Friends of the Rail Park Hiring an Operations Associate and a Community Development VISTA
Rachael Viscidy
ABOUT FRIENDS OF THE RAIL PARK
Friends of the Rail Park (FRP) seeks an enthusiastic Operations Associate to join our team. We are looking for a proactive, highly organized solution finder. Creativity is encouraged - you will play a key role in discovering new ways to grow FRP’s community and volunteer base, enhance our programmatic offerings, and generally ensure that Philadelphia is served by the Rail Park in bigger, better ways for years to come.
The Operations Associate will work with the Executive Director, staff, and board to ensure Rail Park events, meetings, and day-to-day operations are administered smoothly and effectively. This position reports to the Executive Director.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Project Management (50%)
Manage park stewardship activities, including volunteer planting and clean up events
Create project and event supply lists, source and order materials as needed
Collect, and process volunteer releases, evaluations pre- and post-event
Serve as FRP’s Parks and Rec and Park Friends Network liaison
Complete Park Friends permit applications; administer successful applications
Manage special event and tour inquiries, scheduling, and calendars
Occasionally represent FRP at community meetings and events
Provide support to Rail Park projects, programs, and events as needed
Operations & Administration (50%)
Process invoices and track expenses using Quickbooks and Bill.com
Update or edit documents and contracts from templates
Manage merchandise inventory and order fulfillment
Track supplies and equipment and reorder as necessary
Develop administrative systems and optimize office operations
Oversee grant contracts and reporting requirements; organize supporting materials related to grant administration
Maintain highly organized and accurate administrative tools, folders, files, work plans, calendars
Establish and maintain record keeping templates and archiving systems for Committee and Board meetings
Support the preparation of meeting agendas, supplemental materials and follow-up as needed
Other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
Positive attitude and a willingness to learn and be coached
Collaborative spirit with a strong sense of accountability
Excellent interpersonal skills
Excellent oral and written communicator
Ability to think and work independently with superior attention to detail
Comfort and confidence in a front-line role, excellent customer service and problem-solving skills
Interest in collecting, sorting, analyzing, and interpreting data to maximize digital tools
Ability to prioritize and perform multiple tasks while meeting deadlines
Ability to work occasional evening and weekend events and attend evening meetings
Mandarin or Spanish fluency preferred
2+ years of experience preferred
Reports to: Executive Director
Status: Exempt, Full-time
Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience ($50-$60,000), includes benefits
Expected start date: May 1 2023.
TO APPLY
Send a single PDF labeled “YourLastName_YourFirstName” to jo...@therailpark.org that includes:
A cover letter describing your relevant experience and interest in the position
Your resume
Two references
Two short writing samples
Make 2+ stylistic changes to this job description
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a final deadline of April 7 2023. References will be contacted as the hiring process moves forward.
No phone calls or emails, please.
Position #2: AmeriCorps PHENND Fellow - Community Development VISTA
Friends of the Rail Park (FRP)– the organization dedicated to bringing the Rail Park to life– is on a mission to build bold, transformative, and inclusive public space that connects Philadelphia’s residents and visitors to the city and each other. Phase One of the Rail Park is currently open to the public and located between Philadelphia’s Chinatown and Callowhill neighborhoods. Friends of the Rail Park is charged with activating and managing Phase One of the Rail Park and planning for future development. We are committed to equitable development as we expand through ten Philadelphia neighborhoods.
Our work will be guided by a multi-year, resident-led development planning process called the Equitable Development Agenda. This process will leverage an estimated $200 million investment in the Rail Park for public good. Not only will the investment yield public access to world-class park space, it will also seed resources for economic, cultural, environmental, and health benefits in adjacent neighborhoods. The FRP team collaborates to create dynamic, inclusive opportunities for community engagement. These opportunities include public events, walking tours of Phase one and future sections, and partnering with neighboring community organizations to support their community’s goals.
The Rail Park is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Philadelphia to collectively design and activate a world class park that will increase connectivity, celebrate local cultures, and provide much needed green space. However, the continued development of the Rail Park has the potential to rapidly increase property values and taxes, exacerbating issues of physical, economic, and cultural displacement. The PHENND VISTA Fellow will join the FRP team in pursuing equitable development strategies for increasing community wellbeing and mitigating harm.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Fellow’s primary focus will be managing a tour program in which residents are trained to provide tours of the Rail Park. The program enables residents to tell their own communities’ stories and is a pilot program for FRP’s economic development agenda. The program was piloted in early 2023, future iterations should provide economic opportunities to low income residents in adjacent neighborhoods. The Fellow will manage all aspects of the program including: fostering community partnerships, updating training curriculum, developing a marketing strategy, providing ongoing support to tour leaders, and creating a program evaluation mechanism.
The Fellow will also work closely with the rest of the FRP team to expand a foundation for community engagement, economic development, and inclusive planning to propel us towards our 3 Mile Vision. This may include planning or participating in public events, coordinating volunteers, and researching economic impact opportunities for future phases.
QUALIFICATIONS
This position is part of the AmeriCorps PHENND Fellows Program
Some college
Ability to work full time
The following skill sets and areas of knowledge are considered beneficial: Community Development, Community Organizing, Communications, Team Work, Education, Public Speaking, Project Management, Community Organizing, Tours, History, Culture, Art, Economic Development, Marketing, Sustainability, Preservation, Design, Workforce Development, Volunteer Management, Facilitation, Google Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, GIS
Mandarin and Spanish proficiency a plus
Reports to: Executive Director
Compensation and Benefits: See AmeriCorps PHENND Fellow Program Benefits.
TO APPLY
Apply through the AmeriCorps website posting for Community Development VISTA. Full Link: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=117035
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
No phone calls or emails, please.