OC Parks Planning & Design Manager

CAREER DESCRIPTION OC PARKS PLANNING & DESIGN MANAGER (CAPITAL PROJECTS MANAGER, SENIOR)

SALARY INFORMATION Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and the successful candidate’s qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future Capital Projects Manager, Senior vacancies within the County of Orange.

The eligible list established may also be used to fill similar and lower-level classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately, as this recruitment will close on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at 11 : 59 PM (PT).

OC Community Resources is a multi-faceted department comprised of OC Animal Care, OC Community Services, OC Housing & Community Development, OC Parks, and OC Public Libraries.

Click for more information on the County of Orange.

OC Parks encompasses regional, wilderness and historical facilities, as well as the Orange County Zoo and coastal areas throughout the County of Orange in California.

Featuring 60,000 acres of parkland, open space and shoreline, Orange County’s award-winning parks and programs are enjoyed by millions of residents and visitors each year, in ways as diverse as the parks themselves.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The OC Parks Planning and Design Manager provides management and oversight of the OC Parks Planning and Design Division responsible for park, trails and bikeway planning;

park facility design; regulatory compliance and permitting; coastal and watershed engineering and natural resource management.

OC Parks’ stewardship mission is achieved through comprehensive park development and resource management planning that balances the public’s recreational needs with the protection of natural and cultural resources.

A primary role of the Planning and Design Manager is to provide guidance and direction over design and planning projects to ensure this critical balance is maintained.

This position manages capital improvements for OC Parks and acts as the liaison with OCCR programs and OC Public Works’ departments.

The Planning and Design Manager collaborates with the OCCR Budget Manager to develop annual capital budgets and the 5-year Strategic Financial Plan.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate will possess five (5)+ or more years of experience in park planning, trails, and bikeway planning; park facility design;

regulatory compliance and permitting; coastal and watershed engineering; natural resource management and capital project budgeting.

The ideal candidate will also have three (3)+ years of experience supervising staff members. Experience supervising landscape architects is highly desirable.

A valid Landscape Architect’s license issued by the California Board of Architectural Examiners and a Bachelor’s degree or higher in architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, construction technology, construction management, design, or construction of civil / public works, or related field are highly desirable.

In addition, the ideal candidate will also demonstrate extensive experience, knowledge, and ability in the following core competencies :

Technical Experience

• A comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of park planning and design of recreational facilities
• A working knowledge of the principles of site design, planning, environmental permitting, CEQA, engineering, architecture, surveying, and construction
• Preparing and administering budgets and capital project cost estimates
• Developing short and long-term planning and budgeting for pavement, rehabilitation, and capital improvement projects
• A broad understanding of government contract bidding process
• Working professional experience in a variety of planning and design project types and scales
• Providing technical oversight and guidance for staff managing high-profile park development planning and capital improvement projects
• Understanding and application of accessibility design standards (Americans with Disabilities Act requirements), low-impact development practices, sustainable design, drought tolerant landscape and irrigation design, habitat restoration, and arboriculture
• Knowledge and literacy in landscape architecture and project management application software such as geographical information system (GIS), computer-aided design (CAD), and graphics / design visualization applications
• Applying strong skills with software related to word processing and graphics, spreadsheets, schedules, statistical analysis, and geographic analysis

Leadership Management Skills

• Developing and leading a workforce of licensed and non-licensed planning, design and engineering professionals and technicians, natural resource management specialists, and environmental permitting specialists
• Providing guidance and mentorship to staff for professional advancement and growth.
• Developing and providing oversight for project teams responsible for the delivery of high-profile park planning and design projects
• Providing guidance and oversight of design and planning staff to create designs for safe, accessible, aesthetically pleasing, and functional park facilities and improvements.
• Assisting executive management in developing departmental business objectives and specific project strategies
• Understanding and addressing park visitor and project stakeholder needs within the guidelines of policy and procedures
• Making sound decisions within a professional ethical framework, building and maintaining trust and positive working relationships with assigned subordinate staff

Analysis Problem Solving

• Understanding, interpreting, and enforcing compliance with plans, specifications, schedules, and contract provisions.
• Recognizing problems of project scope, budget, schedule, plans, and specifications and providing guidance to division staff to determine necessary changes.

Planning Organization

• Planning and organizing work effectively to ensure that division staff assignments are assigned to appropriate personnel.
• Overseeing the development of realistic schedules and appropriate processes for delivery of capital and park planning projects.

Oral Communication Writing Skills

• Working collaboratively with and presenting ideas to elected officials, stakeholder groups, members of the community, and with other County and government staff.
• Building consensus and negotiating with public and private parties.
• Negotiating and managing competitive bidding processes for complex contracts.
• Presenting ideas in a clear, logical, and concise manner.
• Communicating in an effective manner to individuals and / or groups with diverse interests including project stakeholders, contractors, and departmental representatives.
• Leading presentations in various public meetings including public workshops, advisory body meetings, regulatory body meetings (including the California Coastal Commission), and for elected officials.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Click to view the minimum qualifications for Capital Projects Manager, Senior .

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and / or desirable qualifications. After the screening, candidates who meet the minimum and / or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process.

All candidates will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Recorded Structured Oral Interview SOI (Weighted 100%)

Candidates will be interviewed and rated by an oral interview panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate’s rating will be based on responses to a series of questions designed to elicit the candidate’s qualifications for the job.

Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.

Based on the Department’s needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. Candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.

Eligible List Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for current and future vacancies.

Veterans Employment Preference

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings.

Please click to review the policy.