89 Best external affairs Jobs in New York, NY (May 2025)

OVERVIEW A popular year-round destination, Governors Island is a 172-acre island in the heart of New York Harbor located between Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn waterfront. For almost two centuries, the Island was closed to the public, operating as a military base for the U.S. Army and, later, the Coast Guard. Today, an award-winning park is complemented by dozens of unique historic buildings, educational and cultural facilities, a rich arts and culture program and a 22-acre National Monument managed by the National Park Service. Looking ahead, the long-term vision for Governors Island focuses on continuing to expand year-round public access by enlivening it with transformative public art and culture, extraordinary recreational and open space, and research and education dedicated to addressing the global climate crisis. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES The VP, Facilities & Parks is a full-time leadership position with The Trust for Governors Island (TGI) overseeing the ongoing maintenance and care of facilities, infrastructure, and public spaces on Governors Island. The VP, Facilities & Parks is responsible for ensuring the provision of utilities and the maintenance of a safe and beautiful environment in the buildings and public spaces for the public and all members of the Governors Island community. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the VP has direct oversight of all island facilities & parks services including, but not limited to engineering, custodial services, landscaping, horticulture, and facilities project management. The VP will oversee a team of three direct reports and 20+ staff members in the areas of Engineering, Facilities, Custodial Services, Landscaping and Horticulture. This position requires weekend work and late nights, as necessary. Other responsibilities include: - Develop and execute on a strategic plan to address preventative maintenance of Island infrastructure and facilities maintenance for Trust-operated buildings and open spaces on the Island. - Develop and execute a plan to assess critical infrastructure and implement repairs on a schedule, including but not limited to historic buildings, maritime assets, electrical infrastructure, plumbing infrastructure, and life safety concerns. - Lead the administration and ongoing development of an Asset Management System to implement efficient work orders and maintain accurate records of the physical assets on Governors Island. - Oversee management and long-term care of all landscaped open spaces. - Ensure the highest standard of cleanliness are maintained in all Trust buildings. - Lead procurement and serve as TGI leadership on contracts with vendors for maintenance services to ensure adherence to Island operating procedures and protocols. - Lead coordination with external vendors and contractor personnel, including procurement and execution of all facilities project management, making sure that work is performed up to job specifications and Trust standards. - Develop and manage the annual Operating Budget for Facilities & Parks. - · Develop a system of key performance indicators (KPIs) based on industry standards and sustainability best practices to benchmark performance and improve operational efficiency. - · Lead the development and implementation of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) documents specific to Facilities & Parks Engineering, Landscaping, Horticulture and Custodial services maintain updated policies & procedures, and ensure staff is regularly trained on procedures. - · Develop and manage a diverse team, including hiring, performance management and professional development to ensure appropriate levels of staffing and support for Island operations and services. - · Ensure staff equipment is maintained and available in good working order, staff training is maintained as appropriate and all safety standards are followed in line with industry standards and labor regulations. - · Serve as a member of TGI Senior Staff, collaborating with members of the senior team on all aspects of Governors Island Operations and leading by example in the execution of all TGI responsibilities. - · Collaborate with members of the TGI Real Estate and Design & Construction teams on construction affecting the Governors Island physical plant. - · Collaborate with members of the Public Affairs and Events department to support day-to-day programming and public and private events. - · Other projects and duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS Education: - High school diploma is required, Bachelor’s degree is preferred. Experience: - 10+ years of work experience in an operations environment, preferably on a campus, in a park/public space or in a high-profile commercial space. - Management experience required. Skills and Abilities: - Excellent communication and project management skills, ability to comprehend and coordinate logistics across a range of subject matters, identifying issues and mitigating problems before they occur. - Experience with supervising a team and budget management. - High level of personal accountability, self-organization, autonomy and discipline. - Ability to be flexible, make sound professional judgments, and manage multiple priorities simultaneously. - Strong interpersonal skills that enable easy establishment of good relationships with immediate team, other TGI departments and staff, tenants and vendors. - Ability to lead with composure when dealing with emergencies and security issues. - Exposure to various building trade disciplines, including MEP systems and building and fire code regulations. - Experience managing members of a collective bargaining unit preferred. - Excellent computer skills and administrative skills, including Microsoft Office Suite. - Ability to perform physical labor (lifting, bending, squatting, etc.). - Ability to work a schedule that varies to meet Island needs, including weekends and holidays. - Driver’s license required. Salary Range: $140-$150k Location & Schedule: All positions are located on Governors Island. The position is in-person five days a week. TO APPLY We realize that not all applicants match 100% of the qualifications for a role. If you meet many but not all the criteria and feel you may be a good fit for this role, we encourage you to apply. Please send a cover letter and resume as one pdf document to jobs[at]govisland[dot]org with VP, Facilities & Parks in the subject line. No phone calls please. The Trust for Governors Island values the importance of inclusion, accessibility and a diverse pool of applicants. The Trust for Governors Island does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, genetic information, marital status, membership in an employee organization, military service, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including gender identity), sexual orientation, sexual and other reproductive health decisions, or other non-merit factor. ABOUT THE TRUST FOR GOVERNORS ISLAND The Trust for Governors Island (The Trust) is a nonprofit corporation created by the City of New York. It is responsible for the redevelopment and operation of 150 acres of Governors Island. The Trust's mission is to realize the full potential of Governors Island for the inspiration and enjoyment of all New Yorkers, demonstrating a bold vision for public space.

No experience

Easy apply

External affairs jobs in New York, NYCreate job alerts

Popular jobs searches in New York, NY

Popular external affairs jobs locations