Senior Park Planner
The Sonoma County Regional Parks Department is looking for a Senior Park Planner who is a licensed landscape architect to provide a high level of knowledge and understanding of park planning and project administration. As a Senior Park Planner, you will help lead the project delivery team and will be responsible for reviewing and approving new and/or complex projects throughout Sonoma County. You will serve as the project manager and technical lead and be responsible for more complex and politically sensitive park planning projects. Additional responsibilities include:
- Managing complex park planning projects including master plans and construction bid documents
- Soliciting and negotiating consultant services, evaluating and rating proposals, and negotiating contracts for services
- Representing the department in public meetings and presentations to other community groups and agencies, including the Board of Supervisors
- Supervise the construction of park facilities
- Acting as team lead for planning staff
The ideal candidate will possess:
- Strong project management skills and experience managing public park projects
- Effective written and verbal communication skills to accomplish objectives with diverse audiences
- Experience with a broad range of community engagement methodology
- An understanding of public funding procedures
- Experience with natural and cultural resources, and regulatory permitting
- The ability to build and maintain effective relationships with co-workers, government officials, federal, state and local agencies, community groups, and the general public
County of Sonoma's Regional Parks include more than 50 parks, trails, and beaches from Petaluma to Gualala and Sonoma to Bodega Bay. Many offer wild landscapes while others feature sports fields, playgrounds, campgrounds, boat launches, and an environmental education center. Please visit http://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov to learn more about the various programs and resources offered by the Regional Parks Department.
What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to a competitive total compensation package* including:
- An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
- Significant portion of health care premiums paid by the County and access to several health plan options
- County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
- May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
- Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. *Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU).
This recruitment is being conducted to fill a Senior Park Planner position in the Regional Parks Department. The employment list established from this recruitment may also fill other full-time, part-time, and extra-help regular or bilingual positions that may occur during the active status of the employment list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Any combination of education, training and experience, which would likely provide for possession of stated knowledge and abilities. Normally, graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in architecture, civil engineering, landscape architecture or related field, and three years experience in park planning, planning, architecture or landscape architecture.
Special Requirement: Possession of a valid Certificate of Registration as a Landscape Architect issued by the California Architects Board.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Considerable knowledge of: park planning terminology, principles and techniques; recreational planning principles; principles, methods and techniques of land use and environmental and site planning; State and Federal accessibility guidelines; theory, principles, practices, and legal issues of landscape architecture as applied to the preparation of designs, plans, specifications and cost estimates; the technical review procedures and requirements of design studies, permits, and the public bidding process; Landscape Architecture licensing requirements of the State of California as they relate to the requirements of stamping and signing construction drawings.
Working knowledge of: land acquisition, land transfer and zoning principles; public project funding principles and procedures; construction practices and building code requirements; regulatory permits, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); park development processes and procedures; practices and methods of contract preparation and administration; basic computer applications in MS Office suite; Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and software, such as AutoCAD, typically used in planning and design.
Ability to: serve as a subject matter expert and technical resource; lead and review the work of other park planners on assigned projects; effectively train staff; communicate interpersonally, orally and in writing in an effective and persuasive manner; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, public officials, community groups, regulatory agencies, contractors, consultants, recreational interest groups, and the general public; prepare landscape designs; review completed plans and specifications; inspect projects under construction; prepare clear and concise reports and recommendations; research, gather, organize and analyze information; present recommendations and alternative proposals.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.