Reports to: Manager of Preservation & Conservation

Department: Park Infrastructure

Status:  Non-Exempt

Status: Full-time, Hourly

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.

The Position:

Preservation Technicians in the Park Infrastructure Department focus on the applied preservation, restoration, and maintenance of the Park’s historic architectural and decorative features including bridges and arches, display fountains, pergolas, benches, decks, fences and railings, and other decorative objects. Work collaboratively with other members of the Preservation and Conservation departments on specialized projects requiring masonry, carpentry, metalwork, cleaning, and coatings application under the supervision of a Foreperson and Assistant Manager.

Essential Duties:

• Participate in the preservation, construction, repair, and maintenance of wooden structures including rustic woodwork, fine woodwork, deck replacement, patching, sanding, cleaning, and coatings applications.
• Participate in the preservation, repair, and maintenance of metal structures, including welding, chasing, patching, patinating, molding, casting, cleaning, and coating applications.
• Participate in the preservation, repair, and maintenance of historic masonry structures, including mortar pointing, patching, sealing, stone stabilization, stone carving, molding, casting, cleaning, and stain or graffiti removal.
• Provide timely responses to daily work orders, document progress via consistent reporting, and complete projects in an efficient manner using a mobile and computer-based work order system.
• Safely operate tools and equipment in compliance with all federal OSHA, state, and local safety requirements, including, but not limited to park vehicles, specialized equipment, small power equipment (chainsaws, generators, welders, mixers, drills, saws, torches, pumps, etc.) and hand tools (wrenches, hammers, floats, etc.) with the use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Maintain and safeguard a proper inventory of supplies, materials, and equipment
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized worksite using established protocols for location and activity.
• Provide positive customer service to park visitors and park staff including answering questions and conveying park information
• Perform other duties as required in the scope of the job and as designated by Preservation and Infrastructure management
• Participate in seasonal maintenance activities including snow removal

Salary Range: $46K-$52K (based on level of experience)

Note: This is an on-site position.

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

The establishment and maintenance of a safe work environment is the shared responsibility of this organization and its employees at every level. The Conservancy will make every effort to assure a safe environment and follow federal, state, and local safety regulations. Employees are expected to obey safety rules and 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 potentially 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.