Director of Programs at Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation – Brooklyn, New York

Job Title: Director of Programs

Classification: Full-time, exempt

Pay Rate: $115,000 - $135,00

Reports to: Chief Programs Officer  

Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) is looking to hire a strategic, creative, and operations-oriented programming leader to serve as its Director of Programs. In 2025, BBP undertook a pivotal investment in its future as a dynamic civic space for all by adding free public programs and education to its core mission. With the recent arrival of the Park’s inaugural Chief Program Officer, BBP is now poised to build on a legacy of wide-ranging free public programming in arts, recreation, fitness, cultural and seasonal celebrations, and youth activities.

The Director of Programs will have a rare opportunity to co-create and strategically grow BBP’s free public programs in the arts and other areas. This role will manage a portfolio of free public programs focused on arts and culture and will oversee the team’s systems for planning and delivery across all program areas. The successful candidate will work closely with the CPO to create new cultural programs that more deeply connect New Yorkers and visitors to the Park, driven by BBP’s public service mission and a vision of the Park as an engine of creativity and inspiration for world-class artists, local communities, and visitors.

The ideal candidate will bring creativity, a strategic mindset, a track record of artistically and operationally strong programming, and a robust equity lens.

Primary Responsibilities:

Creative & Strategic Program Leadership

• Develop, execute, and scale new free public programs in partnership with the CPO.

• Lead a robust portfolio of free public programs, with focus on arts and culture offerings.

• Support the execution of Brooklyn Bridge Park’s first programming strategy.

Program Operations

• Lead development, implementation, and evaluation of program operations systems, including budgeting, scheduling, booking, and production management planning.

• Support risk management, safety protocols, and regulatory compliance for public programs.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

• Forge new and sustain existing relationships with artists, cultural organizations, community groups, city agencies, local schools, and other key stakeholders.

• Actively engage residents and underrepresented communities in program development.

• Represent Brooklyn Bridge Park at public forums and community events as requested.

Team Management

• Support a full-time Deputy Director of Public Programs, a full-time Manager of Public Programs, and 15-20 seasonal staff.

• Partner with colleagues on Legal, Finance, Operations, Public Affairs, Development, Capital Projects, and Facilities teams to ensure effective and aligned execution.

• Collaborate with peers on the Education and Permits and Special Events teams to amplify impact across the department.

• Champion an inclusive, collaborative team culture focused on innovation, accountability, and public service.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in public programming, ideally in parks, cultural institutions, nonprofits, or other public/civic spaces.

• Experience implementing and leading the entire lifecycle of a public programs portfolio. Live music experience preferred, commissioning experience a plus.

• Strong curatorial vision and a network of relationships with artists and creatives.

• Experience designing inclusive programs and engaging diverse urban communities.

• Strategic thinker and operational executor who brings entrepreneurial energy to improve existing systems and build new ones.

• Budgeting, scheduling, and resource management expertise.

• Familiarity with NYC’s cultural, community, and civic ecosystems, especially in Brooklyn.

• Excellent communicator comfortable working cross-functionally and managing nuanced relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• History of managing full-time and seasonal/project-based teams.

• Experience with multi-use public outdoor space preferred.

• Candidates with multilingual skills and/or lived experience reflective of Brooklyn’s communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

About You:

• You strive to be inclusive and collaborative. At BBP, we recognize that doing our best work means working together. We have each other’s back – and are helpful, humble and open.

• You are committed. At BBP, we approach our work with integrity, positivity, and pride. We are committed to the public, the park and each other.

• You are a problem-solver. At BBP, we prioritize learning, evolving and building creative solutions to ensure the Park remains a leader in sustainable green space for generations to come.

• You value people and the environment. At BBP, respect is important to us. We strive to trust each other, act with good intention and communicate with openness.

Working at BBP:  

We believe that BBP is a park for all people. We take pride in our ability to provide the community with a beautiful, functional, clean, and safe green space. Internally, we strive to provide a work environment where employees feel supported, respected, and a sense of belonging. Our staff are experts in everything from horticulture to community engagement to park operations and events. The work environment is welcoming, with hardworking and diverse staff who are dedicated to building, beautifying, and maintaining the park. We offer benefits like affordable healthcare, retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, and prioritize the importance of work-life balance. 

Benefits (Other company benefits provided in addition to the following): 

• 403B (retirement plan) 

• Company-funded retirement plan

• Paid vacation time (up to 25 days) 

• Sick days (12) 

• Paid holidays/float days (15 days annually) 

• Remote Fridays (when programming needs to not require an onsite presence)

• FMLA and other paid leaves (based on eligibility) 

• Tuition and professional development reimbursement 

• Medical, dental, vision, Healthcare FSA, Dependent FSA, Commuter Benefits, Life, and Long-term Disability Insurance 

• BBP vendor discounts at restaurants, food markets, and other eateries 

• Other corporate discounts on movie tickets, theme parks, and more!

ABOUT BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK  

Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of the most transformative public projects in New York City in a generation, has revitalized a formerly industrial waterfront into a dynamic 85-acre civic space. Created to be environmentally and financially sustainable, Brooklyn Bridge Park is a model for resilient urban design that reconnects New Yorkers and visitors to the waterfront. Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) operates as a non-profit public benefit corporation of the City of New York and is responsible for the stewardship of the park—maintaining its landscapes, maritime infrastructure, and public amenities. BBP develops and delivers dynamic public programming that weaves together arts and culture, recreation, and environmental education to engage, inspire, and serve a diverse community.  

Brooklyn Bridge Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Brooklyn Bridge Park provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.