- Salary
- $32 – $43/hr
- Location
- Norristown, PA, PA
- Type
- Full-time
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Source
- GovernmentJobs
Description
The Trail Junction Center (TJC) Coordinator is an experienced professional responsible for a wide array of tasks related to the Trail Junction Center (TJC), a County-owned community facility located in Norristown. The Coordinator role is focused on catalyzing community engagement and activation of the TJC along with overall oversight responsibilities for the TJC structure and site. Additionally, the Coordinator will be encouraged to draw upon their creativity, enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit to foster a vibrant public facility intended to serve as a small but mighty nexus of activity in the Norristown community and Circuit Trail network. The Coordinator will report to the Deputy Director, which is a part of the County Department of Assets & Infrastructure (A&I).
The following TJC project goals will provide the overall operational vision and framework for the Coordinator:
- Trail Services - provide amenities for trail users.
- Gateway - create bi-directional connection between trails and town.
- Destination - serve as a draw for both the trail and town communities.
- Community Benefit - provide social and economic benefits.
- Flexibility - design to allow for creative evolution of uses and functions.
- Guiding Design Principles - create a sustainable, universally-accessible, historically-sensitive and safe place.
- Place Management & Governance - establish an operational structure for long-term success.
The Coordinator will have five key areas of responsibility as follows:
- Activation Partner Identification/Prospecting & Recruitment
The Coordinator will be responsible for identifying and recruiting programming partners across multiple categories, including, but not limited to:
- Trail Services (e.g., bike repair shops, outdoor gear retailers)
- Arts & Culture (e.g., local artists, theater companies)
- Food & Beverage (e.g., food trucks, potential café operators, farmers markets)
- Recreation & Wellness (e.g., fitness instructors, yoga teachers)
- Education & Enrichment (e.g., libraries, historical societies)
- Community Services (e.g., senior programs, civic organizations)
- Small Business & Entrepreneurs (e.g., pop-up shops, craft vendors)
As potential programming partners are identified, the Coordinator will assess the suitability of each prospect to meet the goals of the TJC. The Coordinator will develop clear partnership criteria and application processes to assist with evaluating potential partners based on community need alignment, program quality, financial viability, insurance/liability compliance, commitment to inclusivity, and capacity to deliver consistent programming. The Coordinator will consult with the TJC Advisory Committee to review activation partner applications, select partners, and then coordinate with A&I to develop and execute partnership agreements (see Section 2 below)
The Coordinator will manage and support activation partners through a variety of means, including:
- Agreement Development. In coordination with A&I, create standardized partnership agreements covering space use terms, insurance requirements, fee structures (if applicable), cancellation policies, liability provisions, and code of conduct. Negotiate customized terms for unique partners. Ensure legal compliance for all agreements.
- Ongoing Partner Support. Serve as primary contact for activation partner questions and needs. Provide orientation for new partners. Troubleshoot logistical challenges. Facilitate connections between complementary partners. Gather partner feedback on facility and coordination services.
- Quality Assurance. Monitor programming quality through observation and community feedback. Address concerns promptly and professionally.
- Adaptive Programming. Use data and feedback to continuously refine programming mix. Pilot new activities based on community requests. Phase out underutilized programming. Expand successful initiatives.
- Equity & Inclusion. Ensure programming reflects community diversity. Remove barriers to participation (transportation, cost, language, accessibility). Partner with organizations serving underrepresented populations. Schedule activities at various times to accommodate different work schedules. Provide multilingual information as needed.
As activation partners are recruited and placed under contract, the Coordinator will be responsible for the following coordination and scheduling tasks:
- Master Calendar Development. Create and maintain a comprehensive programming calendar balancing:
- Recurring programming
- Special events and festivals
- Partner-led activities
- Drop-in trail services
- Community meeting space reservations
- Seasonal programming variations (winter vs. summer activity mix)
- Space Allocation & Management. Coordinate use of indoor community space, outdoor areas, vendor zones, and performance spaces. Develop reservation system for community groups. Manage setup/breakdown logistics and equipment needs.
The Coordinator will actively market all TJC events and programming through a variety of communication channels, including, but not limited to, on-site event calendars and signage, the TJC website, social media, and outreach through County departments, other public agencies, County municipalities, and Norristown-based nonprofits.
Additionally, the Coordinator will experiment with a variety of communication methods, including both digital and physical means, find creative ways to market the TJC and its activities and programming to a diversity of audiences, and coordinate directly with the County Communications Director. The Coordinator will foster a TJC brand and identity and proactively analyze what marketing and communication methods are most effective.
The TJC will be part of the County’s Department of Assets & Infrastructure’s "portfolio" of assets. The Coordinator will:
- Coordinate with the appropriate A&I staff (i.e., Divisions of Public Property and Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites, and outside vendors as appropriate) responsible for custodial duties inside building, building maintenance, landscape maintenance, interior and exterior trash/recycling collection, and any other physical upkeep needs that arise.
- Place and track service and maintenance requests as needed.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Experience and Training Requirements
- Minimum 5 years of experience in facility management, event planning, programming, marketing and communications.
- Experience creating and evaluating public programs.
- Excellent management skills.
- Knowledge of current marketing and communication media.
- Knowledge of program planning, design, implementation, evaluation and legal aspects of programs and service.
- Experience in developing and supporting partnerships and sponsorships for events and programs.
- Experience/strong interest in serving the Norristown and trail user communities.
Competencies, Skills and Other Experience
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to effectively communicate with all partners including other County departments, outside partners, vendors, and stakeholders at all levels.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to manage budgets and timelines.
- Ability to travel throughout the County to fulfill the duties of the position, including travel to areas not served by public transit.
- Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as needed.
- Maintain certifications in CPR and First Aid (or within 12 months of hire).
- Valid driver’s license and/or access to reliable transportation.
- The physical demands and work environment here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- Ability to be stationary for extended periods while working on a computer or in meetings.
- While the position will not typically require significant physical demands, it may involve standing or walking for extended periods during events and assisting with event setup.
- Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 30 pounds and move event-related materials.
- Occasional exposure to inclement weather, extreme heat, cold, snow, ice and rain.
- This position is eligible for Hybrid Remote work with a minimum of 4 days in-office/on-site. Monday – Friday.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EOE
Montgomery County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.