POSITION SUMMARY  

The Director, Arts Production and Operations is responsible for the logistical planning, organization and execution of all CityParks Shows programming, including the Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage festival in Central Park and 12-15 neighborhood parks throughout New York City, the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park, and the touring CityParks PuppetMobile.  In all, CityParks Shows spends approximately $10 million annually. This position will supervise the production and operations team, create and closely manage the budget, work to ensure we reach our annual revenue targets, and oversee all event production.

This position will report to the Executive Director and work side-by-side with the Executive Artistic Director and Chief Operating Officer, as well as with external partners, to ensure that CPF’s artistic vision is executed and realized in an efficient and cost-effective manner that is welcoming to audiences.  A successful candidate will be a seasoned leader with production experience who is capable of managing a large team and working in a highly collaborative environment.  This Director will build and cultivate relationships with colleagues across CPF, within the NYC Parks Department (park managers and permitting offices), with the communities in which we program, and with various vendor partners (security, concessions, etc.) that help to execute our vision.

REQUIREMENTS

Team Management

• Manage six full-time staff, which include the SummerStage production team and the Arts operations staff 
• Work with counterparts at NYC Parks to co-supervise puppeteer staff
• Oversee hiring and management of approximately 150 seasonal and part-time production staff, including site crew, security, ushers, volunteers, stagehands, puppeteers, and consultants
• Supervise relationships and service contracts with vendors
• Participate in negotiations and manage relationship with the Local One Stagehands union
• Ensure staff are adhering to systems and policies and procedure manuals, and adjusting as needed

Budget and Strategy

• Collaborate with the Executive Artistic Director, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Director and Arts Committee on annual and long-term Arts programming and production plans
• Create and manage annual operating budgets as well as for periodic capital projects
• With Executive Artistic Director, co-manage relationship with exclusive promoter of benefit (ticketed) shows at the Central Park venue and participate in regular coordination, scheduling/calendaring and settlement discussions
• Co-manage the identification, solicitation, contracting and implementation of earned income opportunities (i.e. rental events including graduations, private/corporate events) to meet annual revenue targets
• Oversee concession sales to meet annual revenue targets
• Oversee the operation and maintenance of the Rumsey Playfield venue in Central Park, our mobile concert stage, the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre and the PuppetMobile electric van 
• Work with the COO to manage periodic capital projects

Community Outreach, Marketing, & Fundraising

• Develop and maximize relationships with key personnel within NYC Parks and Recreation, NYPD, Citywide Event Coordination and Management (CECM), and other government agencies, and community and local business groups to further our mission
• Interact with board members and donors as needed; collaborate with Executive Artistic Director to provide staff support for board-led Arts Committee.
• Collaborate with marketing team on venue branding and signage
• Collaborate with development team on sponsorship solicitations and activations, membership program, foundation and government grants, and realizing special fundraising events
• Attend events that provide opportunity for networking and relationship building

Other

• Lead special projects, as assigned by the Executive Director

QUALIFICATIONS

The Director should have experience in live performance, event management and/or production.  This role requires expertise in budgeting, contract negotiations, and managing a team towards success.  This is a New York City based position.  During the planning season (October - April), this position can be hybrid (in-office 2-3 days/week) when possible.  Between May and October, the position may require working on-site every day, which may be 6 or 7 days per week.  During performance season, the director will be outdoors at the festival or visiting the PuppetMobile. The ideal candidate will have: 

• A bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience and at least 10 years of relevant arts production/operations experience
• Supervisory experience, especially of large and dispersed teams 
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to build relationships with diverse groups
• Meticulous attention to detail and experience managing a large budget
• Impeccable organization and project management skills 
• Clear written and verbal communication 
• Ability to think outside of the box and solve complex problems
• Ability to remain calm and unflappable in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledge of Google Suite, Salesforce, and/or Intacct a plus but not required
• Driver’s license 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.