Park Manager

Park Manager - Park Services

Full Time Position

Employees in this class manage and oversee park operations for a geographic area or city-wide function, including multiple parks. Incumbents coordinate the administration, personnel management, operation, and maintenance of the parks and related facilities. They are also responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing daily operations, including payroll, incident and accident reports, budget management, procurement, and the hiring, evaluating, and scheduling staff and contractors. Park Managers work in coordination with Park Planning to manager small construction and renovation projects. This work involves supervising staff in maintenance and facility operations, overseeing work completed by contractors, and completing administrative tasks related to the maintenance of the parks. The employee works under the general supervision of a Division Chief. Park Managers serve as shift commanders for emergency weather response and implement incident objectives as determined by city emergencies operations.

Overview Park Services
The Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities Department (RPCA) supports the well-being of Alexandria’s residents by ensuring access to a variety of quality recreation, park, and cultural experiences. There are over 900 acres of publicly accessible open space (this includes both public and private land that is open for public use) 566 acres of it is publicly owned park land, and approximately 30,000 street trees. The Department is comprised of four operating Divisions: Recreation Services; Leadership & Management; Cultural Activities; and Park Services. These four Divisions work to offer the full range of programs, facilities, and parks.

OPERATING BUDGET FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 Parks Division $8,834,555 $8,798,588 $9,618,072 $10,439,816 Personnel $4,926,835 $4,858,492 $5,392,218 $5,860,414 Non-personnel $3,907,720 $3,940,096 $4,225,854 $4,579,402 FTE* 58.70 56.70 56.70 56.70 Total Department $24,328,640 $26,567,634 $27,663,521 $29,482,742 *The department contracts for a significant amount of park maintenance activities and tree care. Seasonal staff are not included in the FTE total.

The operating units of Park Services include:

• Leadership and Management
• Park Planning and Capital Construction
• Buddie Ford Nature Center and Environmental Education
• Natural Land Management
• Urban Forestry
• Athletic Field Maintenance
• General Park Maintenance
• Facility Repairs
• Warehouse and Fleet
• Marina & Waterfront Parks

There are three Park Manager positions for Park Services. The duties of the incumbents will rotate over time to fully prepare them for continued advancement to the Division Chief and Deputy Director levels. Currently, a Park Manager oversees each of the three areas: athletic field maintenance city-wide, general park maintenance and trails, and the waterfront parks and marina. Park Manager positions report to a Division Chief. The Department of Recreation, Parks, Cultural Activities is CAPRA accredited since 2004.

The Park Manager key performance indicators:

• To plan and implement maintenance cycles and standards for the area assigned to maintain public satisfaction with quality of parks at 86% or higher based on the annual citizen survey.
• To conduct all area leadership activities to maintain an employee engagement score that exceeds the public sector benchmark based on the annual workplace survey.
• To achieve operational productivity equal to or better than comparable municipal and private sector benchmarks.
• To achieve an area score of 87% or higher for courteousness of staff based on the annual citizen survey.
• To manage financial resources to established annual budget, procurement, and payroll targets.

The Park Manager key work projects FY23:

• Collaborate with HR, implement the career ladder process for park technicians.
• Plan and implement all seasonal maintenance cycles for the assigned area at the established landscape standards.
• Collaborate with facility repair work group to maintain the assigned area all the established safety standards.
• Process timely and correctly all administrative work for budget, procurement, and payroll.
• Plan maintenance requirements and cycles for future park, facilities, and open space in alignment with the CIP.
• Collaborate with Natural Resources to maintain natural areas within assigned parks to established standards.

Job Class Duties and Responsibilities:

