PARKS AND OPEN SPACE ADMINISTRATOR

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under direction, oversees and coordinates the administration of the City’s Landscape Maintenance Assessment District (LMD); coordinates a variety of activities involved in the development and implementation of the City’s park development capital improvement program; and performs a variety of professional, administrative, and programmatic work in support of assigned programs including serving as a liaison to, coordinating with, and providing administrative support and staff assistance to City staff, boards, committees, and outside agencies.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Oversees and coordinates the administration of the City of Escondido’s Landscape Maintenance Assessment District (LMD); establishes and manages property owner assessments to provide the required resources to administer and maintain landscape zones within the LMD; establishes and manages contracts with landscape companies to provide the required level of maintenance in all zones of the LMD; meets with landscape contractors.
• Assists in the administration of the park development capital improvement program; coordinates a variety of activities involved in the development and implementation of the City’s park development capital improvement program to develop new parks and facilities in the City’s park system.
• Assumes responsibility for the administration of assigned environmental mitigation projects; manages the maintenance and monitoring of assigned environmental mitigation areas.
• Reviews plans and prepares specifications for Landscape Maintenance District and capital improvement projects; manages contracts for Landscape Maintenance District and environmental mitigation areas.
• Organizes and implements schedules and methods for providing assigned services and activities and other related programs; identifies resource needs; reviews needs with appropriate management staff; allocates resources accordingly.
• Performs a variety of inspections including monitoring and inspecting landscape projects in LMD and environmental mitigation areas.
• Participates in the preparation and administration of assigned budgets including the annual Landscape Maintenance District budget and the park development capital improvement budget; submits budget recommendations; monitors expenditures; tracks use of funds in all project areas.
• Prepares grants for park development projects.
• Participates in the development of goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures; makes recommendations for changes and improvements to existing standards, policies, and procedures; participates in the implementation of approved policies and procedures; monitors work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Monitors program performance; recommends and implements modifications to systems and procedures as necessary.
• Maintains records and prepares reports concerning new or ongoing programs and program effectiveness.
• Schedules and prepares items for City Council agenda regarding Landscape Maintenance District and park development projects.
• Serves as liaison to, provides support to, and coordinates assigned program activities with those of other City departments and staff as well as other agencies, community organizations, the general public, and other groups; meet with homeowner groups; answer inquiries from homeowners, contractors, developers, and consultants.
• Performs related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services, and activities of a landscape maintenance district and park development program.
• Principles and practices of program development and implementation.
• Basic principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers.
• Principles, practices, and methods of public park administration.
• Principles of landscape design and project management.
• Maintenance, construction, and repair methods used at parks and recreational facilities.
• Principles and practices of customer service.

Ability to:

• Coordinate and direct a landscape maintenance district and park development program including to coordinate the acquisition, development, and maintenance of parks, recreational facilities, and open spaces.
• Recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies, and procedures for providing assigned services and activities.
• Understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Participate in the preparation and administration of assigned budgets.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including computers and supporting word processing and spreadsheet applications.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.
• Plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
• Respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, City staff, or other agencies on sensitive issues in area of responsibility.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in landscape architecture, park administration, or a related field.

Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible experience in a landscape management and development setting with at least two of the years of project management and supervisory experience.

License or Certificate - Possession of an appropriate, valid driver’s license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Office setting with some travel from site to site. Some exposure to noise, dust, grease, smoke, fumes, noxious odors, gases, and all types of weather and temperature conditions; work and/or walk on various types of surfaces including slippery or uneven surfaces and rough terrain. Work schedule is 9/80 with alternating Fridays off in a biweekly period. Work environment is both formal and informal, team oriented, having variable tasks, pace, and pressure.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in an office and field setting and operate assigned vehicle and office equipment. FREQUENT walking, standing, sitting, fine-finger dexterity to manipulate computer, operate and calibrate equipment. OCCASIONAL bending and stooping, squatting, pushing/pulling, twisting at waist, upward and downward flexion of neck, side-to-side turning of neck; lifting objects weighing up to 10 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 200 yards; lifting objects weighing 11-50 lbs. from below waist to waist level and transporting distances up to 200 yards with or without assistance; grasp and grip to lift and carry equipment; hand and arm strength and foot dexterity to operate automobile or light pickup. INFREQUENT crawling, climbing, reaching at and above shoulder height, kneeling, balancing above ground; lifting objects weighing 11-50 lbs. from chest level to above shoulders, with or without assistance.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents and to operate equipment.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Date: April 2003
Johnson & Associates