President

The New York Landmarks Conservancy is New York's leading nonprofit preservation organization, dedicated to protecting, revitalizing, and promoting the city's architecturally, historically, and culturally significant buildings and neighborhoods. Through advocacy, technical assistance, loans and grants, educational programs, and strategic partnerships, the Conservancy works to ensure that New York's rich built heritage remains an integral part of vibrant communities across the city and state.

About the role

The Conservancy seeks a dynamic, relationship-oriented, and externally focused President to build on a strong legacy while leading the organization into its next era of impact, visibility, and growth. Reporting to the Board, the President will serve as the chief ambassador, strategist, fundraiser, and organizational leader. This individual will inherit an organization with a distinguished reputation, deep institutional knowledge, strong programmatic impact, and substantial goodwill throughout the preservation community.

The next leader will expand the organization's visibility, diversify revenue streams, strengthen relationships with key public-sector decision-makers, engage new generations of supporters, and articulate the relevance of preservation within contemporary discussions about housing, economic development, and community vitality.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Public Face and Voice of the Conservancy: Represent the organization in public forums, media appearances, policy discussions, and stakeholder meetings. Develop and maintain strong relationships with city and state government officials, community leaders, developers, preservation organizations, donors, foundations, and other partners.
• Expand Fundraising and Diversify Revenue: Build upon a solid financial foundation by broadening philanthropic support, deepening major donor relationships, cultivating institutional funding sources, and building upon existing fundraising events and individual contributors.
• Advance Preservation Through Pragmatic Leadership: Protect the organization’s reputation as a thoughtful and constructive participant in discussions involving historic preservation, housing affordability, economic development, planning, and community revitalization. Help broaden understanding of preservation as a public good that benefits diverse communities throughout New York.
• Lead and Sustain a High-Performing Team: Support and empower an experienced, mission-driven staff while preserving the collegial, collaborative, and respectful culture that distinguishes the Conservancy. Cultivate a strong, transparent partnership with an engaged Board of Directors, leveraging board members' expertise, networks, and philanthropic resources.
• Provide overall vision, strategy, and leadership for the Conservancy, including strategic planning and organizational goal setting in partnership with the Board and staff.
• Assess and respond to emerging opportunities and challenges affecting preservation, planning, and community development.
• Ensure sound financial stewardship and responsible management of organizational resources, working with the staff and Board to maintain long-term financial health and sustainability.
• Oversee organizational operations, budgeting, compliance, and risk management.
• Build and sustain productive relationships with policymakers, preservation partners, community stakeholders, donors, developers, and other key partners.
• Advance the Conservancy’s visibility, credibility, and influence within government, media, and the broader public.
• Articulate compelling, well-reasoned positions on preservation issues while maintaining the organization’s reputation for balance, credibility, and pragmatism.
• Lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy in collaboration with development staff to deepen philanthropic investment in the Conservancy’s mission.
• Identify, cultivate, and secure new funding opportunities, growing foundation, corporate, individual, and planned giving support.
• Lead, mentor, and support a team of talented and experienced staff, fostering a workplace culture characterized by trust, professionalism, mutual respect, transparency, and shared accountability.
• Support effective human resource practices and internal systems appropriate for a growing, mission-driven organization.
• Support outreach to prospective new members of the Board of Directors and Advisory Council to ensure their continued strength and contributions over time.

Requirements

• Interest in and appreciation for historic preservation, architecture, urban design, planning, or the broader built environment; familiarity with New York City politics, zoning, planning, and development processes is highly valued.
• Experience in government affairs, public policy, advocacy, or related fields, with the ability to navigate complex political environments and competing stakeholder interests while maintaining organizational integrity, credibility, and a nonpartisan approach.
• A track record of leading mission-driven organizations, including staff development, organizational growth, board engagement, and the cultivation of a collaborative, high-performing culture.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate and sustain strong relationships with board members, donors, elected officials, advocates, civic leaders, and other key constituencies.
• Experience securing and stewarding major gifts, partnering effectively with engaged boards, and developing diversified revenue streams.
• High emotional intelligence, credibility, authenticity, sound judgment, and the presence to represent the Conservancy with professionalism and confidence.
• Strong public speaking, writing, media relations, and storytelling skills, with the ability to communicate the value and relevance of preservation to a wide range of audiences.
• Experience working effectively with accomplished boards, demonstrating transparency, collaboration, and respect for effective governance.

Work Environment

The President is a full-time, salaried, and exempt position based in the Conservancy’s offices at One Whitehall Street, 21st Floor in Lower Manhattan. The organization operates on a hybrid schedule, with three in-office days per week. This role requires flexibility for evening and weekend events, as needed.

Pay

Salary: $300,000–350,000

Benefits

The Conservancy offers a competitive benefits package, including:

• Health, dental, and vision coverage
• Disability insurance
• Voluntary retirement plan with employer contributions after two years of service