Work with Us
Street Lab is a nonprofit that creates and shares programs for public space across New York City. Using custom-designed installations, we pop up in parks, plazas, and other public spaces to offer places to gather around learning, reading, drawing, play, and more, for all ages. We partner with community-based organizations and city agencies, and we prioritize underserved locations. We do this work in order to improve the urban environment, strengthen neighborhoods, and bring New Yorkers together. We also send kits around the world so that other cities can do the same.
Program Coordinator
HOURS: 30+ hours/week through Aug 31, 2023, with possibility of permanent position in the fall. Work schedule: Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
PAY: $30/hour
LOCATION: New York City
DATE POSTED: June 3, 2023
As Program Coordinator, you will report to Street Lab’s Program Lead and join a close-knit team that creates 350+ pop-ups each year across New York City. Your special focus will be to help ensure our programs run smoothly each weekend, when we are in high demand. You will complete some tasks at our office and storage, but most of your time will be spent out in the city managing our events on the street, ensuring that our team on the ground has everything they need to create a high-quality experience for New Yorkers. You should be prepared to dive in and work alongside program staff as needed, interacting with the public, ensuring that everyone feels welcome and included. To that end, you should have a strong interest in Street Lab’s mission along with a love of production and operations. This position has room for growth and may be extended or renewed after August 31, 2023, depending on performance and funding.
Tasks will include:
- Travel to our pop-ups in all five boroughs to oversee and work alongside staff and manage the set-up and strike of our pop-up installations, ensuring that our gear and program material are well organized, attractive, and in good repair
- Manage all day-of-show communications with Street Lab Program Staff, delivery drivers, community partners, and volunteers, acting as a point person on Slack and phone
- Monitor weather and other local conditions and prepare contingency plans as needed to ensure the safety of all staff and gear
- Take photos to help document each pop-up
- Meet movers at our storage to oversee and help load gear at the beginning and end of day
- When not in the field, help with maintenance and preparation of gear and program materials, planning and staging for upcoming events, and data entry in our Airtable database
- Attend weekly Program Team meetings and provide other Street Lab staff with regular updates
Qualifications and Skills:
- Related production and operations experience
- Experience with and passion for working with NYC communities and neighborhood groups
- Strong interpersonal skills and a customer-service orientation
- Strong organization, planning, and time management skills; ability to work in fast-paced, stakeholder-focused, team environment
- Confidence in representing Street Lab and explaining the organization’s work to the public
- Ability to access and manage digital communications on the go, whether on a laptop, tablet or smart phone including Slack, Airtable, and Google.
- Ability to get around the boroughs, by public transportation and/or bike
- The job will require occasional heavy lifting and remaining on your feet in the field
- Due to our work with seniors and young children, we require all staff to have received both the initial COVID-19 vaccination series and a COVID-19 booster shot
Helpful, but not required:
- Photography skills
- Language skills
- Knowledge of NYC neighborhoods
- Driver’s license and experience driving in NYC
How to Apply:
Please email a cover letter/email and resume to Leslie Davol (leslie@streetlab.org) with subject line “Program Coordinator: [Name].” Additional material such as portfolios, work samples, and writing samples can also be included.
Quotes from our staff:
“I definitely felt like I was making an impact. Whether it was introducing young kids to different areas of science/things I will be studying in college, or reading books to kids who don’t have someone at home to read to them, I felt that my presence aided them in several ways. Hearing all the different stories and working with children has also inspired me to do more service work” – Marco
“I want to thank you for allowing me to be part of the Uni Project this summer. It allowed me to travel to different pockets of the city that are very overlooked, some places where most never go, and feel like I had an impact.” – Rasheed
“All was well on Saturday. We had about a dozen kids overall, and some stayed all day. Several I recognized from last time I was there, and some kids asked for Greig, so it’s nice that we’re getting a regular crowd. The kids also have favorite books that they remember from prior weeks. One little boy had been obsessed with a book about frogs, and when I pulled it out for him he said ‘Oh no. Now I like funny books, like the book about Mr. Grover.’ (He was, hands down, my favorite kid.)” – Emily
“It’s a great way to see the city!” – Kelleen
Street Lab does not discriminate against any applicant or employee with regard to hiring, retention, promotion, benefits or compensation because of race, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, gender, age, marital status, creed, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
See our Diversity and Inclusion Policy and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.