Become the next Sonoma County
Park Planning Manager and build your Legacy!

Sonoma County’s Regional Parks Department is seeking an experienced and talented Park Planning Manager to lead the Department’s efforts in long-range planning, program development, and inter-agency collaboration. Managing a professional division staff, the Park Planning Manager will be in charge of functional and master planning, acquisition, and design and development of land for parks, recreation, resource protection and regional trails.

The new Park Planning Manager will have the critical responsibility of moving the Department towards a more regional focus, establishing and developing partnerships with outside agencies such as the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District to better meet the needs of the community. Environmental compliance and grant acquisition for park expansion and improvement projects are key to the success of this development. This position will be responsible for a planning team which includes: a Department Analyst (Grants/Acquisitions), four Park Planners, an Environmental Specialist, a Planning Technician, and a Senior Office Assistant (clerical).

The Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate for this position will possess a Bachelor’s degree in planning, natural resources, landscape architecture, architecture, engineering or related fields and a minimum of four years of increasingly responsible experience in managing professional planning, design, and construction of large park and recreation areas and facilities. Experience in public sector and/or on a regional level is highly desirable, but not required. The successful candidate will possess:

Thorough knowledge of:  park and recreation planning and design principles, techniques and terminology; principles, methods and techniques of resource, land use and site planning; principles, methods and procedures of project management, construction, planning, and bidding.
 
Considerable knowledge of:  land acquisition, land transfer and general land planning principles; park development processes and procedures; CEQA/NEPA, environmental requirements and regulatory permits; public project funding principles and procedures; the principles and practices relating to modern budget, program and systems management; modern organizational dynamics and management theory which includes but is not necessarily limited to behavior and performance management, conflict resolution, leadership and communication; supervisory and management skills which include employment interviewing, counseling and instructing, and for organizing and directing group discussions; communications skills for gathering, evaluating and transmitting information.
 
Knowledge of:  the methods and techniques to organize, initiate, evaluate and coordinate the work of subordinates engaged in complex technical work and to maintain consistency with program objectives and standards.
 
Ability to:  develop long-range park programs which are in conformance with related County projects and policies; determine work priorities and effectively coordinate and schedule the necessary personnel and other resources; deal tactfully, convincingly and effectively with department personnel, government officials, representatives of specific interest groups, private consultants, contractors, and the general public; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including government officials, community groups and the general public; effectively assemble, organize and present in written and/or oral form, reports containing alternative solutions and recommendations regarding specific resources, plans and policies pertaining to park planning; review and assess architectural and engineering plans and drawings; present or direct the presentation of planning studies in oral, written and graphic form; advise citizen groups and various boards and commissions orally and in writing concerning specific programs and projects; plan, organize, coordinate, supervise, train, and evaluate professional and technical planning employees engaged in planning services activities; assist in developing and implementing effective training and performance evaluation programs; establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees, other public agencies and the general public; determine appropriate research methodology for project studies and insure that analysis is complete and accurate; supervise the preparation of, or perform, difficult, complex and specialized planning studies and projects; present or supervise the presentation of planning studies in oral, written and graphic form; speak effectively before groups and audiences; effectively synthesize data into the final format; prepare clear and concise written reports; analyze administrative problems and a variety of programs, systems and procedures; and adjust workload changes and work under stress to meet deadlines.

Education:  Academic coursework which directly relates to the knowledge and abilities listed.  Normally, this would include graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in planning, natural resources, landscape architecture, architecture, engineering or related fields.
 
Experience:  Any combination of experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed.  Normally, four years of increasingly responsible experience in managing professional planning, design, and construction of large park and recreation areas and facilities would provide such opportunity.  Experience in public sector and/or on a regional level is highly desirable.
 
License:  Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

The information contained in the application and responses to the supplemental questions will be evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the employment process. Applicants should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application and be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions. You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, please list each position separately. Failure to comply with these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE MANDATORY SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal (Weight 100%). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

A background investigation is required prior to employment.  Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation.  Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy.  Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additionally, a pre-employment medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required prior to employment.

Applications are accepted on-line at www.jobaps.com/sonoma.  Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail.  All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement.  Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.  Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

In an effort to mitigate the impact of budget reductions on the County workforce, the County of Sonoma implemented a program of mandatory time off for the current fiscal year. Most County offices, activities, and services were closed from December 24, 2009 through December 31, 2009. During that period, most County employees were on a work furlough. The amount of pay deducted for the unpaid furlough time was determined by the employee’s regularly allocated work schedule and the number of pay periods remaining in the current fiscal year in order to accomplish a 40 hour contribution by June 28, 2010.

In order to minimize the impact of the unpaid furlough on employees, a deduction is being withheld each pay period from the date of hire through the end of the fiscal year in June 2010. Employees hired before the holiday closure participated in the full 40 hour furlough. The 40 hour deduction is being amortized over the period between date of hire and the end of the fiscal year in June 2010.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS SUMMARY—MANAGEMENT*