• Analyzes financial expenditures.
• Attends and represents department at Civic Association meetings.
• Attends departmental and outside agency meetings.
• Attends trainings on modern sports turf maintenance practices as it relates to safety and aesthetics. Balances contractual work with staff efforts to accomplish park maintenance and improvement tasks. Briefs senior administrative staff, including Department Head, on project updates and other park-related matters.
• Completes requisitions for agency purchase orders.
• Completes, reviews and records official forms and documents.
• Conducts periodic inspections of park areas including athletic fields, playgrounds, schools, tennis courts, basketball courts, City marina & open space.
• Coordinates the logistics of special events including staff, equipment, and supplies.
• Coordinates with appropriate agencies and departmental staff in the preservation of the City's parks, wildlife, and natural resources.
• Coordinates with Park Planning staff on park design, layout, functionality, and development of park standards.
• Develops turf management plan for all parks, athletic fields, open space, and rights-of-ways.
• Evaluates components of healthy turf and administers corrective measures including species and variety selection, irrigation, soil composition and compaction, fertilizer/herbicide programs and renovation projects.
• Formulates staff and maintenance schedules.
• Guides the maintenance and installation of synthetic turf.
• Makes assessments and executes park maintenance plans and capital improvement projects.
• Manages and maintains picnic reservation sites.
• Manages and maintains safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing parks and open space for all users.
• Mediates between staff, sports users, park patrons, vendors, contractors, supervisors, and departments.
• Monitors and prepares the budget and develop long-term and short-term goals for the park maintenance operations.
• Monitors sports programs and relative field usage.
• Prepares and administers performance evaluations.
• Prepares, reviews, and solicits competitive bids for park equipment, supplies and outsourced maintenance and improvements including installation of synthetic and natural sports turf fields, athletic lighting systems, and various park amenities.
• Prioritizes and control spending to meet departmental goals and needs.
• Prioritizes workload and develops plans to accomplish subordinates' professional growth.
• Promotes and provides on-the-job training and safety.
• Provides effective leadership to subordinate supervisors.
• Provides guidance to staff on current turf maintenance techniques.
• Records financial procurements.
• Responds to citizen complaints and concerns.
• Performs related work as required

Key Work Aspects of RPCA and the City of Alexandria:
As a departmental leader, the Park Manager will have both an area assignment to carry out and a strategic team assignment. As a strategy lead you are in the position of leadership within the department. As such, you are tasked with creating an environment of success in the department such that staff is highly engaged to focus on results that support organizational attainment of our mission and strategic plan. Our purpose is to build an organizational culture “that supports each of us and inspires excellence.”
RPCA Strategic Plan - Each leader is expected to implement the mission, vision, values, and the four focus areas as determined through business plans and the budget process. It is expected that all decisions will be made considering the values and focus areas.

Statement of Workplace Excellence - Every RPCA staff member has the right to a safe, healthy, efficient, and pleasant working environment where all organization members adhere to the highest standards of behavior, personal integrity, and truthfulness. Each staff member demonstrates full support and acts on deploying workplace excellence.

Shared Leadership Approach - We continually strive to gain the maximum amount of discretionary effort on the part of our staff members. All staff members are collectively responsible for our organizational community and have leadership roles. Everyone is a decision-maker within his or her job. We invite participation in solving organizational issues and constantly improving our operations.

Customer Service Guarantee - We are committed to delivering a consistently superior customer experience to all who participate in our programs or visit our parks and facilities. Service will be:

• Responsive - respond in a timely manner to all residents and customers both external and internal. We own the request we receive and do not shift the responsibility.
• Professional - represent the department in appropriate appearance, decorum, and communication.
• Courteous - Treat everyone with respect. Treat everyone fairly. Treat everyone with dignity.
• Accountable - Demonstrate a bias toward action. Ensure follow-up and follow-through with appropriate results.

Our most valued assets are engaged customers and staff members.

High Performance Organization
RPCA commits to building and sustaining a high-performance organization. This ensures a clear and consistent strategic direction. We continually focus on improving all aspects on internal and external operation. We also strive through workplace excellence and shared leadership to inspire staff to outstanding outcomes. Every job in the organization has elements of team leadership, management, and task accomplishment. HPO is team based.

What You Should Bring
Each member of our team is accountable for the outstanding delivery of services. You will bring your expertise of parks and recreation, employee engagement, high performing organizational culture, and change management; you will have a demonstrated ability to work with employees throughout the department and City of Alexandria; your personal mission and values align with those of the organization and can analyze, synthesize, and make data-informed professional recommendations. You will deliver work products that meets the high standards of excellence determined by residents and visitors.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Four-Year College Degree; three-five years of experience in park/facility management, operations or grounds maintenance operations; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Additional Requirements: Good knowledge of park maintenance and required care; good knowledge of safety procedures; ability to follow directions with minimal supervision; ability to effectively oversee and manage park maintenance contracts; ability to direct and schedule staff to meet operational requirements; ability to lead and manage staff through development of performance plans, evaluation and discipline processes; ability to safely operate hand tools, turf maintenance equipment and tractors; physical ability to perform work under adverse weather conditions; and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively to staff, vendors and the public. Four-Year College Degree; three-five years of experience in park/facility management, operations, or grounds maintenance operations; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

Certified Grounds Manager or equivalent certification.

Notes

This position requires successful completion of a criminal records background check and drug screening prior to employment.