Waterfront Design Coordinator
About the Waterfront Alliance
The Waterfront Alliance is a civic organization that brings together a diverse coalition of more than 1,100 Alliance Partners with ties to the New York–New Jersey waterways. Founded in 2007, our mission is to inspire and effect resilient, revitalized, and accessible coastlines for all communities. Key programs and advocacy areas include climate resilience, public access to the waterfront, the working waterfront, and climate education.
About the Position
The Waterfront Design Coordinator will primarily support the expansion of the national reach of the WEDG® (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) program. In addition, the position will at times support climate resilience programs and communications about Waterfront Alliance’s work and mission.
WEDG is a national rating system to promote resilient, accessible, and ecological design on the waterfront. (Think: LEED building standards, but for the waterfront). Projects apply to become WEDG Verified to demonstrate that they have achieved the gold standard in waterfront design. Eleven projects have earned WEDG Verification to-date with another eight in the pipeline.
With the release of the nationally applicable WEDG ratings standard in 2018, WEDG won the American Planning Association’s National Gold Achievement Award for Best Practice. The impending release of the third version of WEDG in 2023 will expand its reach to inland rivers and lakes. The program’s WEDG Professionals Course has credentialed 500 WEDG Associates nationally.
This role will help build out the pipeline of projects and directly contribute to WEDG’s growth through work in policy, business development, and building out the professional network. The Waterfront Design Coordinator role is designed for someone with a passion for climate resilience, ecology, waterfronts, and business development who can work entrepreneurially to build awareness of WEDG, find new opportunities for the program, and support program management.
Classification: Fulltime, exempt
Salary and Benefits: Salary is $48,000-$50,000. Waterfront Alliance offers a comprehensive benefits package, including employer paid medical, dental, and vision insurances; life insurance; 401K retirement plan with employer match; commuter and FSA benefits, paid time off, professional development opportunities, and more. Our telecommute policy allows staff the flexibility to work from home in a hybrid capacity.
Location: New York, NY
Reports to: Chief Waterfront Design Officer. Additionally, the position will work closely with the Director of Communications.
Responsibilities
The Waterfront Design Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating key elements in the growth of the WEDG program including its program expansion, professionals’ network, and communications. The role will support the Director of Communications on WEDG-related marketing and outreach efforts as well as other organization-wide communications priorities.
WEDG Program Expansion (20%)
- Conduct outreach to professional firms and other stakeholders in landscape architecture, architecture and urban design, engineering, floodplain management, the environment, offshore wind, ports and maritime, and real estate development
- Monitor local, state, and federal policy opportunities to promote the growth of WEDG
- Identify project leads through permit applications, requests for proposals, the media, and other sources and lead outreach for waterfront properties
- Research and brief Waterfront Alliance staff and partners on key topic areas in climate resilience, urban planning, ecology, and other areas related to WEDG
- Represent WEDG and Waterfront Alliance at conferences, seminars, and other meetings
WEDG Program Administration (20%)
- Coordinate the online WEDG Professionals Course including engagement with recent alumni (WEDG Associates), database tracking, and reviewer recruitment
- Manage contacts, WEDG Associates, and partnerships in Waterfront Alliance’s Salesforce database
- Support the Chief Waterfront Design Officer in scheduling and other program administration duties
- Monitor media and publications in key topic areas around resilience, ecology, public access, and brief Waterfront Alliance staff when needed
Communications Support (25%)
With the Chief Waterfront Design Officer and Director of Communications, the Waterfront Design Coordinator will:
- Draft content for the WaterWire newsletter on a monthly basis
- Create WEDG-related social media materials on a weekly basis
- Manage the LinkedIn WEDG Professionals Group
- Maintain and prepare WEDG presentation materials
- Create WEDG marketing materials for use on web and in print with guidance from the communications team
- Clearly communicate the technical findings of WEDG to a wider public audience through email, social media, and web
Flushing Meadows Corona Park Study (25%)
- Attend and take notes at community engagement events related to the Flushing Meadows Corona Park: A Hub for Climate Resilience Study in partnership with the consultant team and other partners
- Draft a monthly project update report for key stakeholders
- Provide project management support as assigned
Other Duties as Assigned (10%)
- As needed, the role will support other team members on projects that contribute to the overall mission of the organization including on events, educational programming, and operations
Required Skills and Attributes
- Experience (which may include internships, volunteer work, or course-related work) or subject matter knowledge in climate resilience, sustainability, ecology, urban planning, or waterfronts. Previous full time work experience in one of the subject areas is not required.
- Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, business, public policy, communications, urban design, engineering, or related field.
- Excellent oral and written communication, presentation, and public speaking skills including the ability to synthesize technical information into a publicly accessible format
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work comfortably with a broad range of stakeholders from community residents to senior field leaders and elected officials
- Graphic design ability (including the Adobe Suite) strongly desired
- Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously
- Sense of humor, eagerness to learn, and passion for the mission of the organization
The Waterfront Design Coordinator will be expected to complete and pass the WEDG Professionals Course in their first two weeks.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume as a single PDF to careers@waterfrontalliance.org. The subject should indicate “Waterfront Design Coordinator.” Applicants must be legally authorized to work fulltime in the U.S. and should not require employment sponsorship now or in the future. Only complete applications will be considered. Position open until filled. No phone calls please.
As an equal opportunity employer, Waterfront Alliance encourages applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital status, physical ability or any other legally protected basis.