Business Manager (Marketing and Communications Department)

Reports To: Vice President for Digital Experience

Department: Marketing & Communications

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

About Central Park and the Central Park Conservancy

Central Park is one of the world's most famous and beloved public spaces. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1858, the 843-acre Park was the country's first purpose-built public park and is a National Historic Landmark and a New York Scenic 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 then, the Conservancy has overseen the investment of over $1.5 billion in the restoration of the Park, which now hosts over 40 million visitors a year.

The Conservancy is one of the largest and most successful public private partnerships in New York City and is considered a major civic institution given its impact on the health and vibrancy of both the Park and the City. 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. The Conservancy employs roughly 400 people and has an annual operating budget of $100 million. 

Position Summary

The Business Manager is an integral member of the Marketing & Communications department, providing budgeting, project management, and administrative support to teams across communications, marketing, social media, digital, and design.

This position is responsible for day-to-day business operations, which includes ongoing management of financial budgets, contract review, and billing. They will be a central liaison with the Finance team and work closely with Communications leaders on budget planning, projections, and reconciliation. This role also provides project management for key departmental initiatives, supporting the team on planning and execution of cross-functional projects to ensure that deliverables are sent on time, and within budget.

The ideal candidate will possess strong budgeting and organizational skills and must have excellent attention to detail. They are a team player, working alongside a group of collaborative and dedicated Marketing & Communications staff. 

Summary of Essential Job Functions:

• Manage budgets for the Graphic Design, Digital Experience, Communications, Marketing, Retail and Content teams.
  • Manage budget sheets and update all expenses weekly to ensure accurate tracking and provide up-to-date references
  • Oversee all departmental purchasing requests and inventory management
  • Process invoices, ensuring proper approval flow and timely payments
  • Manage departmental expense reports and credit cards, including receipt tracking and account reconciliation
  • Create regular budget, expense, and revenue reporting for budget managers
  • Prepare all the necessary spreadsheets, manage all submissions, and coordinate closely with the finance department to support the creation, reconciliation, and annual projections of departmental budgets.

• Manage vendor relations and contract review 
  • Oversee the entire contract processing workflow and coordinate with external representatives to ensure all contracts are approved promptly
  • Manage departmental subscriptions and regular contract renewals
  • Onboard new vendors into internal systems

• Project management for departmental initiatives
  • Act as administrator on project management software to maximize efficiency and streamline communications within the team
  • Collaborate with departments across the organization to create alignment on project goals, timelines, deliverables, and production plans
  • Track project timelines to ensure deadlines are met; follow up with team members and facilitate approval processes
  • Provide additional project support as needed

• Administrative support to the Marketing & Communications team
  • Provide high-level support to department VPs
  • Assist with compiling data and creating presentations; conduct research and generate special reports as needed
  • Manage team meeting schedules and oversee regular team meetings and events
  • Support the onboarding of new staff members
  • Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements:

• • 3+ years experience providing administrative and budgeting support for senior management
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Strong organizational skills; excellent attention to detail
  • Ability to work independently; perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly
  • Team player; ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including staff, executive leadership, external partners, and donors
  • Excellent writing and copyediting skills
  • Interest in, or a general understanding of Marketing and Communications work
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
  • Interest in urban park management and the mission of the Conservancy preferred.

Salary range: $74K - $93K (based on level of 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.

Safety Requirements

Establishment and maintenance of a safe work environment is the shared responsibility of this organization and employees at every level. The Conservancy will make every effort to assure a safe environment and be in compliance with federal, state, and local safety regulations. Employees are expected to obey safety rules and to exercise caution in all their work activities. Accordingly, employees should be aware of any hazards, which could cause an injury or accident (e.g., spills, obstacles in walkways, etc.). If an employee discovers a potential dangerous condition, he/she should alert other employees and notify his/her supervisor immediately.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.