Reports to: Visitor Center Manager 

Department: Visitor Services 

Status: Part-Time, Non-exempt

Schedule: Availability to work 20 hours a week; including at least one weekend day and some holiday is required. Schedules are determined based on facility/programming needs and may change on a weekly basis.

About Central Park and the Central Park Conservancy 

Central Park is one of the most famous and beloved urban public spaces in the world. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1857, the 843-acre park was the first purpose-built public park in the country and is a National Historic Landmark. The Central Park Conservancy, a private not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1980 to rescue the Park which had fallen into serious disrepair. Since that time, the Conservancy has overseen the investment of approximately $1 billion in the restoration of the Park, and now hosts over 40 million visitors a year.  

The Conservancy’s mission is to preserve and celebrate Central Park as a sanctuary from urban life. The City of New York has formally entrusted the care of the Park to the Conservancy which is responsible for every aspect of its care, including landscape maintenance, capital improvements, and the visitor experience. Committed to sharing the best practices in urban park management, the Conservancy also serves as a resource for other NYC parks and for public-private partnerships around the world. The Conservancy employs roughly 325 people and has an operating budget of $80 million. 

The Conservancy recently completed a seven-year plan, Central Park Conservancy, A Plan for the Stewardship of Central Park: 2020-2027, which focuses on the ongoing capital investment of the last four decade’s investment of more than $1 billion into Central Park.   

Summary of Essential Job Functions 

• Proactively greet, assist, and engage Park visitors, in a professional and inviting manner
• Enhance every person's visit to Central Park by providing detailed and accurate information and directions, and by interpreting the Park’s history, landscapes, design, features and programming
• Help to maintain a safe, clean and welcoming Center: includes properly securing the Center each evening, reporting all safety issues to the appropriate personnel, monitoring proper use of Center throughout your shift, and participating in regular light cleaning
• Engage visitors in conversation about the Conservancy and our role in maintaining Central Park
• Promote Central Park Conservancy membership and various other ways people can support our mission
• Handle retail sales: includes maintaining inventory, conducting monetary and credit card transactions, and generating sales reports as needed
• Help to facilitate a variety of programs in and around the Visitor Centers including planning, staffing, registration and evaluation as needed
• Work with Programs staff and volunteers to manage tours that run out of the Visitor Centers: includes handling tickets sales, when applicable, and distributing audio equipment
• Participate in on-going professional development opportunities
• Respond to visitor inquiries via the phone, in person
• Perform general administration duties: answering phones, filing, faxing, statistics tracking, etc.
• Keep visitor statistics and report these figures as needed
• Actively communicate with Park visitors, colleagues, volunteers, Operations staff and other Park personnel as needed
• Secure cash donations at end of the night
• Line and crowd management of the public during higher volume traffic periods  

Note: This position is in-person (not a remote role). 

Salary: $18/hour, commensurate with experience. 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 

The Central Park Conservancy’s work is guided by the belief that Central Park, and all public parks, must be managed and actively protected as an inclusive and democratic space for all. 

Working closely with our New York City partners, we will always strive towards creating and sustaining a sense of belonging for all visitors and advocating for equitable and accessible public use of the Park. 

In service of this belief, we are committed to fostering a workforce and organizational culture that is as diverse as Central Park itself and the dynamic city it serves. 

Qualifications 

• At least 1 year experience in customer service and/or retail
• Interest in parks, landscape design, and /or tourism
• A strong desire to work with the public
• A strong desire to learn about the Park and the Central Park Conservancy
• Ability to work productively as part of a diverse team of staff, volunteers and interns
• Enthusiasm for working in different locations throughout the Park based on staffing/coverage needs of the department
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; personable; and energetic
• Computer proficiency (Word, Excel, use of an e-mail system, etc.)
• Must be at least 18 years old; candidate should have a minimum of a high school diploma
• Ability to speak additional languages a plus

Other Requirements 

This position occasionally requires lifting moderately heavy items (up to 30 pounds) and long periods of standing as well as walking to various locations throughout the Park as needed. Must comply with the policies of the Conservancy, including wearing a Central Park Conservancy-branded uniform, which will be issued upon hire, in a presentable and professional fashion.