Reports To:	Vice President for Parks & Stewardship
Department:	Parks & Stewardship
Location:	Beacon, NY
Work Arrangement:	Hybrid; in office at least 3 days per week with flexibility to work from home 1-2 days, and in accordance with business needs
Work Hours:	M-F, 9am-5pm
Pay Range:	$65,000 – $68,000
FLSA Status:	Exempt

About the Open Space Institute

The Open Space Institute is a national leader in land conservation and efforts to make parks and other protected land more welcoming for all. Since 1974, OSI has partnered in the protection of more than 2.5 million at-risk and environmentally sensitive acres in the eastern U.S. and Canada. OSI’s land protection promotes clean air and water, improves access to recreation, provides wildlife habitat, strengthens communities, and combats the devastating impacts of extreme weather.

Position Overview

Through its Parks Program, OSI seeks to create and improve public access to open spaces and the natural world. The Parks Program Associate, working from OSI’s Beacon office and reporting to the Vice President for Parks & Stewardship, is responsible for support and administrative duties relating to all aspects of OSI’s Parks program.

The position interacts directly and regularly with all other program staff (a team of 5) on a broad and dynamic range of planning, design, construction management, and oversight functions related to park, trail, interpretive, and capital improvement projects.

Primary/Essential Responsibilities & Duties

Assist with the development and management of OSI’s parks projects including:

Preparation of Parks project reports and graphic presentations
Assistance with Parks program agreements, grants, bid requests, and contracts
Coordination of communications between other OSI programs and departments
Coordination with outside organizations/agencies toward the timely completion of projects
Coordinate with GIS staff to manage Parks program data and the development of project maps and other graphics
Incorporate OSI’s Parks projects into internal staff meeting updates and external presentations
Assist in the completion of special projects and related duties as assigned
With supervision, conduct field visits and inspections of proposed and ongoing work

Provide administrative support to Parks program staff including:

Maintain the Parks program and VP for Parks & Stewardship calendars, scheduling and arranging meetings, ensuring setup of remote technology, and managing project materials.
Scheduling and overseeing logistics for meetings, workshops, travel, and conferences.
Organize, streamline, and manage Parks program files and folders, ensuring logical organization and easy retrieval of documents.
Coordinate quarterly board submission materials including memos and materials, PowerPoint presentations, and recording meeting minutes.

This job description is not intended to represent a complete, comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required in this position. There may be unplanned activities and other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

Superb organizational skills and demonstrated capacity for teamwork
Ability to work with multiple requests for assistance and effectively prioritize
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat
Ability to work within deadlines and plan accordingly
Ability to work cordially and professionally with all levels of staff

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum two (2) years of professional experience providing administrative support
Proven ability to take initiative and use good judgment
Demonstrated proficiency and comfort with database management systems, internet technology and a variety of computer programs
Must be able to drive to project sites

Desirable Experience

Land conservation planning, regional and open space planning, parks and recreational planning, and/or environmental sciences.
Working with design consultants, contracts, and construction management.
Organizing community engagement workshops.
Mapping and graphics software such as ArcGIS, SketchUp, Photoshop, InDesign, etc.
Non-profit organizations, grant funding, and environmental permitting.

Location & Physical Requirements

This position is based out of our Beacon, New York office
Hybrid work arrangement with at least three days per week in office expected weekly
Infrequent travel within New York State, mostly same-day trips by car and mostly in the Hudson Valley. Possible travel in the eastern US.
Ability to travel independently to rural areas
Frequently sits for long periods of time
Frequently speaks, reads, writes and uses a computer keyboard
May require occasional standing, walking, lifting, stooping, and bending

Please note: If you do not wholly meet the above qualifications but believe you are otherwise well-suited to meet the needs of this position, we encourage you to apply. 

Application

Apply here! Attach a cover letter that includes where you learned of the job posting along with your resume. Applications without a cover letter are not likely to be considered.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through September 20, 2025, with earlier submissions receiving priority consideration. You will receive an acknowledgment once your application has been submitted, and we will contact you if we would like to schedule an interview.

This is a full-time position requiring 37.5 hours per week within regular business hours; typically 9am-5pm, though there may be the opportunity for some flexibility (e.g. 8am-4pm) for the right candidate. The role involves working onsite at our Beacon, NY office at least three days per week.

Pay for this position is $65,000-$68,000, commensurate with the candidate’s skill level and experience. The recruiting team is committed to sharing details regarding compensation based on the candidate's qualifications during the interview process.

OSI is an equal opportunity employer. We recognize that our conservation mission is best advanced by the contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, and cultures. We are committed to cultivating and retaining a diverse and inclusive work environment that fosters belonging.

OSI offers accommodations for individuals with disabilities in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to resumes@osiny.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line. 

Consistent with New York State law, OSI does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, height, weight, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

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Open Space Institute, Inc

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