Project Team Coordinator/Grant Writer
Description
Brooklyn Greenway Initiative seeks a highly capable and experienced Project Team Coordinator and Grant Writer to coordinate the efforts of a cross-disciplinary team that is preparing an application for a grant to fund the development of a restorative natural landscape and the evaluation of its impact on individuals and the community. The project seeks to generate research that may help encourage decision-makers to support contemplative green spaces as a public investment and essential civic amenity.
Under the guidance and supervision of the primary team leaders, the responsibilities of the coordinator are to assess the project’s overall needs and resources, forge necessary community and institutional relationships, build capacity and assemble a robust project team, ensure the team develops innovative site and research design approaches, and write a winning full grant proposal. The coordinator will also create the timeline for the successful completion of the application by June 30, 2012, and will ensure that each team member understands and delivers their contribution on a timely basis.
The project has two phases: the planning and implementation phases. BGI has received grant funding for the 6-month planning phase during which the coordinator will work part-time. If funded, the implementation phase will cover the period of final design construction and restoration followed by a 3-year quantitative study that is intended to be peer reviewed and published in a leading scientific journal.
The Horticultural Society of New York (HSNY) is the lead partner to BGI in the development of the project scope and recruitment of partners. Other partners include a leading landscape architecture firm, an environmental high school and the Director of the quantitative methods in social sciences program at a leading university.
The position will report to BGI’s Director of Project Development, who is responsible for coordinating the overall development of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway.
Planning Phase Duties
• Work with each partner to finalize their scope of work;
• Coordinate the participation of each partner and project constituents in the final design of the site and the development of the quantitative study with significant levels of public participation;
• Develop with the landscape architect and high school administrators and teachers a semester program of meaningful and educationally useful participation for students in characterizing plant communities currently on the site, identifying invasive species, developing a plan for low-impact invasive remediation and participation in the horticultural aspects of the design;
• Manage, with a teacher, the students’ access and work on the site during the semester;
• Work with the students in developing materials to record what they learn and communicate it within their community;
• Engage the same participants in the development of a scope for the creation of natural orientation signage and media information program during the implementation phase that will become part of the implementation phase funding proposal;
• Work with the landscape architects to finalize the scope of work and requirements for completion of design of the site including a greenhouse that will serve as a venue for ongoing educational activities, public engagement and landscape maintenance;
• Coordinating any required site investigations such as soil tests;
• Work with the social scientist to finalize the quantitative study program for inclusion in the implementation phase proposal;
• Understand all implementation phase proposal requirements and coordinate the participation of all partners in the completion and submission of the proposal by the deadline.
Requirements
• A college degree plus 3 years of the experience described in the next section or comparable experience;
• A passion for nature and landscape restoration and the knowledge and communication skills to inspire others;
• Ability to effectively engage multiple project partners and integrate their work;
• Excellent oral and written communications skills and computer, internet, new media skills.
Experience
• Experience engaging young people in nature;
• Experience with sophisticated program evaluation; experience with a federal government funded scientific program such as the National Science Foundation is a plus;
• Record of effective public engagement and outreach including message development and relationship management;
• Record of effective project management and grant writing.
Reply to info@brooklyngreenway.org with “Project Team Coordinator” in the subject line. Attach a cover letter, resume and writing sample that addresses the above requirements.
Submission deadline: Friday, February 3, 2012. No phone calls please.
Brooklyn Greenway Initiative (BGI) is the 501(c)3 non-profit corporation planning for the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway and its long-term stewardship. The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway is a planned 14-mile, off-street, landscaped route for cyclists and pedestrians, from Greenpoint through Sunset Park. When completed, the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway will connect Brooklyn to the Manhattan Greenway network. Public benefits will include increased waterfront access, more diverse transportation and active recreation options and increased economic development.
