Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff
Location: Lower Manhattan
Reports to: President
Type: Full-time
About Gotham Park
Gotham Park is a grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2021 to create a vibrant,
inclusive, hyper-urban public space at the Manhattan landing of the Brooklyn Bridge.
In its first four years, Gotham Park has reopened nearly four acres—including the
return of the beloved Brooklyn Banks—while activating the space with free public
programming. Predominantly funded by private donations, Gotham Park cleans and
beautifies our newly reopened public space and partners with NYC agencies to
improve and expand it for the community. Learn more at gothampark.org.
Position Summary
The Chief of Staff is an operational and administrative partner to the President,
ensuring smooth daily functioning of the organization and driving execution across
internal priorities. This role focuses on optimizing systems, coordinating
cross-departmental work, managing internal processes, and enabling the President
and senior leadership to operate efficiently and effectively.
The ideal candidate will be an exceptionally organized, detail-oriented, resourceful
administrator who excels at project management, internal coordination, and
operational follow-through. This position is highly execution-focused, with a strong
emphasis on managing workflows, ensuring accountability, and supporting the internal
operations of a fast-paced and growing nonprofit.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Planning & Execution
● Translate organizational and leadership priorities into clear, actionable project
plans with timelines, owners, and systems for accountability.
● Monitor organizational progress toward annual goals by maintaining trackers,
dashboards, and internal reporting systems.
● Ensure operational consistency by documenting decisions, establishing
processes, and following up to confirm completion.
● Lead and manage certain high-priority special projects, ensuring they are well-organized, on schedule, and delivered with high quality.
Cross-Functional Coordination & Internal Project Management
● Serve as the central coordinator for organization-wide initiatives, ensuring alignment and smooth execution across the Programs, Development, Communications, and Operations teams.
● Maintain key organizational calendars, internal workfl ows, and project management systems (e.g., Asana).
● Oversee timelines and deliverables for major internal initiatives, ensuring teams have the information, approvals, and resources they need.
● Facilitate regular cross-departmental communication, including preparing agendas, running internal meetings, and tracking follow-up actions.
Executive Support & Internal Communications
● Manage and prioritize the President’s schedule, information fl ow, and day-to-day administrative needs to optimize time and focus.
● Prepare briefi ng materials, internal reports, and presentation materials for meetings with staff, Board members, and other internal stakeholders.
● Draft and coordinate internal communications, ensuring consistent information-sharing across the organization.
● Support the President in decision-making by gathering information, summarizing options, and ensuring follow-through.
Board & Governance Support
● Provide administrative and logistical support for the Board and Committees, including meeting planning, materials preparation, and follow-up actions.
● Maintain Board records, documents, and communications.
Administrative Systems & Organizational Infrastructure
● Improve and maintain organizational systems, processes, templates, and documentation.
● Partner with COO to support HR processes such as recruitment logistics, onboarding coordination, and maintaining organizational records.
● Support budgeting and fi nancial planning processes through document preparation and coordination with the Finance team.
External Coordination and Communications
● Coordinate logistics for external meetings involving the President (scheduling, briefi ng preparation, follow-up).
● Prepare briefi ng materials and support the Executive, Development, and Communications Teams in preparing reports, presentations, and other materials for the President’s external engagements and meetings with external stakeholders.
● Serve as a point of coordination for engagements involving external partners, elected officials, and agency staff.
● Draft certain external communications on behalf of the President, ensuring a consistent and professional voice.
Team Collaboration & Culture
● Reinforce a culture of organization, accountability, and dependable execution by supporting staff with information, timelines, and clear processes.
● Assist in onboarding new staff by preparing schedules, materials, and organizational overviews.
● Partner with the COO to maintain internal planning cycles, check-ins, and communications structures that support smooth collaboration.
● Assist full Gotham Park team fl exibly and supportively at major events and community initiatives; tasks may include tabling, checking in participants, collecting waivers, set-up and break-down assistance, etc.
Qualifi cations
Required
● Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree a plus but not required.
● 7+ years of experience in operations, administration, project management, or related roles, including 3+ years in a Chief of Staff, operations management, or similar execution-oriented position.
● Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, logistics, and processes in a fast-paced environment.
● Exceptional organizational, administrative, and time-management skills.
● Strong written and verbal communication skills with excellent attention to detail.
● High emotional intelligence and discretion; ability to handle sensitive information and manage internal relationships.
● Strong profi ciency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, project management platforms (Asana), and CRM systems (Salesforce).
● Ability to work on multiple priorities simultaneously, meeting deadlines with accuracy.
Preferred
● Experience working with nonprofi ts, community organizations, parks, public spaces, or local government.
● Familiarity with government processes (procurement, permits), vendor management, and RFP cycles.
● Experience supporting facilities, events, cultural programming, or public-private partnership environments.
● Fluency in additional languages such as Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese.
Attributes
● Highly organized, reliable, and execution-driven.
● Strong follow-through with a “get things done” mentality.
● Systems thinker who enjoys improving processes and workfl ows.
● Calm, fl exible, and solution-oriented in a fast-moving environment.
● Low-ego collaborator with a service mindset.
● Deep commitment to community, public spaces, and Gotham Park’s mission.
Physical Aspects of the Job
This position requires familiarity and comfort with our local urban environment and the ability to: travel to and within the service area; stand at the site or sit at a desk for extended periods; use a computer and phone; and lead internal meetings. The role requires use of a personal cell phone for on-site and remote coordination; the Chief of Staff will be responsible for purchase and maintenance of a phone and service plan.
Terms
This is a full-time exempt staff position with a competitive benefi ts package. Starting salary range: $80,000 to $100,000 depending on experience and education. Work includes in-person duties in Lower Manhattan and remote work with a fl exible schedule determined in collaboration with the President.
Equal Opportunity
Gotham Park is committed to developing and maintaining a workforce that refl ects the vibrance and diversity of our community. We aim to maximize the potential of all our staff members and volunteers by assuring a culture of competence and respect that is inclusive, free of bias and culturally sensitive. All qualifi ed applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
Application Instructions
● Please send your resume and a brief statement of interest to: careers@gothampark.org.
● Applications submitted without a statement of interest/cover letter will not be considered. Statement of interest should be no longer than one page and should address whether and how applicant’s experience, qualifi cations, and attributes meet the requirements of this position, providing detailed examples.
● Application deadline: December 5, 2025 or until fi lled.
● Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.
● References will be required.