Competitions Coordinator
Van Alen Institute
Professional Area:
Architecture
Urban Design
Experience:
3-5 years
Email:
jobs@vanalen.org
Location:
New York, NY
The Competitions Coordinator is an organized, creative, and resourceful individual who supports every aspect of Van Alen Institute’s design competitions and their related research initiatives and public programs.
We see the design competition as a vehicle to mobilize people across disciplines to develop innovative approaches to complex social, cultural ecological challenges around the world. From temporary installations to regional planning, our work partners exceptional professional teams with local stakeholders to produce innovative ideas, implementable strategies, and singular interventions in the built environment.
Our current projects are imagining a more sustainable Lower Mississippi River Delta, shaping the visitor experience of national parks, creating an interactive lighting installation in the Flatiron District, charting the course for reusing vacant land in New Orleans today and for decades to come, and rethinking the conventional design competition model to reach new audiences and create new forms of participation. Past projects have resulted in the iconic TKTS booth in Times Square, catalyzed the transformation of Governor’s Island into public space, and steered nearly $1billion of federal funding to improve the resiliency of communities hit hard by Hurricane Sandy.
We’re looking for someone who can think big and sweat the details; who knows design and planning, and can both share that expertise with and learn from diverse stakeholders; whose skillset includes brainstorming project ideas, managing spreadsheets, pulling off public programs, and juggling the unglamorous, day-to-day tasks to help make all of this happen.
You are: a recent planning grad with strong design skills; a designer fed up with practice; an urbanist who’s completed public projects for diverse audiences; a project manager looking for more creative work; some combination of all of the above.
The Competitions Coordinator works directly with the Director of Competitions alongside other Van Alen Institute staff and external collaborators, consultants and clients. The position reports to the Director of Competitions and the Executive Director.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years of working experience in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, or a related field, with proven track record of successfully supporting projects.
- Exceptional organizational skills
- Strong graphic representation skills
- Strong budget management skills
- Exceptional written and verbal communication and proof-reading ability
- Resourceful, works well under pressure, and able to multitask
- Strong experience in content development and research
- Ability to represent the organization externally
- Ability tailor messaging to key audiences and readers
- Experience working with a diverse range of people
- Experience with design and documentation processes preferred
Tasks
- Support all aspects of organizing design competitions, including conceptual development, design, implementation, public programs, documentation and communication
- Serve as lead project manager for up to two competitions a year, reporting to the Director of Competitions
- Assist in the development of all communications and outreach aspects of competitions, including producing websites, public programs and events, presentations, and brochures
- Coordinate and assist with the production of all public programs and events – past competition programs have included design charrettes, parades, bike tours, building temporary playgrounds, and dance parties.
- File and update budgets; Assist in tracking project spending to ensure maximum use of the project resources; Monitor and closely track project expenses
- Maintain project records and budgets to comply with funder requirements and grant adherence
- Assist in researching successful models for and innovative approaches to past competitions and in developing new models.
- Communicate with diverse project stakeholders and work collaboratively with outside partners and funders
- Represent Van Alen Institute at competition-related events and meetings, which may include evenings, weekends, and travel
This is a full-time position.
Interested applicants should email a cover letter and CV as a pdf to jobs@vanalen.org. Due to the volume of receipts, only qualified applicants will be contacted. Salary commensurate with experience. Benefits included.