Project Manager (Park Development Division/Parks and Recreation Department)

City of Austin, TX
Austin, Texas United States  View Map
Posted: Apr 11, 2025
  • Full Time
  • Parks and Recreation
  • Project Management
  • Job Description

    Minimum Qualifications
    Education and/or Equivalent Experience:
    • Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field or major coursework in project management, plus six (6) years of progressively responsible work experience in managing projects.


    Licenses or Certifications:
    • None.
    Notes to Applicants

    The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department ( PARD ) provides, protects and preserves a park system that promotes quality recreational, cultural and outdoor experiences for the Austin community. Working with the City of Austin provides a number of health and welfare benefits, such as medical, paid leave time, a great retirement plan, training opportunities and more! Click HERE for more information.

    The purpose of the Project Manager position is to facilitate the delivery of landscape and site capital improvement projects on the Park Development team, from community engagement and concept development through construction and warranty phases. This position will be responsible for both large and small projects that meet larger goals of the Development program, including meeting sustainability and resilience goals while also achieving design excellence for the Parks system.

    The Park Development Division within PARD facilitates the development, improvement, and preservation of Austin’s parkland for future generations. We are design, project management, and construction professionals who lead projects from concept through construction. Our work includes:

    • Delivering Capital Improvement Projects in Parks, Trails, and Urban Spaces.
    • Designing our park spaces to be accessible, diverse, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient.
    • Engaging and collaborating with community stakeholders.
    • Navigating complex local, state, and federal regulatory permitting as well as design and construction contracting.
    • In-house construction of park improvements by the Facility Construction team as well as onsite observation of park construction activities.


    Application Instructions/Job Requirements:
    • Application: A detailed, complete application is required, and applicants must include on their Employment Record all experience (work and/or volunteer) related to this job posting - up to 10 years or more; this will be used to determine your base compensation. Employment Record dates must include month and year. Verification of employment history dates on resume should match online Employment Application. Statements such as “See Resume” will not be accepted and a resume alone will not be accepted in lieu of a complete online application.
    • Skills Assessments: Skills assessment(s) may be required as part of the recruitment process.
    • Virtual Interviews: PARD may conduct virtual interviews.
    • Military/Veteran: An applicant claiming Military/Veteran status must provide a copy of his or her DD-214(s), or valid comparable document, at the time of interview.
    • Physical Requirements: Tasks may involve bending, lifting, walking, carrying or using a force equal to lifting up to ten (10) pounds. Work environment includes inside, and outside environmental conditions, extreme temperatures, and hazards associated with equipment operation including fumes, oils, gases and mists. Must be physically and mentally able to communicate, respond and work with participant’s needs and safety issues.


    Other:
    • Travel: If you are selected for this position, and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.
    • 90 Day Provision for Additional Vacancy: This posting may be used to fill other vacancies in other divisions/work locations within the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department. Decisions on assigned selection will be made at the time of hire based on the business needs of the department.
    • Tobacco and Vape-Free Workplace: All PARD work site locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any PARD work site - including construction sites, parking lots, garages or in any personal vehicles located on the premises.
    Pay Range
    $39.49 - $51.34 per hour
    Hours
    Work/Location Schedule Notes:
    • Monday - Friday: 08:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    • May be required to work during special events, evenings, weekends & holidays.
    • Work schedule and location is subject to change based on department needs and programs.
    • Telework may be available after probationary period under COA Flexible Work Arrangement.
    • May be required to work during City emergencies such as extreme weather events.
    Job Close Date 05/01/2025 Type of Posting External Department Parks and Recreation Regular/Temporary Regular Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Professional Location COA Parks & Recreation Annex, 919 W. 28th 1/2 St. Preferred Qualifications
    Preferred Experience:
    • Experience service as a registered landscape architect or professional engineer on projects.
    • Experience managing Capital Improvement Projects ( CIP ) in all phases from pre-planning to post-occupancy, including projects that are large and complex in nature.
    • Municipality experience representing employer at City Councils, Boards, and Commission Meetings, including media communication skills (on-camera, verbally and in writing).
    • Experience in developing and implementing park vision plans.
    • Experience developing and monitoring schedules and budgets for the design and construction of landscape and site capital improvement projects.
    • Experience facilitating public sector projects including navigating stakeholder needs, reviewing contracts and dealing with municipal permitting processes.
    • Experience in community engagement activities to inform design decisions.
    • Experience in construction oversight/supervision.


    Preferred Qualifications:
    • Knowledge of SITES , LEED , and sustainable design principles.
    • Knowledge of Municipal Land Development Code.


    Other:
    • Ability to travel to more than one work location.
    Duties, Functions and Responsibilities
    Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.


    Manages the design, development, and implementation of projects to include, but not limited to, gathering and defining the project requirements; obtains staffing requirements; and forms projected teams. Manages the selection process and administers consultant services, including negotiating contract terms and fees by negotiating the contract, approving the consultant’s product, approving payment to consultant, initiating poor performance remedies, etc. Develops short- and long-range plans for future to ongoing projects, including estimating timelines for start-up and completion of projects. Manages, monitors, and reviews contracts and contractors to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, including administering change orders and estimates. Coordinates and prepares reports and correspondence in response to requests for information from City Manager’s Office, Mayor, and City Council Offices; prepares City Council agenda material such as ordinance memorandums and presentations. Prepares and delivers presentations to the City Manager, management team, and department directors. Suggests and implements management solutions to address new or ongoing challenges faced by the City organization. Manages the performance of professional staff in work involving organizational structure review and operations research and related work reviewing departments, divisions, and programs. Assists in planning, directing, and coordinating, through subordinate level staff, the department work plan; meets with management staff to identify and resolve problems; assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; and reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures. Provides technical advice and assistance to City management, field personnel, contractors, etc.

