Work where you play!
Join our team at Parks Tacoma to put your skills to use serving your community and making Tacoma a vibrant, healthy, and welcoming place to live.

Who We Are
Parks Tacoma is a CAPRA-accredited and AZA-accredited, independent park district that leads efforts to build a healthy, sustainable community. Located in Tacoma, Washington, Tacoma Parks’ mission is to create healthy opportunities to play, learn, and grow. The independent park district spans the city providing a wide range of life-enriching destinations and services, including 70+ parks, 80+ miles of trails, 1,000+ acres of urban forest, 66 playgrounds, four community centers, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Park, and much more. Our work is guided by eight core values that are the foundation of our actions and goals: innovation, excellence, equity, inclusiveness, sustainability, accountability, safety, and fun.

Why You’ll Love it Here
Come work where you play! You will contribute to the overall vitality and well-being of your community when you work for Parks Tacoma, and you’ll do so as part of a supportive team of committed, passionate, and mission-driven professionals. The people of Parks Tacoma are the key to its success, and you just might be the next great addition to our team. You’ll receive a competitive wage, along with an attractive benefits package, including medical, dental, retirement, vacation, holidays, and much more. On top of that, you’ll wake each day knowing that you’re helping make Tacoma a great place to call home.

Position Information
Under the general direction of an assigned supervisor, perform a variety duties involved in the development and management of Park District's real property; manage professional level planning, design, construction phase, and consultation activities and assure compliance and compatibility with existing systems and applicable codes, standards, specifications and practices; communicate with and provide technical information to planning personnel, engineers, contractors, developers, outside agencies, the general public and others regarding projects and activities. The Project Administrator position will typically manage smaller and less complex projects.

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to:

• Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
• Interact professionally with other employees, customers and suppliers.
• Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.
• Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
• Observe applicable safety requirements, use safety equipment provided, implement appropriate safety practices at all times and report immediately any unsafe working conditions or hazards.

• Participate individually and as a member of cross-departmental work groups in the implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities pertaining to Planning, Design, Construction and Asset Management.
• Coordinate the activities of multiple concurrent projects, at various stages of development and complexity, in the delivery of new, renovated and enhanced park and recreation facilities district-wide.
• In close collaboration with District staff, outside agencies and community representatives, assist in the development of projects scopes, budgets, communication plans and schedules for various planning and development projects.
• Coordinate the work of planning, design and engineering consultants including writing Request for Qualifications (RFQ’s), Request for Proposals (RFP's), selecting consultants, negotiating contracts and supervising completion of the contracted work.
• Facilitate communication interdepartmentally and with other agencies regarding Planning, Design, Construction and Asset Management; Conduct research as needed to respond to public inquiry and in support internal and external communications.
• Serve as a liaison with other District departments, agencies, and other interested parties to coordinate project and program area activities, which may include: coordinating planning activities; serving as a project spokesperson; organizing, participating in, and conducting meetings and presentations; and/or performing other related activities.
• Coordinate the activities of professional services, environmental, surveying and other specialized firms in the execution of park improvement projects; prepare related project scopes; coordinate the consultant selection process; negotiate and manage contracts; review and respond to reports and work products; evaluate the performance of consultants upon completion of work.
• Prepare and deliver reports and recommendations to District supervisors, managers and executive leadership including written narrative, diagram and support graphics in a variety of presentation media.
• Perform construction-phase review to ensure conformance/performance of contractors with design, specification, and contract documents; administer and applying related contracts; negotiate schedules and schedule adjustments for design and construction; coordinate project close-out and budget reconciliation; prepare reports, correspondence, advertisements, and official documents regarding project status, progress, and payments; and/or performing other related activities.
• Ensure compliance with construction contractual requirements and conditions from design phase through warranty phase; initiate, negotiate, and process contracts; administer contract change orders and addenda.
• Authorize payments to contractors and consultants; verify accuracy of invoices and project accounting; implements and tracks Local and State grant budgets for projects.
• Assists in the preparation of environmental checklists; preparation and filing of permits with Local and State agencies; preparation of grants for Local and State agencies.
• Prepare sketch designs as required for various planning, design and construction solutions; provide hand-draw or computer generated graphics as appropriate to the scope, scale and detail required.
• Maintain current knowledge of Planning, Design, Construction and Asset Management trends and techniques; assure compliance with limitations and parameters of new laws, rules and regulations related to these fields.
• Participate in planning around life-cycle and cost-benefit analysis for parks and facilities assets. Assist in the gathering and tracking of data to inform decisions regarding long-term, sustainable parks and facilities resiliency and management.
• Identify opportunities for sustainability and green infrastructure application to problem solving. Offer guidance to ensure protection and enhancement of critical areas and infrastructure.
• Operate a motorized vehicle to travel to multiple locations to carry out essential duties. Adhere to all driving laws and safety rules.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor's degree in landscape architecture, architecture, civil engineering, urban planning and design, parks and recreation management, project management or closely related field and three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in the construction, planning, design, and permitting including at least two (2) year of successful construction project management. An additional 4 years of related experience can substitute for the degree required.

