Executive Director

Job Description

Hudson River Park Friends seeks an inspiring, strategic, and civic-minded Executive Director who will serve first and foremost as a dynamic fundraiser, relationship builder, and public ambassador for one of New York City's most treasured public spaces.

Key Responsibilities:

Reports to: Board of Directors

Team: Manages a team of 15

Strategic Leadership:

• Provide visionary leadership that advances Friends' mission, strategic priorities, and long-term sustainability
• Partner closely with the Board of Directors and President of the Trust to establish organizational goals, priorities, and annual objectives developed in consultation with senior staff and with clear communication of organizational priorities
• Foster a high-performing, collaborative organizational culture grounded in accountability, innovation, inclusion, and service. The Executive Director will be accessible and approachable across levels of the organization, fostering trust while giving senior leaders appropriate autonomy
• Identify emerging opportunities that strengthen Friends' impact and expand philanthropic investment in Hudson River Park within all legal, regulatory, and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Serve as the organization's chief spokesperson and representative

Philanthropy & Fundraising:

• Serve as Friends' chief fundraising strategist and most visible fundraiser, devoting a significant portion of time to personally building philanthropic support for the organization
• Oversee and lead a team of development professionals to execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that encompasses individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships, institutional philanthropy, special events, planned giving, and special campaign initiatives
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospective philanthropists, with particular focus on expanding individual major giving and developing new relationships among residents, families, and business leaders who live near, work near, and personally experience the Park
• Build meaningful relationships across New York's philanthropic, business, civic, and nonprofit communities, leveraging existing corporate partnerships and new networks to broaden Friends' donor base
• Bring an entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy, identifying new ways to convert corporate partnerships, events, volunteer engagement, park usage, and community relationships to sustain philanthropic support
• Partner with the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Development Committee, and volunteer leadership to strengthen fundraising capacity and donor engagement
• Lead Board and committee communications related to fundraising strategy and donor cultivation
• Recruit, engage, and orient new Board members who expand Friends' philanthropic reach and strategic expertise
• Oversee fundraising events and donor stewardship activities that deepen engagement and strengthen long-term relationships, while bringing fresh thinking to how Friends engages the next generation of donors and supporters
• Provide leadership and mentorship to development staff while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence
• Collaborate with Trust executives to identify opportunities and strategies for increased fundraising and engagement within the Park
• Manage foundation and government grant strategy, proposal development, reporting, and stewardship, including direct oversight of institutional fundraising activities
• Monitor fundraising performance and ensure the organization achieves ambitious annual goals

Board Partnership & Governance:

• Build a strong and productive partnership with the Board of Directors
• Support effective governance through timely communication, strategic planning, and transparent reporting. Maintain regular communication between formal meetings so Board members remain connected to organizational priorities, progress, and opportunities for engagement
• Prepare Board and committee meeting materials and facilitate productive discussions.
• Partner with Board leadership to identify, cultivate, recruit, and develop engaged trustees who bring philanthropic capacity, networks, expertise, diversity of perspective, and a genuine commitment to the Park
• Support committees in fulfilling their responsibilities while maximizing Board engagement in fundraising and strategic planning. Work with Board leadership to reinforce meaningful trustee participation in fundraising and other Board commitments
• Ensure adherence to governance best practices and organizational policies.

Organizational Leadership & Operations:

• Oversee the effective management of Friends' operations and administrative functions
• Provide leadership for finance, budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning
• Ensure sound fiscal management and stewardship of organizational resources
• Oversee human resources, including recruitment, performance management, succession planning, and staff development with COO/CFO
• Foster an inclusive workplace that attracts, develops, and retains exceptional talent. Support professional development, coaching, and ongoing feedback while preserving the flexibility and healthy work environment staff value
• Guide organizational development initiatives that improve operational effectiveness and organizational capacity
• Oversee information technology, administrative systems, and organizational infrastructure with COO/CFO
• In partnership with the Trust’s President, develop and oversee processes that foster productive information-sharing, communications, and partnerships between the two organizations related to fundraising and volunteerism
• Establish performance expectations and accountability across the organization.
• Ensure effective risk management and operational compliance

Communications, Marketing & Brand Stewardship:

• Serve as Friends' primary public philanthropic ambassador
• Independently and in partnership with the Trust, oversee communications and marketing strategies that increase awareness of Friends' mission and impact with communications team including donor communications, annual reports, digital engagement, in-park messaging, and organizational messaging
• Strengthen Friends' brand and public visibility among donors, civic leaders, and the broader community
• Represent Friends through public speaking engagements, media opportunities, and community events
• Ensure consistent messaging across fundraising, communications, and public affairs in cooperation with Hudson River Park Trust

Strategic Partnership with Hudson River Park Trust:

• Serve as the primary executive liaison with Hudson River Park Trust leadership
• Foster a collaborative, transparent, and diplomatically effective partnership that advances shared priorities for the Park while respecting the distinct roles, authorities, and responsibilities of Friends and the Trust
• Coordinate fundraising priorities, communications, stewardship activities, and strategic initiatives with Trust leadership
• Build strong relationships across Trust staff to ensure alignment between Friends' philanthropic efforts and the Park's operational, programmatic and capital priorities
• Represent Friends as an independent and trusted strategic partner committed to the Park's long-term success, navigating the nuances of the public-private relationship with judgment, self-awareness, and mutual respect

Advocacy, Government & Community Relations:

• Build productive relationships with City and State elected officials and agency leadership.
• Advance public understanding of Friends' mission and Hudson River Park's civic importance
• Support advocacy initiatives that strengthen investment in Hudson River Park
• Cultivate partnerships with NYC businesses, community organizations, cultural institutions, and environmental organizations, and understand community perspectives and considerations as Friends advances fundraising and strategic priorities
• Recognize volunteers as an important extension of Friend’s community and philanthropic reach, creating pathways for deeper involvement with the Park
• Represent Friends within New York City's nonprofit, philanthropic, and civic sectors
• Strengthen community and business engagement and participation throughout the Park

The Leader:

Preferred Experience:

The ideal candidate will bring many of the following qualifications:

• Significant senior leadership experience within a nonprofit, philanthropic, cultural, environmental, civic, government, corporate, or other relevant organization; prior Executive Director experience is not required
• Demonstrated success personally asking for and securing philanthropic support, major gifts, sponsorships, or comparable high-stakes commitments; experience leading comprehensive fundraising programs or capital campaigns is advantageous
• Understand the power of place-based philanthropy and will be able to translate that connection into sustained engagement and giving
• Experience partnering effectively with an engaged Board of Directors
• Strong financial management, budgeting and organizational leadership experience.
• Experience overseeing communications, marketing, and external affairs
• Knowledge of foundation, corporate, government, and individual philanthropy
• Demonstrated ability to build productive partnerships with nonprofits, public agencies, elected officials, neighborhood stakeholders, and other constituencies, with sensitivity to the political and community dynamics surrounding major public assets
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills
• Experience leading high-performing teams through collaboration, coaching, and accountability.Experience effectively leading teams in a flexible remote/hybrid environment is strongly valued
• Demonstrated passion for parks and public spaces, environmental stewardship, publicly accessible arts and culture, or civic engagement is highly desirable; direct parks-sector experience is not required, but curiosity and the ability to quickly master a complex operating and political environment are essential