New York Road Runners Careers

Description

About NYRR 

New York Road Runners (NYRR) was founded in 1958 when a small group of passionate runners vowed to bring running to the people and has grown from a local running club into the world’s premier community running organization. NYRR’s vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running.   

NYRR’s year-round offerings of races, community events, programs, and training resources provide hundreds of thousands of people with the motivation, know-how, and opportunities to start running and keep running for life. NYRR’s premier event, the famed TCS New York City Marathon, attracts the world’s top professional runners and committed amateurs alike, while also raising millions of dollars annually for charity and driving economic impact for New York City.  NYRR is equally committed to the runners of tomorrow, passionately providing youth fitness programs that educate and inspire children in underserved communities in New York City, nationwide, and around the world. 

Headquartered in New York City, NYRR is a 501(c)(3) organization.  To learn more, please visit www.nyrr.org.   

At New York Road Runners, we are committed to building an inclusive, diverse workplace by finding the best candidate for the job. We understand that skills come from a variety of different backgrounds. Checking off every single requirement on our job description is not necessary to apply. If you think you are a good fit and have a passion for the work we do, please submit your application. We are eager to learn about your experience and skills! You may be the right candidate for this or other open positions. 

New York Road Runners is an Equal Opportunity Employer 

About the Department

The Community Impact Department encompasses our Youth Programs, Community Programs and Youth and Community events teams. NYRR is one of the largest non-profit providers of youth and community fitness programming in New York City (with a growing national/international footprint). The Youth Program team develops, administers, and supports an evolving portfolio of youth running programs and resources used by schools, community centers, and families throughout New York City and nationwide.

NYRR's flagship youth program, Rising New York Road Runners, brings the benefits of physical activity to various sites to help children develop the ability, confidence, and desire to be physically active for life. The Community Program team develops, administers, and supports a comprehensive portfolio of programs including our renowned NYRR Striders walking/fitness program for older adults, our NYRR Open Run platform that provides free running and walking racing, and community-building opportunities in parks across the city, and bespoke programs such as NYRR Run for the Future and Youth Ambassadors that provide deep engagement and lifelong skills such as running techniques and public speaking. The Youth Events team oversees the development and execution of over 35 Rising NYRR events per year, including events associated with our Five-Borough Series and the TCS New York City Marathon, each serving 100-1000 or more participants, and the support of other youth and community-based efforts.

About the Position

The Community Events Lead is responsible for leading the planning, development, and execution of NYRR's most complex Community Events, community engagement activations, and strategic initiatives. This role serves as the primary operational lead for high-impact events, overseeing project planning, cross-functional coordination, vendor management, and event delivery from concept through post-event evaluation.

Working closely with the Director of Community Events, the Lead supports the growth of NYRR's Community Events portfolio by establishing operational best practices, mentoring team members, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring events are executed safely, efficiently, and at the highest standard.

Job Responsibilities (primary and secondary duties):

• Lead the planning and execution of NYRR's portfolio of Community Events, community activations, and strategic initiatives.
• Partner with the Director to develop new Community Event concepts and strategic initiatives while identifying opportunities to enhance existing events, improve operational efficiency, and elevate the participant experience.
• Serve as the primary project manager for assigned events, overseeing all phases of planning and execution, including project plans, workback schedules, operational timelines, staffing plans, site layouts, logistics plans, and production documentation.
• Lead cross-functional planning efforts with internal departments including Operations, Marketing, Creative Services, Volunteer Services, Procurement, Finance, Medical, Safety & Security, and Community Impact.
• Serve as the primary operational lead during assigned events, making real-time operational decisions to ensure safe, efficient, and successful event delivery.
• Manage relationships with vendors, venues, city agencies, community organizations, sponsors, and external partners throughout the planning and execution process.
• Manage assigned event budgets, including expense tracking, invoice reconciliation, and financial reporting.
• Monitor project timelines, proactively identify operational risks, and implement solutions to maintain project schedules.
• Develop operational standards, planning tools, and documentation that improve consistency, efficiency, and execution across Community Events.
• Provide day-to-day guidance and mentorship to Community Events Coordinators, interns, seasonal staff, and Event Supervisors while fostering collaboration across project teams.
• Support onboarding and training of new team members and contribute to the professional development of the Community Events team.

Job Requirements:

Experience:

• 3+ years of event management or related experience, preferably in sports, community events, experiential marketing, or live event operations.
• Demonstrated experience independently managing complex events from concept through execution.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects with competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong experience coordinating vendors, city agencies, community organizations, and cross-functional teams.
• Experience developing operational plans, production schedules, budgets, and logistics documentation.
• Experience mentoring project teams, interns, seasonal staff, or junior team members preferred.

Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred but not required
• USATF Youth Coaching Certification preferred or willingness to obtain
• Technical knowledge of road racing and track and field events preferred
• CPR/AED and First Aid Certification preferred or willingness to obtain

Skills and Attributes:

• Exceptional project management and organizational skills.
• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building abilities.
• Excellent operational planning and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead complex projects while collaborating across multiple departments.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook).
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to balance strategic thinking and operational execution.
• Ability to adapt quickly and make sound decisions in dynamic event environments.
• Ability to work occasional weekends or evenings.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Operate on a hybrid schedule, with two days per week in the NYRR office in NYC. 

Other Requirements: 

• All staff are required to work the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon, RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon, and the TCS NYC Marathon. 

Physical Requirements:

Ability to lift 25lbs.

Salary: 76k

New York Road Runners is an Equal Opportunity Employer