PARK PLANNER III

THE JOB: Under direction, conducts park planning and acquisition studies; prepares projects for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance; oversees master plan development and construction planning for parks and recreation facilities; prepares grant applications, construction documents, master plans and administers grant programs, designs contracts and construction contracts; may serve as a project leader or specialist; presents oral and written communications to governing bodies and/or public gatherings; and performs other work as required.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of training and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and abilities, is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these knowledge and abilities would be:

One year of experience that is equivalent to a Park Planner II at Santa Cruz County.

OR

Two years of experience in landscape architecture or closely related professional experience with a Bachelor's Degree in parks planning, architecture, civil engineering, landscape architecture or related field.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Possession of valid California Class C Driver License, or the ability to provide suitable transportation which is approved by the appointing authority.

Knowledge: Working knowledge of the principles, practices and trends of park planning and development; statistical research methods as applied to the collection and tabulation of data affecting park planning; parks design and cost estimating, including construction documents; laws, ordinances and regulations related to parks planning and development; grants and contract development and administration including inspection of construction projects; public project funding principles and procedures and capital project implementation; long range project planning practices; laws and regulations related to planning, zoning and environmental protection pertaining to park projects. Some knowledge of methods and procedures of land acquisition and data processing applications.

Ability to: Prepare and present studies, reports, requests for proposals, grant applications and concept plans; speak effectively before groups; understand, interpret, explain and apply laws, ordinances, rules, and policies, regulations and construction documents; prepare park concept plan; landscape construction plans, specifications and cost estimates; oversee and inspect park construction projects, learn to input, access and analyze data using a computer; present major planning studies analyses and reports to boards, commissions and committees; complete complex assignments, determine alternative choices and make recommendations; prepare clear and concise administrative and technical reports, resolutions, permit applications and environmental documents associated with park development, oversee the park master process from consultant selection to final approval; evaluate design proposals and construction documents prepared by others; provide leadership to team efforts, including public groups.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
ANNUAL LEAVE – 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years. Available after six months for vacation and/or sick leave.
HOLIDAYS – 12.5 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE – 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN – The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans.  For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
DENTAL PLAN – County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN – County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT – Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013(PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years.  County pays a portion of retirement contribution and participates in Social Security. 
LIFE INSURANCE – County paid $20,000 term policy.  Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
SDI – Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.
DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN – Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
H-CARE PLAN – Employees who pay a County medical premium share of cost may elect this pre-tax program.
HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) – Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION – A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.
OTHER – Other pay and benefit items apply to certain positions or assignments, such as Bilingual Pay and Night Shift Differential.    

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental application will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental application. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list.  The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants.  If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental application. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.  

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now!  Click on the link below; or print out an application and supplemental questionnaire and mail/bring them to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 310, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060.  For information, call (831) 454-2600.  Hearing Impaired TDD# (831) 454-2123.  Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways:  1) In the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date.  Following a review for minimum qualifications, applicants who are selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be notified that they must submit a completed conviction history questionnaire in order to continue to the examination phase of the process.

Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  If you have a disability that requires test accommodation, please call (831) 454-2600.

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.

Some positions may require fingerprinting and/or background investigation.

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

An Equal Opportunity Employer