Community Relations & Stakeholder Manager

A hospitality and leisure operator developing a new Manhattan venue is hiring a Community Relations and Stakeholder Manager. The site is a live construction project today. This role exists because the work has neighbors, and the client intends to be a good one.

You are the face of the project to everyone who lives and works around it. You front residents, businesses, community organizations, local authorities and elected officials through construction and into the opening. You spot trouble before it escalates, you fix what can be fixed, and you tell leadership plainly when an issue is turning into a reputational one.

What you would be doing

Being the primary point of contact for residents, businesses, community groups, local authorities and elected officials. Communicating ahead of the work, not after it: schedules, major operations, deliveries, access changes, noise and utility interruptions. Taking in complaints and inquiries, chasing them down with the project team, the general contractor and the subs, and closing them out. Walking the site and the surrounding blocks regularly to catch problems before anyone has to call about them.

Coordinating and monitoring mitigation on noise, dust, traffic, deliveries, pedestrian access, lighting and sanitation. Keeping a clean record of every inquiry, complaint, action and resolution, and reporting it up. Reading the mood of the neighborhood and telling leadership what is building, including what could become a reputational or operational risk.

Attending and running community meetings and stakeholder briefings. Writing the notices, FAQs and presentations so the project speaks with one voice. Finding ways to make the project worth having nearby, through local hiring, purchasing, vendors and programming. Carrying the relationships through the opening and into early operations.

What we are looking for

Experience owning external relationships in your own name, in community relations, stakeholder engagement, public affairs or communications. Experience on a significant construction, development or major hospitality project is highly desirable. A track record with local communities, businesses, authorities or elected representatives in a complex urban setting.

The confidence to stand in front of an unhappy neighbor and the judgment to know what to concede and what to escalate. Strong writing, because much of this job is notices, FAQs and briefings that have to be clear the first time. Highly organized, proactive and solutions-focused, comfortable across project, construction and operational teams. Willingness to work flexibly when a meeting or an incident needs you there. Knowledge of the New York community, real estate, construction or hospitality landscape is an advantage.

Term and reporting

This is an 18-month fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extension depending on the progress of the building works. An extension is not guaranteed. The role runs through construction, the opening and into early operations, reports to the head of the project team, and is on site in Manhattan. Working hours are 8am to 5pm.

Compensation and benefits

$100,000 to $120,000 per year. Medical, dental and vision, eligible the first of the month following 30 days from hire. 401(k) with the company matching 100% of deferrals up to the first 3% and 50% on the next 2%. 15 days of paid time off in a 12-month period and 6 holidays.