Park Maintenance Manager

Reports to: Director of Park Maintenance

Department: Park Maintenance

Status: Full time, Exempt

Schedule: 9am-5pm November to March,10:00am-6:30pm April to October, including 1 weekend day

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.

The Position:

Reporting to the Director of Park Maintenance, the Park Maintenance Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing the evening and overnight operations and team members responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of the park and the collection of waste and recycling parkwide. The Manager should demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental sustainability and be part of a leadership team responsible for training, monitoring performance, and building accountability. The Manager is expected to work collaboratively with the Manager of Daytime Park Maintenance to support the unified goals of the Park Maintenance department and its functions, which span 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Essential Duties:

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Lead and organize a team of Assistant Managers, Forepersons, and Park Maintainers in the collection and disposal of waste materials and recycling within Central Park, the cleaning and maintenance of all assigned areas of the park including pathways, sidewalks, park perimeter, transverses, and the closure of lawns, landscapes, facilities, and playgrounds.
• Plan and direct the work of the overnight Park Maintenance team to support all facets of night operations including the accurate completion of light reports, facility and cart inspections, security checks, vehicle cleaning and charging, pickup of litter and debris, collection of recycling, and other assignments as needed.
• Provide support to the heavy equipment operators (PMIII) on duty responsible for the safe collection and transport of landfill waste and recycling during evening shifts.  Collaborate closely with the Manager of Daytime Park Maintenance who directly supervises the team.
• Monitor productivity, compliance with standards, and completion of work assignments using computer-based systems to build staff accountability.
• Provide regular feedback to staff using established performance standards aligned to organizational values to support their professional development within the organization.
• Organize and lead regular staff meetings and trainings to share information, review safety procedures, and promote team building among staff and supervision.
• In collaboration with the Director of Park Maintenance, perform hiring, performance reviews and discipline of staff and make recommendations for improvements.

Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with the Manager for Daytime Park Maintenance to manage weekend Park Maintenance supervision, plan joint projects, and seamlessly share information and resources related to the Park Maintenance operation.
• Collaborate with other Managers in Facilities Management, Infrastructure, Landscape Management, Landscape Services, Volunteer Management, and other departments within Park Operations to achieve established work plan goals.
• Establish strong relationships with agency partners including Parks, Department of Transportation, and Sanitation concerning any matters related to park maintenance including waste collection, recycling services, and light repairs.
• Interact with Park patrons with professionalism and tact. Respond to staff needing support with difficult interactions or emergencies.
• Coordinate and communicate with other departments at CPC to disseminate pertinent information to staff and provide support to other departments as needed.

Program Management

• Perform and utilize inspections to plan and execute an annual park maintenance plan and schedule accordingly.
• Use computer-based management systems for generating work orders, asset and vehicle management, purchasing, monitoring inventory and expenses, scheduling, and timekeeping.
• Maintain inventory and ensure proper care/storage of all tools, carts, equipment, and supplies to support the park maintenance functions.
• Execute all purchase requests and provide supporting documentation justifying requests as necessary; solicit and obtain necessary bids and quotations for pricing.
• In collaboration with Manager for Daytime Park Maintenance, prepare budget projections and monitor adherence to the annual budget for the department.
• Respond quickly to emergency situations including but not limited to storms and snow events.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree from accredited college in a related field; 10 years of increasingly responsible experience in park maintenance, construction, or related field including a minimum of 5 years in a position that supervised staff; or
• Education and/or experience equivalent to “1” above. All candidates must possess the 5 years in a position that supervised staff with different skill levels and job duties.
• Valid Drivers’ License that must be maintained for duration of employment.
• Possess a fundamental understanding of park standards and waste management and disposal principles and equipment. Experience in urban schools or parks is desirable.
• Completion of the TRUE Advisor zero waste professional certificate. Ability to obtain certification within 90 days of hiring is required for this position.
• Strong computer literacy including an understanding of technology and its application; knowledge of spreadsheet and other software applications that may be utilized in facilities, security, space scheduling, work order control, inventory, GIS, and data management.
• Ability to provide both oral and written communication that is easily understood and direct in its content.
• Ability to view challenges and problems as opportunities for growth and transformation.
• Ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems using a high degree of independent judgement and personal initiative.

Salary range:  $112K – $143,200 (based on level of 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 potential 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.