Full Time Park Ambassador

Madison Square Park Conservancy is the nonprofit entrusted by the City of New York to operate Madison Square Park, a 6.2-acre public space in the heart of Manhattan. Our mission is to conserve, maintain, and program this ever-evolving, historic green space, including raising 100% of the park’s operating budget. Our dedicated team takes great pride in caring for and shaping an urban oasis for all to enjoy.

Anchoring a diverse and vibrant live-work community, Madison Square Park is both an intimate neighborhood park and an international destination for 60,000 daily visitors. A public space since 1686, the park has long been a gathering place for people from all walks of life. Today, it is also a public garden, urban forest, wildlife habitat, public art exhibition space, a haven for children and pets to play, and one of New York City’s most transcendent and welcoming places.

Reporting to the Park Ambassador Manager, Park Ambassadors are responsible for creating a safe, welcoming, and informative space within Madison Square Park. This is an exciting opportunity for individuals who enjoy creating safe and inviting spaces for everyone in the outdoors.

Key Responsibilities:

• Administration:
  • Maintain daily records, including detailed documentation, end-of-tour reports, inspection forms, etc.
  • Respond to emails, Slack, radio inquiries, and requests in a timely and appropriate fashion
  • Validate permits, including special event permits, parking permits, sound permits, and food vendor permits.
  • Actively participate in all training opportunities including exhibition content, visitor engagement strategies, improving customer service, etc.
  • Support visitor experience research efforts through data collection, data entry, and related tasks

• Safety:
  • Conduct rounds of all facilities.
  • Educate and enforce Park Rules and Regulations with visitors
  • Monitor, inspect, and report park safety hazards, vandalism, quality of life issues, etc.
  • Contact and assist partner safety organizations such as police, fire departments, permit offices, emergency medical technicians, and homeless outreach services as conditions occur.
  • Open and close facilities and amenities as directed.
  • Work in unpredictable weather conditions during shift.
  • Direct vehicle and patron traffic as needed.

• Visitor Experience:
  • Provide accessible, relevant, clear, timely information, and support the visitor’s journey
  • Engage visitors, answer questions and help foster good first impressions to maintain a positive relationship with visitors
  • Promote the sales of Membership and other Development opportunities
  • Inform patrons of volunteer activities and other upcoming programs and events
  • Support the operation of all visitor-facing programs, events, and activities
  • Share patron feedback with other staff members to improve the visitor experience
  • Return lost and found items

Qualifications:

• All Ambassadors are required to have a valid NYS Security Guard License and to maintain the license throughout their employment.
• Ability to address and de-escalate conflicts in a clear, calm, and safe manner.
• Ability to clearly communicate with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, and other external sources, in person, in writing, or by telephone
• Comfortable approaching individuals or groups
• Experience serving diverse populations
• Be available to work in inclement weather and other emergency situations
• Ability to multi-task and handle competing priorities
• Ability to actively listen to what others are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, ask questions as appropriate and not interrupting at inappropriate times
• Knowledge of technology, including Google Suite, Slack, and Zoom
• Highly detail-oriented, field problem solvers who can adapt to changing priorities and new opportunities
• Ability to perform physically strenuous work in various weather conditions alone and in a team environment
• Multilingual experience is preferred

Compensation and Schedule:

Salary range is $48,000 – $50,000 based on experience. 

Benefits include: Paid Employee Health plan, Paid Employee Dental & Vision Plan, Vacation/Sick Days, Personal Day, Floating Holidays, 401K Plan after a year, Commuter benefits, Work Phone provided, 40 hours a week. 

• Flexible Schedules required for training, events, and weather emergencies.
• Typical schedule after training: Sunday – Tuesday 2 PM – 12:15 AM,  AND Wed 1 PM – 12:15 AM, OR Wednesday – Saturday 5:45 AM – 4:15 PM

To Apply:

To apply, please submit via email attachment a cover letter and resume including names and complete contact information for three references to jobs@madisonsquarepark.org

Please be aware that Madison Square Park Conservancy has required Covid 19 vaccination for all employees. The organization will consider accommodations for disability and religious-based reasons.

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Madison Square Park Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to complying with all federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity (“EEO”) laws.

The Conservancy prohibits discrimination against applicants for employment because of the individual’s race or color, religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record or any other characteristic protected by law.