Park-as-Lab (PAL) Coordinator

POSITION DESCRIPTION 

Randall’s Island Park Alliance’s Park-as-Lab is a research collaborative that unites scientists, advocates, and communities in scientific research. Park-as-Lab works to encourage civic engagement, support STEM career paths, and increase our understanding of New York City’s ecosystems, ultimately promoting more resilient communities. The unofficial motto of Park-as-Lab is “science for the people, by the people.” The Park-as-Lab (PAL) Coordinator will report directly to the Natural Areas Manager and Director of Environmental Programs and will work across departments to coordinate the Park-as-Lab programming, focusing on urban systems, climate resiliency, sustainability, and ecological monitoring. The PAL Coordinator will also work with outside academic partners and environmental advocacy groups to ensure that research projects are comprehensive, scientifically rigorous, and efficaciously shared with stakeholders. 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with the Natural Areas Manager, Director of Environmental Programs, and members of RIPA staff to improve collaborative community-centered research and environmental monitoring efforts by developing new protocols and testing capabilities.
• Lead Randall’s Island Park Alliance’s efforts in designing and implementing data collection and analysis across the park, working with multiple departments to improve knowledge of urban park issues from a social, environmental, and ecological standpoint.
• Coordinate and collaborate with researchers and students utilizing Randall’s Island as a location for scientific data collection.
• Oversee the Working Apprenticeship Through Estuarine Research for Students (WATERS) program by providing direction and leadership to the four students in the program and their research projects.
• Create interactive digital outreach materials to support and cultivate research, citizen science, and environmental monitoring efforts.
• Conduct a series of presentations to local community boards, councils, environmental organizations, consortia, and other stakeholders to increase understanding and build support for the Park as-Lab program. Communicate findings, implications, and potential future research to a broad audience of stakeholders.
• Present program results to relevant professional organizations and stakeholders.
• Develop research protocols and coordinate field research implementation to build PAL capacity and inform local and regional urban ecology efforts. Implement analysis of data and report findings of studies to present at conferences and publish on the RIPA website.
• Work with RIPA’s Communications team to develop PAL outreach content for recruiting projects and conveying research outcomes to a diverse audience.
• Work with the Development department to research and write grant proposals and applications relating to PAL programming. Complete regular and thorough reporting of efforts as required by grants and partnerships.
• Assist in training and educating staff, volunteers, school children, young adults, and community groups during stewardship and educational events, including large events and weekend programs.
• Complete all other tasks, as assigned.

This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job functions that an employee in this position may be asked to perform from time to time.