The Park Development Project Manager (Class: Project Analyst II or Project Analyst III) will manage park development, landscape improvement and/or watershed planning projects. The projects will be related to MRCA's capital improvement projects, which include urban river restoration, public access, open space conservation, master planning, and park development. Projects may consist of design and construction of new park amenities, creation of parkland in urban neighborhoods, renovation of infrastructure and buildings, acquisition of land, and planning in a watershed context. Capital projects include renovation of existing facilities, new construction by contractors and force account, and fee acquisition of land interests.
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This is professional and technical work pursuant to the terms of grants, contracts, and applicable regulations, involving frequent communication with others, for a flexible person at an entry or intermediate level. Project managers must also build community support, seek funding opportunities, actively cooperate with other government agencies and non-profit organizations, and keep abreast of related planning processes. The work performed will support MRCA’s capital Workprogram for improvements, land acquisition, and major maintenance projects in nature parks within greater Los Angeles, and other MRCA efforts related to public access, open space conservation, habitat restoration, and urban park development.
Ability to speak Spanish is required.
Supervision
This position may report to the Deputy Chief of Park Development, Chief of Watershed Planning, or other Executive-level staff depending on MRCA's needs. Assorted tasks may be supervised by Executive Staff and may include participation in multi-division teams. The position supervises no other staff.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
- Implement multiple projects simultaneously: The project manager is the central point of contact on all issues concerning assigned projects and will be responsible for project quality. Perform project tracking, scheduling, and budget management.
- Oversee consultants and contractors, manage contracts, coordinate project team and collaborate with coworkers to ensure that the project scope is completed according to grant agreements, schedules, and cost limits. Assist in selection of consultants/contractors.
- Determine project scope, options, and alternatives to overcome constraints. Revise as often as needed to address unexpected conditions.
- Perform day-to-day administration of grants, prepare required reports and ensure conformance with grant agreements.
- Cooperate with other team members to accomplish project goals.
- Produce written materials including staff reports, text for publication, proposals, progress reports, and a variety of other documents.
- Manage project budgets with funding from multiple sources, keeping abreast of status and expense eligibility requirements, identifying solutions to shortfalls, and keeping up to date as projects evolve.
- Assist with coordination of construction. Coordinate with others to monitor progress of in-house staff (force account) and subcontractors, assure compliance with plans and specifications, and troubleshoot as needed.
- Prepare Requests for Proposals/Requests for Bids, and review bids. Select and manage contractors and consultants in conjunction with other staff. Ensure bidding process meets applicable regulations. Assist with estimating and selection of vendors for best value.
- Maintain files, including documentation and authorization for expenses, project progress, contracts and grant agreements, project budgets, contacts, board actions and all other items related to a project’s development.
- Manage the CEQA compliance process for potential projects.
- Provide support to coworkers on other projects.
- Analyze, verify and obtain payment approvals for invoices.
- Maintain good habits of answering and responding to incoming telephone calls, correspondence, and when communicating and providing customer service to citizens who seek assistance.
- Maintain positive relationships with coworkers, representatives of other government agencies, non-profit organizations, homeowner’s associations, and the public at large.
- Perform related duties as required.
NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Lead and participate in group hikes, project site tours, and kayak trips with project stakeholders.
- Quantify and describe the greenhouse gas emissions benefits of potential projects based on latest accepted science, research, and generally accepted methodology.
- Represent the agency in public forums.
Depending on the MRCA's needs, landscape architecture may be emphasized in the specific job duties, including:
- Produce landscape improvement plans, details, and specifications, at conceptual design, schematic design, and construction document phases with both hand-drawn graphics, computer graphic programs (e.g. Adobe graphic suite, sketch-up, rivet, and/or any other 3D digital rendering programs), and CAD techniques.
- Produce irrigation designs utilizing Land F/X software.
- Research new construction/architectural products and technologies.
