The Philadelphia Program Manager is responsible for overseeing the construction of parks and playgrounds in Philadelphia in partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the School District of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Water Department, and other local partners. The Program Manager will manage outside consultants and contractors throughout the design and construction process.
Critical aspects of the position involve managing a complex multi-agency public/private site development process with an emphasis on managing design consultants throughout the design development process and securing the requisite approvals from public agencies, and ensuring construction projects are completed to the highest possible standards.
The Program Manager will report to the Senior Program Manager of Park, Design and Development for Philadelphia.
Essential Functions:
- 75% – Manage all aspects of the park/playground development process including oversight of, design consultants, engineering firms, environmental consultants and construction contractors. The Program Manager will take primary responsibility for project design and installation, project schedules, project budgets, project bidding and day-to-day project oversight.
- 15% – Support Program Director in the development of plans for the growth of the program.
- 5% – Work with other urban programs and staff in other TPL offices to help advance urban park projects. Assisting the Program Director and working as a team to address local priorities while aligning the program to our national program initiatives.
- 5% – Other administrative tasks.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of four years of experience in the field of landscape architecture, architecture, real estate development, urban design, or construction management are required.
- Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, and/or certification in construction management is highly desirable.
- Experience managing design and construction projects, including oversight of design and construction professionals, public bidding, budgets, and project schedules.
- A critical mass of the essential and desirable skills and experience described below.
Essential Skills and Experience:
The ideal candidate will have strong, proven skills in most—though not necessarily all—of the following areas:
- Design and Construction Project management
- Community engagement
- Building coalitions and partnerships
- Prior work experience with diverse stakeholder groups and government agencies is required.
- Urban park development
- Diplomacy
- Budgeting and expense management
- Experience in overseeing environmental assessment and remediation, as part of overall site development projects
- Landscape design and site development process (actual design work is completed by outside landscape architects)
- Selection and management of vendors
- Securing regulatory permits
- Written, verbal, and interpersonal communications
- Self-direction, with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Achieving outcomes and delivering results
Desirable Skills and Experience:
The ideal candidate will also have skills and experience in some of the following areas, but these are not required in order to be considered for this position:
- Living and/or working in historically under-served communities and communities of color
- Knowledge of current urban issues, such as planning, parks, climate, public health, and equity
- Giving presentations and public speaking
- Employing participatory design and creative place-making techniques
- Contract negotiations
- Fluency in a non-English language that is widely spoken in local immigrant communities
The Trust for Public Land is committed to cultivating a diverse staff that is representative of the communities we serve. Applications from individuals having diverse backgrounds and life experiences are strongly encouraged. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all of the above criteria; if you believe you’re the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.
