Senior Planner (Parks) job in Kent

Come work at a place where you have a direct impact on the quality of life for Kent residents, business owners and visitors alike!

Are you a highly motivated, passionate park planning and design professional? The City of Kent is currently accepting applications for a Senior Planner in our Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department. The ideal candidate will have at least five (5) years of increasingly responsible related work experience and be able to effectively plan and design tasks for parks capital improvements projects throughout the City of Kent. Leadership and project management skills are essential for success in this position.

Monthly salary for this position is $6,978-8,502, depending on qualifications.

**Please note that, in addition to completing the application, you must attach your cover letter and resume for your application to be considered complete. Uploading your resume to complete portions of the application does not automatically attach it to your application. You must attach the cover letter and resume as a separate step in the process, along with any other documents you want to submit. Incomplete applications may not be considered for this position. If you have technical difficulties or if you have questions about completing your application, please contact our office at (253) 856-5270 from Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and we will do our best to assist you.**

This is a full-time, benefited position that is not represented by a union.

This position is open until filled.

Under the direction of the Park Planning and Development Manager, serve as the planning/project lead for a variety of division assignments associated with the complex research, planning, development, implementation, and administration of higher-level Parks capital improvement projects.

Work is characterized by high level complex research and project planning and oversight of Parks capital improvement projects. Incumbent is responsible for duties involved with long range parks planning project management, including but not limited to, ensuring that capital projects are planned and developed in compliance with various regulations, City ordinances, goals and objectives; preparing specifications, contract documents, cost estimates, and recommendations regarding materials and equipment; administering consultant and construction contracts; construction administration and oversight, presenting reports and reviewing various plans and designs for capital improvement projects; acquiring land, obtaining easements and securing permits necessary to implement projects; securing outside funding to implement projects and preparing written and oral grant applications, seeking donations; assisting department management to develop long term park and trail improvement
strategies; analyzing level of service impact as a precursor to the planning, funding, and implementation of parks projects; and communicating with the public, elected officials, developers, outside agencies, and other employees within various departments of the City, and planning and coordinating tasks for projects as assigned.

Work is performed under limited supervision. The supervisor sets the overall objectives and resources available. The incumbent and the supervisor work together to develop deadlines, projects, and work to be completed. The incumbent is responsible for the work, plans and carries out the assignment, resolves most conflicts that arise, and interprets policies on own initiative in terms of established objectives. The incumbent keeps the supervisor informed of progress, potentially controversial matters, or far reaching implications. Work is reviewed in terms of feasibility, compatibility with other work, or effectiveness of results.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Performs construction project management, administering the activities of multiple concurrent projects, negotiating schedules for design and construction, coordinating project close-out and budget reconciliation, preparing reports, correspondence, and official documents regarding project status, progress, and payments; and/or performing other related activities.

Manage and supervise the activities of multiple design, environmental, and surveying firms in the development of plans and specifications; prepares related project scopes; reviews designs prepared by consultants; coordinates the consultant selection process by drafting request for proposals (RFP) and request for qualifications (RFQ); negotiates consultant contracts; draft contract language; process change order requests; assure compliance with City’s risk management requirements; perform bid analysis and make recommendations for award , evaluating the performance of consultants.

Perform the design of parks, bike paths, streetscapes, and other public facilities pertaining to public recreation landscape features and bicycle and pedestrian movement. Write technical specifications for bid documents.

Ensures compliance with construction contractual requirements and conditions from design phase through warranty phase; initiates, negotiates, and processes contracts; administers contract change orders and addendums.

Serve as project spokesman for assigned projects. Coordinate marketing efforts, online content and social media outreach for projects and plans. Conduct public meetings and public outreach efforts. Create surveys to obtain public feedback on projects, plans, and general park feedback.

Prepares environmental checklists; prepares and files permits with local and state agencies.

Serve as park planning project/program lead in developing policies and processes and coordinating efforts with other departments to advance the City’s strategic initiatives and vision. Identify and research issues and impacts of programs, projects, or policies.

Conduct plan review for parks and other city projects; perform regular inspections of construction projects to ensure compliance with plans and specifications, including safety requirements and other applicable standards; check appropriateness of materials and methods used in construction.

Responsible for accurate communications regarding project status and any issues among consultants, contractors, department heads, park superintendents, and other affected groups.

Create and sustain meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships with public agencies, the private sector, and private non-profit organizations to achieve community goals for acquisition, development, and programming.

Develop and manage a performance-based level of service for the park system as part of the park plan. Analyze impact of current and future park capital projects on level of service.

Serve as technical resource for City departments on park, trail, landscape, and site-related issues; analyze designs for cost suitability, maintainability, form, and function. Develop design solutions for identified problems where appropriate.

Coordinate with the public works and economic and community development departments to integrate recreation with habitat, transportation, and flood protection projects where public needs overlap. Work through issues as they arise from competing public values.

Identify, plan, and manage construction of ecological/habitat improvements on park department stewarded land.