- Perform assessment of architectural barriers and analyze options for barrier removal.
Depending on the MRCA's needs, watershed planning may be emphasized in the specific job duties, including:
- Analyze various planning documents and processes for consistency and impacts on MRCA's watershed planning priorities. Write formal comment letters and and informal memoranda.
- Participate in planning processes related to the Los Angeles River and other local watersheds, at both regional and individual project scales.
- Identify potential projects and assess feasibility.
- Write and coordinate grant proposals and research new funding opportunities for land acquisition, park development, and related planning efforts.
Depending on the MRCA's needs, management of maintenance funding sources may be emphasized in the specific job duties, including:
- Analyze proposed expenses for eligibility and determine appropriate funding sources for expenses.
- Assist with budget development and monitoring for multiple locations and funds.
- Liaison frequently between operations and maintenance staff and finance staff to ensure smooth administrative processes.
- Distinguish between maintenance and capital expenses and providing documentation for full reimbursement.
JOB SPECIFICATIONS
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required remain in a stationary position, occasionally move about inside the office to access supplies and office machinery, frequently communicate and exchange information, review handwritten, electronic and facsimile documents, and operate a computer and other office productivity machinery. The employee must occasionally move items weighing up to 20 pounds inside the office.
During project site surveys, the employee is regularly required to position self to perform measurement and inventory tasks, frequently move about work sites, operate a mobile system to complete checklists, travel to various park sites, frequently operate measuring tools to record measurements indoors and in outdoor weather conditions, transport tools between vehicles and work sites on a daily basis, and occasionally ascend/descend a ladder to access areas of work.
Required Hours and Location
Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week with some scheduling flexibility. Occasional overtime work in evenings or weekends upon prior approval by supervisor. The position will work out of the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens and will be required to travel to various other locations. Offices at the River Center are spread among multiple buildings and floors. Remote working or a hybrid schedule may be allowed, subject to supervisor approval.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Education and Experience
- B.A. or B.S. degree. Relevant course studies include landscape architecture, environmental design, natural resources, engineering, planning, environmental science, geography, biology, or related fields. An Associate's degree may be substituted with at least two (2) years of highly relevant experience.
- One (1) year of highly relevant experience performing project management duties that include: creative problem solving, working on an interdisciplinary team, coordinating consultants, technical writing, scheduling, and budgeting.
- Experience desired in public speaking, community outreach/engagement, identifying and applying for project specific funding, and construction trade or construction management.
- Ability to speak Spanish is required.
Training and Certification
- Must have a valid California driver’s license in good standing with a satisfactory driving record at the time of hire.
- Basic First Aid and CPR certification (or ability to complete within 6 months).
Knowledge of:
- Intermediate proficiency with Office 365 and email, with particular emphasis on word-processing and spreadsheet programs.
- Office practices and procedures.
- Basic understanding of native plants, animals, and ecosystems of Southern California.
- Basic understanding of design and landscape construction processes (or ability to learn within 6 months).
- Basic understanding of California Environmental Quality Act requirements (or ability to learn within 6 months).
- Office practices and procedures.
Ability to:
Competencies:
- Excellent oral and written English language skills. Not required to be a native English speaker, but fluency in English will be required.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of work including the general public.
Classification Level
The selected candidate may be hired as a Project Analyst II or Project Analyst III, depending on experience. A Project Analyst II will perform the functions with a moderate to high level of supervision, and is not expected to make many judgments independently. A Project Analyst III will perform the functions with a low level of supervision and less frequent check-ins to verify tasks and decision support. A Project Analyst III shall have the ability to advance into a team leadership role and determine project direction.
This job announcement is not intended to, and does not, create an employment contract of any kind and does not create any express or implied contractual obligations. Employment at MRCA is at-will without exception. The employee and MRCA may terminate employment at any time with or without advance notice and with or without cause.
Any provision contained in this job announcement may be modified or revoked at any time without notice.
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