Job Title: Chief Program Officer (Inaugural role)  

Classification: Full-time, exempt   

Pay Rate: $200,000 - $220,000          

Reports to: President        

Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) seeks an experienced, visionary and strategic leader to serve as its first-ever Chief Program Officer. This inaugural role marks a pivotal investment in the Park’s future as a dynamic civic space for all, bridging a rich history of programmatic offerings with a bold vision for the future of public programming and education in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The Chief Program Officer will shape and lead a comprehensive programming strategy that deepens community engagement, enhances cultural and recreational offerings, strengthens our environmental practice, and activates the Park’s iconic waterfront spaces year-round. 

As a key member of the senior leadership team, the Chief Program Officer will oversee the development, execution, and evaluation of a wide range of inclusive programs—from outdoor concerts and environmental education to youth activities, wellness classes, and seasonal celebrations. The ideal candidate will bring creativity, operational excellence, and a strong equity lens to build a unifying, accessible programming vision from the ground up. 

Additionally, the Chief Program Officer will play a lead role in creating the vision for a new 4,000 square-foot environmental education space to be developed at our primary location, 334 Furman Street. With the substantial expansion of this well-loved community resource comes exciting new opportunities to re-think the way we engage visitors in the history, ecology, and care of the Park and the nearby environment.  

The Chief Program Officer will be joining the Park at an exciting time in its history and evolution. We seek big-picture, community- and audience-oriented thinkers who will bring their enthusiasm for the Park to bear in support of these strategic milestones. 

Primary Responsibilities: 

Strategic Leadership 

• Develop and launch Brooklyn Bridge Park’s first organization-wide programming strategy. 

• Align program goals with the Park’s mission and evolving community needs across Brooklyn and beyond. 

• Lead the Park’s role as a citywide and neighborhood resource for civic life, arts, education, and wellness. 

Program Development & Oversight 

• Design and oversee a robust portfolio of public programming across diverse domains (arts, education, recreation, environmental awareness). 

• Establish systems for planning, delivery, and evaluation to ensure quality, accessibility, and impact. 

• Ensure programming reflects and celebrates the diversity and vibrancy of Brooklyn’s communities. 

Team Building & Management 

• Build and lead a multidisciplinary programming team, including the hiring of new staff and seasonal support. 

• Lead the Public Programming, Education, and Special Events and Permits teams, supporting three direct reports – the Director of Programming, the Director of Education, and the Deputy Director of Special Events and Permits – and their departments’ staff, which includes seven year-round team members, and several dozen seasonal hires.  

• Develop an inclusive, collaborative team culture focused on innovation, accountability, and public service. 

• Work cross-functionally with the senior leadership of the Operations, Public Affairs, Finance, People and Culture, Capital and Restoration, and Development teams to ensure coordinated execution. 

Community & Partner Engagement 

• Forge new and sustain existing partnerships with local schools, cultural organizations, community groups, and city agencies. 

• Actively engage local residents and underrepresented communities in program development. 

• Represent Brooklyn Bridge Park at public forums and community events as the face of its programming vision. 

Financial & Operational Oversight 

• Develop and manage the programming budget with transparency and strategic foresight. 

• Collaborate with the Development team to support grants, sponsorships, and philanthropic initiatives. 

• Oversee risk management, safety protocols, and regulatory compliance for public events and programs, in coordination with the Operations and People and Culture teams. 

Qualifications: 

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership in public programming, ideally in parks, nonprofit, cultural institutions, or civic spaces. 

• Experience launching or significantly scaling a public-facing program portfolio. 

• Demonstrated success designing inclusive programs and engaging diverse urban communities. 

• Strategic thinker and operational executor with entrepreneurial energy. 

• Proven ability to lead teams and build new systems from inception. 

• Exceptional communicator with strong presentation and relationship-building skills. 

• Budgeting, evaluation, and resource management expertise. 

• Familiarity with Brooklyn’s civic, cultural, and community ecosystem is highly preferred. 

• Experience with waterfront, outdoor, or sustainability-focused programs is a plus. 

• Candidates with multilingual skills and/or lived experience reflective of Brooklyn’s communities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Arts Management, Environmental Education, or related field preferred. 

About You:   

• You strive to be inclusive and collaborative. At BBP, we recognize that doing our best work means working together. We have each other’s back – and are helpful, humble and open.   

• You are committed. At BBP, we approach our work with integrity, positivity, and pride. We are committed to the public, the park and each other.  

• You are a problem-solver. At BBP, we prioritize learning, evolving and building creative solutions to ensure the Park remains a leader in sustainable green space for generations to come.  

• You value people and the environment. At BBP, respect is important to us. We strive to trust each other, act with good intention and communicate with openness.  

Working at BBP:   
We believe that BBP is a park for all people. We take pride in our ability to provide the community with a beautiful, functional, clean, and safe green space. Internally, we strive to provide a work environment where employees feel supported, respected, and a sense of belonging. Our staff are experts in everything from horticulture to community engagement to park operations and events. The work environment is welcoming, with hardworking and diverse staff who are dedicated to building, beautifying, and maintaining the park. We offer benefits like affordable healthcare, retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, and prioritize the importance of work-life balance.  

Benefits (Other company benefits provided in addition to the following):  

• 403B (retirement plan)  

• Defined Benefit Plan (company-funded retirement)  

• Paid vacation time (up to 25 days)  

• Sick & Safe days (12)  

• Paid holidays/float days (15 days annually)  

• FMLA and other paid leaves (based on eligibility)  

• Tuition and professional development reimbursement  

• Medical, dental, vision, Healthcare FSA, Dependent FSA, Commuter Benefits, Life, and Long-term Disability Insurance  

• BBP vendor discounts at restaurants, food markets, and other eateries  

• Other corporate discounts on movie tickets, theme parks, and more!  

ABOUT BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK    

Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of the most transformative public projects in New York City in a generation, has revitalized a formerly industrial waterfront into a dynamic 85-acre civic space. Created to be environmentally and financially sustainable, Brooklyn Bridge Park is a model for resilient urban design that reconnects New Yorkers and visitors to the waterfront. Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) operates as a non-profit public benefit corporation of the City of New York and is responsible for the stewardship of the park—maintaining its landscapes, maritime infrastructure, and public amenities. BBP develops and delivers dynamic public programming that weaves together arts and culture, recreation, and environmental education to engage, inspire, and serve a diverse community.    

Brooklyn Bridge Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Brooklyn Bridge Park provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.