Work for Friends of Stewart Park!

Now Hiring: Executive Director

Friends of Stewart Park is a private nonprofit organization revitalizing and enhancing Stewart Park in partnership with the City of Ithaca, New York, since 2011. Friends of Stewart Park is seeking a new Executive Director to begin in 2025.
If interested, please submit a cover letter and resume/CV to FSPjobs@friendsofstewartpark.org

 Job Description:
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) is the chief administrative officer for the Friends of Stewart Park, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to improve and support Stewart Park, the premier public park owned by the City of Ithaca, New York.

 Together with staff, volunteers, city officials, and the community, the ED sets a vision for the organization, executes plans towards the fulfillment of that vision, and raises substantive support for it.

 Vision
FSP’s mission is "to enhance, revitalize, and maintain Stewart Park and the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, in partnership with the City of Ithaca and park stakeholders for the enjoyment of Ithaca residents and visitors to our community.” The ED establishes a vision for the organization building on current and past strategic plans and FSP’s culture of inclusion and accessible design.

 The ED will:

•        Continue park revitalization as outlined in the 2018 Stewart Park Revitalization Plan, concentrating on the current project to develop a section of the historic Wharton Studio Building into the Wharton Studio & Cafe.
•        Develop new strategic plans for ongoing park maintenance and improvement or upgrades large and small, and potential larger capital projects, aligning projects to a programmatic plan for FSP.

Execution
The ED will manage staff and stakeholders.
•        Directly manage a (current) staff of 2 administrative, 1 gardening experts. Align job descriptions to organizational needs, oversee (and orient any new) staff providing timely feedback and review against expectations.

 •        Work closely with Board of Directors providing timely periodic reporting, attending meetings, and leveraging individual and committee board help outside of meetings

•        Maintain a highly attentive, respectful, communicative partnership with the owners of Stewart Park: the City of Ithaca and its people.

•        For state and federal grants FSP secures for the City of Ithaca, provide support for city staff as needed.

•        Maintain relationships with additional governmental and non-governmental offices and agencies with a stake in Stewart Park including the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, Wharton Studio Museum and Cascadilla Boat Club, but also Chamber of Commerce, tourism agencies, NYS Parks and Recreation, Cornell University and Cornell Cooperative Extension, et al.

•        Manage ad hoc, regular volunteer opportunities for park maintenance and other projects, including the recruitment and deployment of individuals and community service groups

•        Manage good relations with the community at large—city residents, Town of Ithaca and Tompkins County residents, visitors to Stewart Park.

The ED will provide project planning, financial oversight, and organizational administration.

•        Oversee and coordinate consultant hiring for large capital projects including architects, landscape architects, graphic designers, and engineers during design and construction phases.

•        Provide planning and programmatic guidance with specific attention to the interface between the natural and built infrastructure of the park itself and what the public can expect to do and enjoy there.

•        Follow up with state and federal agencies and the City of Ithaca on grant applications, status, and completion. Report as needed on usage of funds and status of expenditures.

•        Manage current and future operational solvency and special capital project funds

•        Work with the board treasurer to prepare and deliver periodic budget reports

•        Steward and grow financial resources, including public and private sources of funding, maintaining transparency and proper usage of dedicated funds

•        Maintain official records and documents in compliance with governmental regulations and donor intent, and as oversight of planning, building, and construction

•        Conduct workaday correspondence for the organization and, with the partnership of the board, official correspondence and execution of legal documents.

•        Guide public communications in partnership with staff and board as the face of FSP

 Raising Support
The ED will lead “friend” and fundraising.

•        Oversee the raising and the stewardship of both public and private support.

•        Pursue local and regional grant opportunities and, as before, lead in the pursuit of governmental and foundation grants from identification through closure, reporting on the use of funds.

•        Manage the raising of annual operational and small project campaign funds from the community.

•        Identify and steward supporters of FSP, prepare proposals, and personally solicit donors for support.

•        Coordinate fundraising and stewardship communications in concert with overall FSP communications to the public.

•        As before, maintain a highly attentive, respectful, communicative partnership with the owners of Stewart Park: the City of Ithaca and its people.

This is a part-time hybrid position with approximately 30 hours per week. The organization’s workload is seasonal in nature, with some variability and flexibility on hours of work weekly and location of work. Pay range is $37-43/hr, dependent on skills and experience.

To apply, send cover letter and resume to fspjobs@friendsofstewartpark.org