    Responsibilities - Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:
    • May provide leadership and/or supervision to assigned employees or project management.
    Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
    Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

    • Knowledge of laws, rules, regulations, and codes associate project assignment.
    • Knowledge of project accounting and methodologies and the principles, methods, and practices of project management.
    • Knowledge of design principles, practices, procedures, and estimating techniques.
    • Knowledge of budget policies and principles.
    • Knowledge of contract policies and procedures.
    • Skill in adapting, interpreting, and applying guidelines and standards.
    • Skill in establishing and maintaining positive relationships with internal and external customers.
    • Skill in using available applicable software packages.
    • Skill in evaluating contract agreements.
    • Skill in negotiating with various audiences to accomplish objectives.
    • Skill in written and oral communications including public presentations.
    • Skill in completing projects within the required scheduling.
    • Ability to make prompt decisions and develop new and relative ideas for providing a quality product and quality customer service with little or no supervision.
    • Ability to perform all facets of projects with little or no supervision.
    • Ability to plan, execute, and control a project (establishing realistic estimates and reporting metrics).
    • Ability to assess and analyze project risks and exposures, identify options and alternatives, make decisions, and implement corrective actions.
    • Ability to exercise sound judgment, tact, and diplomacy in all public contacts.
    • Ability to resolve conflicts and difficult situations.
    • Ability to communicate in oral or written format to a variety of audiences.
    Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA
    City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

    The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS , AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.
    Information For City Employees: If you are an employee within the department, are in good standing and meet both the minimum and preferred qualifications, then you will receive an initial interview.

    Supplemental Questions

    Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
    * The minimum qualifications for this position is graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field or major coursework in project management, plus six (6) years of progressively responsible work experience in managing projects. Do you meet these minimum qualifications?
    • Yes
    • No
    * Please list any valid certifications or licenses you currently hold. If you are currently pending results for any of your certifications or licenses, please list those as well.
    (Open Ended Question)
    * Please describe your experience in site and landscape project management, including all phases of project development from planning to construction administration.
    (Open Ended Question)
    * Are you related to any person employed by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department? If yes, please list the relative's name and relationship:
    (Open Ended Question)
    * Do you have the ability to travel to multiple sites as part of the regular job duties?
    • Yes
    • No
    * This position requires a criminal background investigation (CBI). By selecting the following, you are acknowledging that you understand if you are selected as a top candidate for this position, you will need a successful CBI to be hired.
    • I acknowledge and understand this position requires a Criminal Background Investigation.


    Optional & Required Documents

    Required Documents Resume Cover Letter Optional Documents
  • ABOUT THE COMPANY

    • City of Austin
    • City of Austin

    The City of Austin

    This vibrant and dynamic city tops many lists for business, entertainment, and quality of life. One of the country’s most popular, high-profile “green” and culturally rich cities, Austin was recently selected the number one Best Place to Live in the U.S. (U.S. News & World Report). In 2016, Forbes named Austin the city most likely to prosper over the next decade on their America’s Cities of the Future list, and the City of Austin ranked in the top ten on the Forbes list of America’s Best Employers for 2017. 

    Austin continues to lead with its vision of being the Most Livable City in the Country, emerging as a player on the international scene with such events as SXSW, Austin City Limits, Formula 1, and being home to companies such as Apple, Samsung, Dell, and Ascension Seton Healthcare. From the home of state government and the University of Texas to the Live Music Capital of the World and its growth as a film center, Austin has gained worldwide attention as a hub for education, business, health, and sustainability. 

    The City offers a wide range of events, from music concerts, food festivals, and sports competitions to museum displays, exhibits, and family fun. Austin is also home to a wonderful ballet, world-class museums, one-of-a-kind shopping, and beautiful outdoor spaces. You can just as easily spend your morning paddling the lake as you can strolling through a celebrated history museum. 

    Located at the edge of the Texas Hill Country—rolling terrain of limestone bluffs, springs, rivers, and lakes—Austin’s temperate climate is ideal for year-round jogging, cycling, hiking on the City’s many trails, or swimming at Barton Springs or one of the area’s many other swimming holes. 

    There are a number of excellent golf courses in the area as well as recreational opportunities for rowing, kayaking, canoeing, camping, rock climbing, disc golf, mountain biking, fishing, and more. Austin truly has something to offer for everyone.

    City Government

    The City of Austin is a progressive, full-service municipal organization operating under the Council-Manager form of government. Austin has a 10-1 council system with an at-large Mayor and Council Members that represent ten districts. The Mayor and Council Members may serve in their respective seats for four years with a maximum of two consecutive terms. 

    The City Council appoints the City Manager who is the chief administrative and executive officer of the City. The City Manager is responsible for guiding and directing day-to-day operations, as well as providing strategic research, recommendations, and management leadership to the City Council on the city budget, programs, policies, and services. The City Manager implements the organization’s administrative responsibilities with a strong team of Assistant City Managers and department executives. Supported by a staff of more than 14,000 and a budget of $4.1 billion, the City Manager and staff deliver a broad range of services to the citizens of Austin. 

    The City Council and City Manager of Austin are committed to the mission of delivering the highest quality, cost-effective services. Austin is a beacon of sustainability, social equity, and economic opportunity; where diversity and creativity are celebrated; where community needs and values are recognized; where leadership comes from its community members, and where the necessities of life are affordable and accessible to all.

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