Evaluate parks capital related accomplishments against established level of service goals and timetables. Make recommendations to Parks Planning and Development Manager based upon the evaluation concerning future plans.

Assist department management in budget development and resource allocation for the biennium budget process and assist in formulation of department goals and work programs.

Under the direction of the Parks Planning & Development Manager, assist with the planning, developing and implementation of funding strategies for park capital improvement projects and acquisitions, including written and oral grant applications to local, state, and federal agencies and parks capital budget requests.

Lead in acquiring park properties, negotiate purchase and sales agreements, obtain easements, and granting of license agreements for use of park land.

Lead in selling park properties when directed by council to do so.

Develop and maintain parks major asset inventory to assist with parks capital planning and maintenance.

Maintain current knowledge of design trends and techniques; assure compliance with limitations and parameters of new laws, rules and regulations related to planning and development activities.

Prepare maps and various other exhibits for meetings and reports related to capital projects.

Serve as a lead/mentor for other staff in parks planning and development. Serve as a lead/mentor for park operations staff working on in-house and/or smaller park improvement projects. Provides training to new employees.

Actively support the City's and departments mission, vision, values and goals.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES:

Perform related duties as assigned.

Act as the Planning and Development Manager in the manager's absence as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

KNOWLEDGE OF:
* Park planning, design, development practices, engineering and construction techniques, and contract/project management
* Comprehensive Capital Improvement project planning, scheduling, implementation, and management
* Contracts, project management principles, and complex bid specification requirements and processing
* Property acquisition practices and techniques
* Principles and practices of governmental accounting including project budget management
* City practices, standards, codes and procedures for design and construction projects
* Building and landscape construction methods, techniques, materials and equipment
* Contracts and complex bid specifications requirements and processing
* State, federal and local grant programs
* Land acquisition practices
* Public relations and interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy
* Principles, practices, methods, and standards of Engineering
* Municipal Public Works construction techniques
* Funding agency requirements and procedures
* Engineering research, analysis, and problem-solving methods
* Principles and practices of municipal planning and zoning.
* Trends, legislation, and other developments in the field of Civil Engineering
* Preparation of construction drawings and specifications

SKILLED IN:
* Using methods, equipment, computer software, and materials in Landscape Architecture design and drafting, including the use of computer-aided design and drafting equipment (CADD)
* Demonstrating interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy
* Communicating effectively both orally and in writing
* Analyzing, preparing, and reviewing technical engineering plans, drawings, specifications, and estimates
* Maintaining records and preparing reports
* Planning and managing Capital Improvement projects

ABILITY TO:
* Lead, train, motivate, and provide work direction to others
* Manage multiple projects concurrently, maintaining project schedules
* Design Park projects in accordance with budget limitations and established safety standards
* Prepare clear and concise project plans
* Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others
* Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action
* Read, analyze, and interpret technical journals, financial reports, operating and procedure manuals, general business periodicals, professional journals, government regulations, etc.
* Compose, proofread, and edit correspondence, technical journals, engineering rules, and regulations
* Work independently with minimum direction
* Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, contractors, developers, engineers, and the general public
* Interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables
* Coordinate engineering projects and resolve conflicts with other agencies and organizations
* Manage Capital Improvement projects and coordinate the application for required permits and resulting permit compliance
* Plan, prepare working drawings, and supervise and assist in construction of park development and improvement projects; prepare as-built drawings for completed projects
* Understand and interpret blueprints, shop drawings, plans, technical specifications, laws and code requirements, policies and regulations
* Develop complex bid specifications, and contract documents; assist in the award of contracts
* Estimate construction costs; control project costs; administer design and construction contracts within budgets; analyze budgets
* Identify design and construction errors and concerns and recommend solutions.
* Evaluate existing parks, define deficiencies, and design or contract for the improvements to existing or new facilities
* Establish and maintain a cooperative and professional working relationship between officials, contractors, outside agencies, the public and other City employees
* Research, analyze, understand and implement technical data
* Maintain current knowledge of technological advances in the field.
* Utilize computers and automated equipment to produce work sheets, graphs, reports, and Auto CAD Drawings
* Prepare and deliver oral presentations
* Add, subtract, multiply, and divide; compute fractions, rations and percentages

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture, Architecture, or related field; and

Experience: Five (5) years of park design, or planning/management of capital facilities improvement projects, with experience in construction contract administration or small works construction.

Or: In place of the above requirement, the incumbent may possess any combination of relevant education and experience which would demonstrate the individual's knowledge, skill and ability to perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above.

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
* One (1) year of Public Sector experience is desirable
* Valid Washington State Driver's License
* Must successfully pass the City's pre-employment driving record check
* Must successfully complete the City's Defensive Driving Course; and maintain an excellent driving record
* Valid First Aid/CPR Card, or ability to obtain within six (6) months of employment
* Landscape Architecture License is required.
* ArcGIS and CADD experience is required.
* Certified Park and Recreation Professional Certification is preferred, not required.
* Completion of position relevant background check

The City of Kent is an Equal Opportunity Employer.