Program Coordinator - New York Community Trails

The Trails Program Coordinator will support the New York Community Trails Program with particular focus on community engagement. This role involves developing programming and educational initiatives that connect people to the outdoors, boosting recognition for the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and local advocacy groups dedicated to creating parks and trails system.

The Coordinator will strengthen relationships with civic, nonprofit, and public organizations, ensuring clear communication between community stakeholders and the city. Their work will help catalyze support and funding for the completion of trails programs by focusing on community engagement, progress updates, and programming around the first two sections.  
This position will report to the Program Manager, Trails.  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS  

Conduct Community Engagement Activities (80%)   

• Create and distribute surveys to capture community input.  

• Maintain and document communication with external partners, including growing list of community partners and work to build new community relationships.  

• Create and distribute public facing materials such as one pagers, flyers, etc.   

• Lead or assist with community engagement activities including public events, cleanups, tours, and school workshops.   

• Lead community engagement efforts by managing outreach, creating meeting agendas, and tracking key decisions.  

• Engage schools and youth organizations for workshops and activities.  

• Table at local events such as Metro Village Community Day, or Forest Park Trust hosted clean ups.  

• Serve as a point of contact for staff, stakeholders, and the public.  

• Aid with grant applications for community partners.   

• Be creative and thoughtful in the approach to gaining community support in ways that are true to the community in which we are working.   

 
Provide Community Engagement support for Friends of the QueensWay Team (20%)  

• Coordinate communications and meetings between FQW and TPL to ensure both parties are informed and up to date.  

• Coordinate communication, meetings, and programming with local nonprofits and civic organizations.  

• Plan and execute events on behalf of FQW  

• Write and distribute communications and outreach materials, including managing social media and web presence.  

• Identify opportunities for cultural contributions, such as art installations.  

• Organize letters of support and petitions.  

 
QUALIFICATIONS  

• 2+ years of experience in conservation, outdoor recreation, community engagement, or land use planning.  

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across functional and regional teams.  

• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize multiple tasks.  

• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.  

• Willingness to travel to Queens or be based in Queens; evening and weekend work is expected.  

• Commitment to TPL’s mission of creating parks and protecting land for healthy, livable communities.  

 
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS  

• Proficiency in presenting information clearly in both written and oral formats.  

• Passion for community engagement and outreach.  

• Experience building philanthropic relationships with donors and landowners.  

• Familiarity with public funding processes for land acquisition and nonprofit budget management.  

• Knowledge of urban and rural planning, trails, parks, and land use policy.  

• Ability to manage multiple projects and collaborate with diverse partners.  

  
As a full-time exempt employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, three weeks of vacation annually plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b) retirement plan, currently with an up to 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the salary range for this position is $52,000-$57,000.