Senior Vice President of Communications & Institutional Positioning

Department: Communications

Reports to: President & CEO

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

The Central Park Conservancy (CPC) seeks a Senior Vice President of Communications & Institutional Positioning who will design and lead an imaginative and comprehensive communications strategy for one of New York City’s most impactful civic institutions.

The Senior Vice President will create and execute an institutional positioning strategy that supports the Conservancy’s fundraising efforts and elevates its profile across multiple stakeholders. A successful strategy will reach decision makers ranging from Park visitors to government partners, civic leaders, and corporate executives and will underscore the identity of the Conservancy as an important civic institution invested in the future of New York City. Key to this initiative’s success will be collaboration across CPC’s Senior Leadership Team, and a plan for measuring results and impact.

The new Senior Vice President will lead an effort to develop creative ideas for communicating to members, Park users, donors, and Board members. They will review and edit all messaging and create a fresh approach that captures the beauty of the Park, the pure enjoyment of its use, and the unique and essential role the Conservancy plays in the City.

The ideal candidate is an idea generator with a natural affinity for collaboration, storytelling, and brand positioning. They will be passionate about Central Park and the mission of the Conservancy and cultivate an environment of innovation and excellence to ensure that the Conservancy’s activities are viewed as best-in-class across multiple stakeholders.

The Senior Vice President reports to the President & CEO and is a member of the Conservancy’s Management Committee and Senior Leadership Team. They will lead a 15-member Communications team with oversight of external and internal communications, graphic design, digital experience, marketing, social media, video production, and retail. Direct reports include the VP of Communication, VP for Digital Experience, and the Art Director.

Central Park Conservancy

Central Park is New York City’s 843-acre backyard, an essential space that welcomes over 42 million visitors annually. The City of New York has entrusted the Central Park Conservancy with the complete day-to-day care of this iconic public space, which requires dedicated expertise that has been honed during the Conservancy’s 40-year history. Nearly 400 Conservancy employees tend to the Park’s complex maintenance, restoration, and architectural needs—from horticulture, tree and turf care, to trash management, visitor services, and much more. As the stewards of the Park, the Conservancy is committed to serving the public’s best interests and providing the oversight and expertise necessary to ensure that this world-class green space is accessible to all. Funded primarily by individual donations, the Conservancy raises and invests over $100 million annually into the Park’s care with the goal of protecting and improving Central Park in perpetuity.

Primary Responsibilities

• Design and lead a communications strategy that effectively promotes the Conservancy’s mission and activities to diverse stakeholders across multiple channels.
• Develop and execute an institutional positioning strategy that aligns with the Conservancy's fundraising goals, working collaboratively with philanthropy to engage potential donors and partners.
• Foster and maintain strong relationships with New York City-based press and media outlets to ensure consistent and positive coverage of the Conservancy's initiatives.
• Expand upon public awareness campaigns to enhance understanding of the Conservancy's role in caring for, restoring and maintaining Central Park.
• Establish and manage crisis communication protocols to safeguard the Conservancy's reputation during challenging situations.
• Lead a team responsible for external and internal communications, digital experience, marketing, and more, fostering collaboration and creativity.
• Implement a detailed measurement plan to assess the impact and effectiveness of communications strategies and campaigns.
• Collaborate with the Conservancy’s Senior Leadership Team and engage with various stakeholders, including community members, government officials, and city agencies to strengthen partnerships and support for the Conservancy’s mission.

Competencies and Qualifications

• A commitment to the mission of the Central Park Conservancy
• Experience developing successful institutional positioning campaigns
• An understanding of New York City’s civic institutions
• Experience as a leader with an ability to motivate and inspire an experienced team of professionals
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal, written, and leadership skills,
• An ability to manage complex initiatives and meet ambitious goals
• An ability to manage media and press relationships
• Strong organizational skills and an ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment

A bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred for this position, as is at least 15 years of experience in branding, communications, public relations, marketing, or related fields. The Central Park Conservancy will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $250,000 to $275,000 (based on level of experience) annually. The Central Park Conservancy offers a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) retirement plan; commuter benefits; short- and long-term disability; paid family leave; flexible spending accounts; a generous holiday, sick leave, and vacation policy; as well as programs to assist employees and their dependents to access mental health and wellness, childcare, and adult care support.

This position is in-person and located in New York City.

Application Instructions

All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of the Central Park Conservancy as well as the responsibilities and qualifications presented in the prospectus. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the successful candidate has been selected.