parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through arts, environmental education, sports, and community building programs for all New Yorkers. Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks mean thriving communities.

Community engagement includes Partnerships for Parks, a public-private program of City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks, which supports and champions a growing network of community leaders who care and advocate for the transformation of our neighborhood parks and the Parks and Open Space Partners-NYC coalition of conservancies and alliances. We also administer the NYC Green Fund, a regranting program for parks and open space nonprofits and grassroots organizations.

We produce SummerStage, the iconic free, outdoor performing arts festival in NYC, presenting world-class artists from across the globe and our own neighborhoods on our mainstage in Central Park and in local parks in all five boroughs, and our Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre and roving PuppetMobile present marionette puppet theater throughout New York City.

We connect youngsters to nature in the urban environment through progressive, experiential teaching. Using parks as classrooms, we provide learning experiences and hands-on activities in urban forests, coastal areas, and gardens.

Free golf, tennis, track & field, soccer, and fitness programs bring high-quality instruction and equipment into areas where few organized athletic opportunities exist. We offer leveled training, year-round scholarship coaching, and special pro events.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. City Parks Foundation does not offer visa sponsorship.