LICENSE & OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Professional landscape architecture, architecture, and/or engineering project management license is highly desirable.
• Possess a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record (a current driving abstract will be requested during the reference process at applicant's expense.)

HAZARDS

• The work environment includes both indoor and outdoor conditions with exposure to fluctuating temperatures seasonally which can (routinely, frequently, occasionally) be hot, cold, humid, windy, and/or damp.
• The work environment includes both indoor and outdoor conditions with exposure to airborne particles such as dust, fumes, motor exhaust, cleaning solvents, chemicals, or wildfire smoke.
• The work environment is loud with running equipment and machinery.
• Employees are working in required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• The work environment includes interactions with the general public, which can include hostile or disgruntled individuals.

ENVIRONMENT

• The office work environment is often quiet with minimal background noise.
• The office work environment is an active hub space with collaborative workstations where background noise from collaborative discussions, phone calls, impromptu meetings, and/or team activities are common.
• Work shifts are assigned to meet operational needs, including flexible schedules, rotating shifts, call-back shifts, overtime shifts, nights, holidays, and/or weekends.
• The work environment includes working individually and/or within team dynamics

ABILITIES
Perform continually sustained and repetitive activity, labor, and effort that includes:

• Stationary positioning for extended periods of time
• Moving and/or positioning objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
• Operate and/or use keyboards, phones, and office equipment.
• Observe, inspect, assess, detect, identify, and/or perceive details at close range while following and/or preparing records and reports, and/or operating equipment.
• Observe, assess, determine, identify, and/or perceive details at distances including safety situational awareness, equipment and/or motor vehicle operation.
• Communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and convey safety instructions to persons around operating machinery and/or across open spaces.
• Communicate and exchange accurate information and/or instructions to others.
• Detect, determine, or identify odors, fumes, contaminants, and/or smoke.

Perform frequently sustained and repetitive activity, labor, and effort that includes:

• Move throughout facilities and/or properties for extended periods of time or distances including on uneven terrain, narrow and/or slippery surfaces at a consistent pace.
• Position self to perform tasks and/or essential duties of role.
• Moving and/or positioning objects weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Operate, use, position, place, prepare, and/or inspect small parts and maintain control of tools and equipment simultaneously.
• Moving and/or positioning objects while simultaneously observing, inspecting, and/or perceiving details at close range.
• Observe, inspect, assess, detect, identify, and/or perceive details at close range while following and/or preparing records and reports, and/or operating equipment.

Perform occasionally sustained and repetitive activity, labor, and effort that includes:

• Ascend/descend ladders, stairs, and/or scaffolding while performing work at elevated heights, below ground surface, and/or confined spaces.
• Reaching above shoulder height or below waist

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Project management principles, methods, and practices.
• Facility organization, policies, and procedures.
• ADA rules and regulations for accessibility
• Design and development techniques for parks and recreation facilities.
• Practices to promote diversity, inclusion and equity in the planning, development, and management of district resources.
• Construction standards and methods.
• Park and urban planning principles and practices.
• Applicable Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations.
• Budgeting principles.
• Contract management principles and practices.
• Project accounting principles, practices, and methods.

ABILITY TO:

• Communicate effectively orally and in writing to variety of audiences in order to generate support for new strategies.
• Develop and negotiate solutions to challenging problems.
• Coordinate complex projects.
• Direct and assist architects, engineers, and landscape architects involved in preparing plans, studies, reports and drawings related to the planning process.
• Direct contractors in constructing park capital projects.
• Prepare and coordinate presentations and reports.
• Attend meetings and facilitate communication with elected bodies, special interest groups and the general public.
• Read, interpret, apply, and explain rules, regulations, plans, policies and procedures.
• Administering contracts.
• Communicate clearly verbally and in writing.
• Take initiative with minimal supervision.
• Extract and record data and carry out calculations accurately.
• Manage time efficiently and effectively through scheduling and prioritizing.
• Work within and contribute to the effectiveness of a team, respecting differences.
• Report for work regularly and on time.

PARKS TACOMA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation, disability or any other merit factor. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

Parks Tacoma employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Parks Tacoma is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resources at hr@parkstacoma.gov.

Employment is subject to a national background check.

This position is an at-will position with no written or implied contractual agreement.