Program Director

Open House New York seeks a Program Director to oversee the conception, planning, and execution of OHNY's programming, including the flagship Open House New York Weekend (October 16–18, 2026), a three-day, citywide festival spanning all five boroughs, and a robust calendar of year-round public programming, including talks, tours, and place-based activations.  

In collaboration with the Executive Director and Deputy Director, the Program Director will provide strategic leadership support across all aspects of festival and year-round event ideation and production. Areas of responsibility span festival production, year-round program development, outreach and partner relations, and team management. Given the scope of OHNY Weekend—50,000 attendees, 1,000 volunteers, 400 partner organizations, and 300 participating sites—we are seeking a candidate with demonstrated experience in large-scale production.  

This position is ideal for a candidate with a Swiss Army knife skillset who loves New York, is curious about the built environment, and knows how to deliver best-in-class programming for a broad and increasingly diverse public audience. The ideal candidate is decisive and can manage complexity at scale, inspire a team, think entrepreneurially, and translate OHNY's mission into compelling public-facing events. The Program Director will join a small, creative, and ambitious team that values curiosity, transparency, and initiative. This is a unique opportunity to lead transformative work at a fast-paced nonprofit dedicated to using architecture, design, and infrastructure as a lens for exploring the social, cultural, and civic life of New York City. 

This is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the Executive Director.  

OHNY Weekend Production 

• In collaboration with the Deputy Director and Executive Director, manage the planning and execution of OHNY Weekend, coordinating across all production workstreams to ensure a cohesive and high-quality festival experience 
• Oversee the integrity and management of the festival database and all partner information, ensuring accuracy across the website, ticketing platforms, and public-facing materials 
• Serve as a primary point of contact for partner sites, stewarding relationships from recruitment through the close of the festival 
• Oversee audience engagement strategy, including public communications, attendee experience, and feedback systems 
• Support the staff in planning and execution of all associated festival events, including volunteer orientation, member events, and festival launch party 
• Monitor audience feedback trends and report observations and recommendations to the Deputy Director and Executive Director 

Year-Round Program Management 

• Working closely with the Executive Director, support the development and execution of approximately 40 public programs annually, including boat tours, membership programs, a five-borough scavenger hunt, and special events 
• Manage all logistical and operational aspects of year-round programming, including venue coordination, partner communications, run-of-show planning, and post-event evaluation 
• Oversee content development for programs in collaboration with senior leadership, ensuring programming reflects OHNY's editorial vision and organizational priorities 
• Lead program ideation, developing suggestions for program partners, festival sites, formats, and topics 
• Identify and implement process improvements to strengthen program operations year over year 

Outreach and Partner Relations 

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with partner sites, venues, community organizations, and other external stakeholders in support of both OHNY Weekend and year-round programs 
• Represent OHNY externally with partners, funders, press, and community stakeholders, in coordination with the Executive Director 
• Manage Board Program Committee 
• Support the development of new programming partnerships and opportunities, bringing ideas and prospects to senior leadership for review and direction 

Team Management 

• Directly supervise team members (anticipated 2-4 direct reports), providing day-to-day guidance, performance feedback, and professional development support 
• Coordinate workloads across direct reports to ensure production timelines and program deliverables are met 
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture consistent with OHNY's organizational values 
• Report directly to the Executive Director, providing regular updates on program status, risks, and outcomes 

Experience and Qualifications 

• At least six years of progressive experience in program or event production, with a track record of managing large-scale, public-facing programs 
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; advanced degree in urban planning, architecture, arts administration, or a related field a plus 
• Demonstrated experience managing staff or cross-functional teams, especially in small non-profit environments 
• Strong command of content management and project management tools, including Airtable, WordPress, Asana, Google Suite, and Microsoft Office 
• Familiarity with ticketing platforms such as Eventbrite and design tools such as Canva and Adobe Creative Suite; strong design acumen a plus 
• Deep knowledge of and enthusiasm for New York City's built environment, architecture, and cultural landscape 
• Exceptional organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously 

Education 

Bachelor’s Degree or commensurate experience. 

Location and Hours 

We currently work on a hybrid schedule. The Program Director will work three days per week (typically Tuesday-Thursday) in our office at 150 Varick Street, though this schedule may shift and evolve, particularly in the run-up to major events.  

The ability to attend events in the evening and some weekends is required. Note: OHNY Weekend is October 16-18, 2026 and it typically scheduled the third weekend in October.  

Salary and Benefits 

Salary is commensurate with experience, in the range of $80,000—$95,000. Full benefits provided, including health insurance, retirement contribution, and pre-tax flexible spending accounts. We welcome an open discussion with interested candidates about the full compensation package. 

Application 

A successful application includes a cover letter that addresses your relevant experience and your interest in New York City’s built environment. Cover letter and resume should be emailed as a single PDF to [email protected] with “Program Director + Your Name” in the subject line.  

Selected applicants will be invited to interview the OHNY team in July. Applicants who advance to this stage will be asked to provide work samples and references, and complete an assignment. 

Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with resume reviews starting on June 22; the priority deadline is June 26. Position is for immediate hire with an anticipated start by August 3.  

Open House New York encourages candidates from any and all backgrounds, nationalities, ethnicities, gender identities, and lived experiences to apply. We are an organization that is committed to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in all aspects of our work, most importantly our team. 

A note of encouragement: Statistics show that individuals coming from systematically excluded or oppressed groups apply to jobs only if they meet every qualification. Open House New York wishes to remind applicants that rarely does someone meet 100% of the qualifications. We look forward to hearing from you. 

About Open House New York 

Open House New York promotes broad, unparalleled access to the city—to the places, people, projects, systems and ideas that define New York and its future—and fosters civic dialogue about how the city functions and who it serves. Through year-round programming and the annual OHNY Weekend, which ranks among the largest public design festivals in the nation, Open House New York offers a citywide platform for public education and engagement. For more information, visit ohny.org.

A successful application includes a cover letter that addresses your relevant experience and your interest in New York City’s built environment. Cover letter and resume should be emailed as a single PDF to [email protected] with “Program Director + Your Name” in the subject line.  

Selected applicants will be invited to interview the OHNY team in July. Applicants who advance to this stage will be asked to provide work samples and references, and complete an assignment. 

Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with resume reviews starting on June 22; the priority deadline is June 26. Position is for immediate hire with an anticipated start by August 3.  

Open House New York encourages candidates from any and all backgrounds, nationalities, ethnicities, gender identities, and lived experiences to apply. We are an organization that is committed to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in all aspects of our work, most importantly our team. 

A note of encouragement: Statistics show that individuals coming from systematically excluded or oppressed groups apply to jobs only if they meet every qualification. Open House New York wishes to remind applicants that rarely does someone meet 100% of the qualifications. We look forward to hearing from you.