Battery Conservancy - Chief Administrative and Finance Officer | PND

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Posted on June 6, 2012

Chief Administrative and Finance Officer

Battery Conservancy
New York, New York

Battery Conservancy - Chief Administrative and Finance Officer The Battery Conservancy (“TBC” or “Conservancy”) was established in 1994 to rebuild and revitalize the historic Battery, the 25 acre park at the tip of Manhattan, and renew the spirit of Castle Clinton National Monument. With an estimated 6 million visitors annually, The Battery is one of the most visited parks in New York City. It is home to 21 monuments and is the primary embarkation point for ferries to Liberty and Ellis Islands and to other harbor attractions.

To date, the Conservancy has raised over $118 million in private and public funding to design, build, and maintain the park’s landscape and to create cultural programs. Activities and features of the park now include the Urban Farm, a seven circuit Labyrinth, the 10,000 square foot Gardens of Remembrance, the 70,000 square foot perennial gardens in the Bosque, and the thriving Peter Minuit Plaza that serves as a central transit hub, connecting subways, buses, bikes, taxis, and pedestrians. In addition, the SeaGlass carousel is now under construction in anticipation of a 2013 opening, and TBC is in the advanced stages of planning the installation of a children’s play space designed by Frank Gehry.

With substantially all of The Battery’s parkland being rebuilt and under development, 2012 marks a critical juncture in the Conservancy’s evolution. Accordingly, TBC must transition its focus from design and execution of the park’s development plan to support and maintenance of its expanding recreation, education, and cultural programs. Serving visitors as well as a growing downtown residential population, TBC is also an important stakeholder in issues affecting lower Manhattan. Further, it plays a key coordinating role with public partners such as the National Park Service, owner of Castle Clinton National Monument, and the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, which owns The Battery.

In order to facilitate this transition, The Battery Conservancy is establishing a new executive position. Reporting to Warrie Price, the founding President, the Chief Administrative & Finance Officer will be responsible for operational management of the organization.

The Position:

The Battery Conservancy is seeking a Chief Administrative & Finance Officer to guide the development and execution of operating and strategic plans. Reporting to the TBC President, this position will provide financial and administrative support and oversee operational management of budget, accounting and finance activities. Specific duties will include the development and execution of business plans for earned income programs, vendor management and supervision of concessionaire contracts, staff recruitment and human resources management, and oversight of internal and external information technology functions.

Potential applicants must have a demonstrated commitment to civic involvement and should understand how a private not-for-profit organization interacts with public sector bodies. Experience with NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, NYS Historic Preservation Office, National Park Service, American Battle Monuments Commission, Homeland Security, and other local, state, and national government entities is desirable, as is a successful track record with commercial, revenue generating programs.

The successful candidate will be an effective problem solver, an innovative thinker, and an experienced manager with strong communication skills. The position requires a solid understanding of fiscal operations, business models appropriate to the Conservancy and its partners, budgeting, contract administration, information technology, operational management, and staff recruitment and development.

Specific Responsibilities:

Serve as a member of the Conservancy’s executive management team, participating in the development and implementation of overall policies, long-range planning, and daily operational goals and objectives. Liaise with the Board of Trustees.
General oversight of operations, including the supervision of administrative staff and consultants. Develop and implement human resource management processes.
Oversight, analysis, planning, and leadership of the Conservancy’s fiscal, budgeting and financial reporting functions, including managing its $2 million budget. Lead budgeting process at both Conservancy and program level.
Coordinate all independent and governmental audit activities.
Coordinate technology programs and initiatives; supervise hardware and software support, ensuring data integrity and security.
Create business plans and implement earned income programs for food service, special events, SeaGlass Carousel, and other opportunities to increase income potential.
Manage and negotiate licensing agreements, including those with NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and National Park Service.

Qualifications:

Executive level experience in operational management in the private or nonprofit sector with significant budgeting, accounting, and financial responsibilities.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to be a strong, positive colleague in a programmatic environment; skilled manager and leader of staff at all levels.
Strong financial analysis and management skills.
Commitment to the mission and goals of The Battery Conservancy.
Familiarity with using and managing IT systems.
Ability to work independently, prioritizing workflow to meet critical deadlines with attention to detail.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Accredited university degree in relevant discipline(s).

The Battery Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to a diverse workforce. Compensation will be commensurate with experience. For more information on The Battery Conservancy, please visit their website at www.thebattery.org.

Application Instructions

To Apply:
The Battery Conservancy has retained the services of Harris Rand Lusk to conduct this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed in confidence to:
Jack Lusk, Managing Partner
or
Anne McCarthy, Senior Director
Harris Rand Lusk
261 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10016

amccarthy@harrisrand.com

Job Type: Finance
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organizations