Public Spaces Manager

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust•Pittsburgh, PA

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager of Public Spaces assists in the management of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s public spaces as vibrant, welcoming, safe, and culturally resonant places. Reporting to and working closely with the Director of Public Spaces, this role supports the planning and daily operations of Trust public spaces, with a focus on events, rentals, daily activity, visitor experience, and partner coordination. A key focus is Arts Landing, the Trust’s new four-acre, multi-use civic space located in downtown Pittsburgh; the space includes a one-acre great lawn, playground, permanent stage, public art program, pickleball courts, and other amenities. This role works closely with Trust staff, contractors, vendors, community partners, and other stakeholders to make sure public space activities in Arts Landing and throughout the Cultural District are well coordinated and successfully carried out.

Requirements

Minimum 3–5 years of professional experience overall, with a minimum of 2 years of experience in event management, venue operations, placemaking, arts management, public space management, or related field.
Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office required.
Experience coordinating complex event logistics and operational planning.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities.
Comfort working outdoors in varying conditions, interacting with the general public
Superior communication and relationship-building skills.
Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail.
Ability to effectively communicate and work with a diverse group of staff, partners, vendors, clients, and stakeholders.
Positive attitude with a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
Commitment to creating welcoming, safe, and engaging public spaces.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience supervising or coordinating part-time staff, seasonal staff, contractors, volunteers, or event support personnel preferred.
Familiarity with venue/event management software (Momentus Elite, Ungerboeck) and event layout or site planning software (Social Tables, OnePlan) preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as deputy to the Director of Public Spaces by helping to implement public space strategy, manage daily priorities, coordinate cross-functional work, and provide operational continuity.
Manage and monitor the day-to-day operations and activation of Arts Landing and other Trust public spaces as assigned.
Support implementation of public space policies, operating procedures, event protocols, emergency and weather procedures, and partner guidelines; recommend updates based on operational needs and visitor experience.
Coordinate the planning and execution of programming, rentals, special events, and other activities in Trust public spaces, including event logistics, layouts, schedules, site operations, staffing plans, and onsite execution.
Manage third-party rental inquiries and coordinate the rental process from initial inquiry through event execution, including internal approvals, site requirements, partner communications, and post-event follow-up.
Serve as a primary day-to-day point of contact for internal Trust departments as well as vendors, contractors, event partners, community organizations, and other external stakeholders.
Coordinate part-time staff, seasonal staff, contractors, volunteers, and event support personnel as assigned, including onsite direction, scheduling support, and communication of expectations.
Track key public space activity, visitor experience observations, event outcomes, operational issues, and partner feedback to support reporting, planning, and continuous improvement.
Support the administration and financial management of public space activities, including permits, contracts, certificates of insurance, invoices, budget tracking, and event reconciliation.
Prepare reports, project updates, partner materials, and other communications as requested and perform other job-relevant duties as assigned.