Administrator - Planning (Indy Parks)

Full Job Description

***INTERNAL CITY/COUNTY EMPLOYEE APPLICANTS ONLY***

The Administrator – Planning is responsible for providing leadership and guidance to two sections within the Resource Development Division.

The planning section core activities are to develop long-term park master plans for facility development and resource management of city park properties.

The Administrator coordinates initial planning for new city park properties and park master plans.

Ensures that the parks’ natural and historic resources and man-made facilities are protected, planned, and developed consistent with the philosophy and goals of the Department of Parks and Recreation.

The Administrator shall collaborate closely with the Administrator of Construction Services in implementing the annual Capital Improvement Program and performing review of design plans and specification documents.

The Administrator shall prepare professional services agreements, assign project priorities, identify funding sources, and review all property issues.

Position requires the knowledge of established policies and procedures, laws, regulation standards and guidelines that range from clear to ambiguous.

The theories, principles, practices and techniques of landscape architecture, park and recreation planning, and natural resources management must be applied when solving planning problems which are often complex in nature and involve many different entities and when preparing the comprehensive long-range master plans.

The Administrator - Planning must utilize considerable judgement to balance the needs of park users with the least environmental impact on park natural resources.

The position requires strong communication skills and ability to gain cooperation and/or support for sometimes controversial projects, issues, and policies and when making recommendations that require considerable funding allocations and/or significantly change the facilities, resources and/or management of a city park.

Position reports to the Deputy Director.

Agency Summary

With over a century of history advancing the value of parks, Indy Parks is committed to protecting and enhancing the community's assets for the future.

We will be a leader in making Indianapolis a vibrant, happy, and healthy place to live.

By providing premier greenspaces and recreation opportunities, we welcome all residents, regardless of race, gender, socio-economic status, ability, or identity, to connect to nature, to the community, and to themselves.

The agency is able to do this by cultivating a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment in order for our workforce to meet the needs of the residents of Indianapolis and Marion County.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Ensures the management and implementation of a variety of programs
• Coordinates and assists in the completion of department-wide planning projects
• Facilitates feasibility studies and initial planning for new city parks and/or developments
• Review environmental information concerning existing and proposed city park properties
• Assign staff fieldwork to gain knowledge of park sites and to aid in determining facility, natural resource, and management needs for master plans
• Evaluates, researches, and analyzes data for master plans and other projects
• Critique plan concepts, final design recommendations, and cost estimates for park master plans.
• Assists in developing and preparing the department’s annual budget
• Prepares a variety of reports and presentations concerning city park planning and development
• Review master plan documentation format, including text and graphic and printing production
• Coordinates and promotes public participation in the planning process which involves news releases, mailing public meeting notices and visitor surveys 
• Present multimedia presentations concerning city parks at public meetings and conferences.
• Review construction plans and specification prior to implementation
• Visit construction job sites, review staff field work for conformance to plans and specifications.
• Respond to and resolve questions and issues based on regular meetings with the Parks Deputy Director
• Provide appropriate communication and promotes employee understanding of programs, policies, and department objectives
• Engages in the line of business responsibilities of a manger requiring planning, evaluating, organizing, integrating, and controlling daily operations
• Responsible for staffing, conducting performance appraisals, training, and developing team members, promotions, salary increases, terminations, disciplinary actions, etc.
• Must maintain confidentiality at all times
• This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time

Qualifications

Minimum Job Requirements and Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in landscape architecture or a related field is the minimum academic requirement.

Course emphasis should be on environmental land use planning, principles and practices in design development and leisure recreation; Seven (7) years professional planning experience in a public park and open space planning agency or in professional practice under a registered landscape architecture, architect, or engineer is required.

With four (4) of those years in a supervisory capacity.

Ability to effectively coordinate, guide, assist and monitor staff in project research, analysis and development in the completion of assigned work projects; Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply the theories, principles and practices involved in landscape architecture and recreation, master and land use planning, and cultural and natural resource management; Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply laws and standards regarding recreation facility design and environmental impacts to natural resources; Working knowledge of and ability to apply computer technology to department planning need, including all Microsoft Office products, desktop publishing, ArcView and AutoCad Ability to conduct studies, analyze results and make recommendations for solutions to park use and resource management problems; Ability to read and interpret engineering plans and delegate changes to section managers; Ability to develop and prepare a variety or reports regarding park planning, feasibility studies, legislation and other related issues; Ability to understand recreation trends and apply that knowledge to long-range planning of city park properties and facilities; Ability to coordinate public meetings and develop multimedia presentations and related materials; Considerable knowledge of the natural resources of Indiana (plants, animals, soils, water, geology) and their relationship within natural communities and ecosystems.

Preferred Job Requirements and Qualifications

Master’s degree in landscape architecture or a field related to recreation community development, park administration or land use planning is desired.