Parks Planning and Design Manager

Purpose of your Position:

Parks Planning and Design Manager is responsible for the long range planning, the capital program, the delivery standards, and the conceptual designs of the City’s growing parks and urban places.

Results and Activities:

1. To lead the City’s planning of an integrated system of parks and urban places

• Manages and leads a team of diverse and multi-disciplined professional staff.
• Applies knowledge of government administration, program planning, performance measurement, evaluation, and financial analysis.
• Responsible for the City’s Park Masterplan using latest research and technology for best practices in public spaces
• Direct the Parkland acquisition strategies and requirements for City’s long-range planning, such as, the Official Community Plan and Area Structure Plans

2. To engage in meaningful partnerships with stakeholders, the community, private sector, and senior levels of government in order to implement park delivery strategies.

• Negotiate Partnership Agreements around the delivery of planning projects and programs.
• Facilitate public engagement initiatives and serve as the departmental liaison to community advisory committees and community associations.
• Obtain Council approval on Parks planning program and investment program.

3. Manage the Park and Urban spaces design program.

• Prepare conceptual designs for new or retrofitted parks either directly using in-house professionals or indirectly through the retention of design professionals
• Create a delivery strategy for multiple infrastructure projects throughout the year that will be formalized through collaboration with other City departments or private sector.
• Lead the development of high-profile public realm initiatives, such as, public art, waterfront walkways, cultural sites, and recreation sites.
• Apply AI technology to assist with the design and implementation of the Park program.
• Provide project management expertise and oversight for projects of staff members.

4. Manage the Capital Plan for parks, waterfront, public art, and urban public spaces

• Create the 10 year capital plan for all elements of the Parks system that encapsulates growth, renewal, quality standards, and sustainability standards
• Build consensus with internal stakeholders on the prioritization of renewal and growth investment on an annual basis
• Propose budget amounts for City Council approval
• Oversee infrastructure standards adoption for public spaces within the portfolio

5. Manage budget:

• Operating budget: $420,000
• Responsibility (Check one): Primary ü Contributory  Shared 
• Long-range financial planning: Responsible for the planning of $110 million over the Ten-year Capital Plan;
• Capital budget: Responsible for the planning of $10-25 million of the Capital Budget each year.
• Final spending authority: Primary authority for contracts up to $500,000.
• Prepare the budget, assists in departmental budget implementation; participates in budget forecasting for staffing, equipment, materials & supplies; administer the approved budget.

6. Manage human resources:

• 4 direct reports
• Directs and participates in the team’s work plan, assign work activities, projects and programs; monitors work flow; review and evaluates work products as well as methods and procedures. Build strong teams that support the activities of the department.
• Develop, inspire, hire, assess, discipline and reward employees; celebrate success.