Community Programs & Partnerships Manager

Position Summary

City Park Conservancy (CPC) is seeking a strategic and execution-oriented Community Programs & Partnerships Manager to lead the development, integration, and growth of community-centered programming and partnerships across the Park. This role is responsible for activating the Park through mission-aligned programs while expanding and managing partnerships that enhance access, relevance, and community impact. The Manager will serve as a central connector and operator, aligning internal teams, external partners, and community priorities to deliver inclusive, accessible, and high-quality experiences that reflect the diverse communities of New Orleans and the region.

Key Responsibilities

Programming Development & Execution

• Lead the development and execution of Parkwide community focused programming and activations, including CPC led and partner supported initiatives, such as tours (guided and self-guided), interpretive or educational experiences such as onsite signage, events, and recurring series.
• Identify opportunities to expand, enhance, and diversify existing programming including integrating community partners and programs into existing Park events, such as Happy 3rd of July, Celebration in the Oaks (CITO), and Big Bass Fishing Rodeo.
• Develop scalable program models that support consistency, operational efficiency, and long-term growth.
• Oversee and coordinate program delivery teams, including CPC staff, volunteers, partner organizations, contractors, tour guides, and other program facilitators, to ensure consistent, high-quality execution. 

Partnership Strategy & Integration

• Identify, cultivate, and manage strategic partnerships with nonprofits, schools, cultural organizations, and community groups.
• Serve as a primary liaison for key programmatic partners (Arts Market, Farmers Market, community organizations).
• Integrate partners into programming in an intentional way that enhances both impact and efficiency.
• Formalize partnerships through MOUs, agreements, or scopes of work as appropriate.
• Expand and diversify partnerships to reflect the communities CPC serves.

Community Access & Inclusion

• Manage and expand community access initiatives, such as the CITO Community Ticket Program.
• Ensure programs are inclusive, accessible, and aligned with CPC’s equity and community engagement goals.
• Support the development of free and low-cost programming opportunities for schools, youth, and community groups, in collaboration with internal teams to align funding and ensure programs are community-informed and mission-aligned.

Education, Tours & Interpretation

• Lead the development of educational, interpretive, and place-based experiences across the Park.
• Develop and manage both guided and self-guided tour offerings that highlight the Park’s history, ecology, and cultural significance, including coordination of tour guides, and facilitators.
• Oversee the creation of onsite educational signage and interpretive elements that enhance visitor understanding and engagement.
• Partner with internal teams and subject matter experts to ensure accuracy, accessibility, and alignment with CPC’s mission and storytelling priorities.

Internal Coordination, Systems & Tracking

• Establish and manage a centralized system to track programming and partnerships across departments.
• Identify opportunities for alignment, efficiency, and expansion across CPC initiatives.
• Convene internal stakeholders to align programming and partnership efforts.
• Develop reporting tools to track participation, impact, and partner engagement.
• Manage program-related budgets, including tracking expenses and aligning resources with program priorities, in coordination with the CERO and relevant departments.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and summaries for leadership, funders, and stakeholders.

Content & Storytelling Support

• Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to support storytelling tied to programs and partnerships.
• Contribute content for blog, social media, and staff communications.
• Help elevate community impact stories and partner highlights.

Qualifications

Core Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED
• Active Driver’s License
• 5–7 years of experience in community engagement, nonprofit partnerships, public participation, parks and recreation, community planning, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience working in diverse communities and with multicultural populations.
• Strong facilitation and public speaking skills.
• Experience coordinating programs, events, or community-based initiatives, including leading staff, volunteers, contractors, or partner organizations.
• Experience working cross-functionally across departments or within complex organizations.
• Ability to build trust and maintain long-term relationships with a wide range of partners.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and comfort with data tracking and evaluation.
• Ability to navigate political, neighborhood, and multi-stakeholder environments.
• Commitment to equity, inclusivity, and community-driven decision-making.

Preferred

• Bilingual (Spanish/English strongly preferred).
• Experience with urban parks, public spaces, or place-based community development.
• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).
• Familiarity with New Orleans neighborhoods, culture, and community landscape.

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here are those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to remain in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods, constantly moving about from one worksite to another and occasionally ascending or descending ladders, stairs, ramps, and the like using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. Balancing and maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or crouching on moving surfaces is required. Stooping, climbing, bending at the waist, crouching, kneeling, reaching, walking, pushing and pulling is required for this position.

The employee will frequently be required to complete repeated motions that may include the wrists, hands, or fingers. Fingering, grasping, and feeling objects are required. The ability to safely operate motor vehicles will occur occasionally. The employee must constantly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds of force, up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds of force in all directions.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to have visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned or to make general observations of facilities or structures. 

The ability to speak and hear is required. The employee must be able to exchange ideas using the spoken word, in which they must convey detailed instructions to others to constantly exchange information and assess the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned. The employee must have the ability to hear sounds at a normal speaking level with or without correction, including the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and to make fine discriminations in sound.

Work Environment:

The majority of the work will be performed onsite with some telecommuting opportunities that are approved by the supervisor per company policy. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to inside conditions and outside weather conditions. This position will require some evening and weekend work for community meetings, events, or partner engagements.

The employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; extreme cold; extreme heat; wind; and risk of electrical shock and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is occasionally low, but can range from low to high intensity.

Sustainability Goals:

City Park employees must strive to decrease our environmental footprint by continually seeking ways to reduce waste and energy usage, care for natural Park habitat and wildlife, and serve as models to our patrons to do the same through education and example.