Branch Director - Parks Planning & Capital Development

Position Description

About Parks and Recreation:Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is a national leader and innovator in the services and programs we provide to our residents who enjoy our public spaces such as parks, community centers, specialty gardens and swimming pools. Seattle Parks and Recreation equips employees and the public for well-being as we support healthy people, a thriving environment and vibrant community. We provide safe and accessible spaces for residents and visitors to work, recreate, rejuvenate and enhance quality of life and wellness for children, teenagers, adults and seniors. We strive to deliver excellent customer service to each visitor and participant. SPR is also deeply committed to advancing the City of Seattle's Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) by working to end institutional and structural racism.

Our commitment: SPR commits to Our City Values, Workplace Expectations, and Racial Equity and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We support and hold ourselves accountable by striving to eliminate barriers to access and provide employees with equitable opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

SPR manages 6,414 acres of park land (12% of the city's land total) that comprise more than 485 parks and open areas and include a wide range of facilities and features such as community centers, swimming pools, wading pools and water spray parks, indoor and outdoor tennis facilities, environmental learning centers, special gardens, athletic fields, park boulevards, green spaces and natural areas, golf courses, lawn bowling facilities, boat moorages, fishing piers, neighborhood playgrounds and play areas, boulevards, large shoreline areas, creeks, trails, and an urban camp. To learn more about Seattle Parks and Recreation, visit our website, Facebook page, Twitter account or Parkways Blog.

About Planning & Capital Development Branch

The Planning & Capital Development Branch (PCD) delivers projects to the citizens of Seattle. The Planning Unit provides long range planning, project focused planning, asset management, and community engagement. The Engineering and Design unit provides project review oversight, upkeep of standards and specifications, bidding administration, and in-house design. The branch is comprised of a team of designers, environmental analysts, and surveyors. The Project Management Team leads projects through construction documentation, bidding, permitting, construction, and project closeout. Together these teams are responsible for the implementation of the initiatives funded through the Metropolitan Park District (MPD), REET, grants, and other funding sources. The team collaborates department and citywide. This position will be housed in the Project Management team.

About The Branch Director Position

The Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Director of Planning and Development leads the Planning and Development Branch (PCD), and reports to the Deputy Superintendent of the Planning and Capital Development Branch of the Department. This position will lead PCD in striving to provide world-class project planning, design, and delivery.

Job Responsibilities

• Oversees a project delivery office (PDO) with a capital portfolio exceeding $300M.
• Responsible for managing and overseeing the entire project delivery process, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and adherence to best practices across all projects; essentially focusing on data capture and analysis to improve project completion rates and quality across the organization.
• Directs, plans, coordinates and tracks all planning, design, project management, and construction management activities related to the implementation of the capital improvement program.
• Portfolio includes development of new parks and renovation of various park and recreation facilities including community centers and pools.
• Directs the development and ongoing updates of the Department’s asset management plan, which forms the basis for capital improvement program proposals.
• Communicates project commitments to scope, schedule, and budget using strong governance, disciplined execution, and proactive risk management in partnership with committees and commissions.
• Plays a critical role in ensuring fiscal responsibility by overseeing capital project portfolio budget, controlling costs, and optimizing financial resources.
• Aligns budget planning with organizational financial goals and priorities and draws a hard line on budget.
• Coordinates the planning, design, and development of park improvements with other City departments and external agencies in the region, such as the Police Department’s Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, The Seattle School District, King County and the stat’s Recreation Conservation Office.
• Responsible for the implementation of the department’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
• Act as the PDO (Project Delivery Officer) for the department and, assures that all best management practices align with industry standard.
• Responsible for ensuring that our projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with our strategic objectives (https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/ParksAndRecreation/PoliciesPlanning/SPR_Strategic_Plan.03.27.2020.pdf).
  
  

Qualifications

Required:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in construction management, architecture, engineering, urban planning, business administration, Accounting, Communications or a related field.
• 5 years’ experience working in project management platforms for collaboration and workflow, and resource management.
• 5 years’ experience monitoring and tracking project management Key Performance Indicators – qualifiable metrics to help measure a project portfolio’s success.
• Ten years of progressively responsible experience in planning and developing capital improvement programs or managing construction projects and related activities, including five years of managerial or lead project management experience, excellent oral and written communication skills, strong analytical skills; delegation and decision-making skills; experience in supervision, public contact, and budget and policy work; and the ability to work under pressure with multiple priorities and deadlines.
  
  

Successful Candidates Will Demonstrate

• An advanced degree in construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, Urban Planning, Business Administration or a related field.
• Project Management Professional (PMP or equivalent) certification demonstrating project management skill and knowledge.
• Intimately familiar with contents of Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) as a means of reflecting ever-evolving nature of Project Management approaches due to emerging Technologies and rapid market changes.
• Successful planning, development and implementation of a variety of capital improvement programs.
• A demonstrated ability to leverage funding from a variety of sources, including City, state, and federal agencies, and private entity grants and donations.
• The ability to understand the asset management implications of the Department’s CIP and use it to effectively develop and preserve the Department’s assets.
• The ability to be flexible and comfortable with people at all levels of City government, on local and regional issues.
• A track record of working positively with the community, elected officials, and advocacy groups.
  
  

Additional Information

Special Application Instructions

Please completely fill out the application form, supplemental questions and also upload a recent PDF copy of your resume along with a cover letter describing your qualifications and interest in this position.

The full salary range for this position is $64.56 - $106.52 per hour.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans

SPR's Core Competencies

Accountability & Action: Holding yourself accountable for achieving goals, completing tasks, and delivering quality work. Demonstrating thoughtful initiative in actions and decision-making, and promoting high quality standards.

Equity and Inclusion: Supporting the goals of the Race and Social Justice Initiative and the City's commitment to workforce equity.

Communication:Sharing and exchanging information and ideas with people in a variety of ways to help them understand and remember the information.

Service: An ongoing commitment to base decisions and actions on the needs and priorities of the City.

Teamwork:Leading as an engaged member of a team to build a cohesive team and facilitate the achievement of work group goals.

Aligning Performance for Success: Collaboratively guiding and engaging the team to accomplish defined work goals.

Direction and Delegation:Sharing authority and responsibilities with others to distribute decision-making and accountability throughout the organization; enabling individuals to stretch their capabilities; and accomplishing the organization’s strategic priorities.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

Work is usually performed in-person at an office environment. Occasional evening and weekend work required.