PARKS PLANNER 2 - OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Kitsap County, WA; Bremerton (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Kitsap County Parks is seeking a Park Planner to guide the long-term stewardship, development, and growth of our parks and open space system. This role blends planning, project management, public engagement, and park development to create places that communities can explore, enjoy, and protect for generations.

Under general supervision, the Park Planner 2 conducts planning studies, land-use analyses, manages acquisition efforts, and leads public meetings to gather input, with emphasis on PROS

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with four years in park/land-use planning or related field.
• Public engagement and grant administration experience preferred.
• Knowledge of park development, land acquisition, and resource stewardship processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead land acquisition efforts by identifying, evaluating, and recommending properties.
• Develop and update park master plans and long-range system planning.
• Prepare planning studies, land-use analyses, and conceptual site designs.
• Conduct site visits to assess acquisition and development feasibility.
• Plan public meetings, workshops, and outreach to gather community input.

Skills

Public engagement

Project management

Stakeholder coordination

Written communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in planning / related field

Associate degree in related field

Tools

ArcGIS

Job description

PARK PLANNER – JOIN US IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF KITSAP COUNTY PARKS

Do you thrive on turning community visions into real places people can explore, enjoy, and protect for generations? Kitsap County Parks is looking for a Park Planner to help guide the long-term stewardship, development, and growth of our parks and open space system. This role blends planning, project management, public engagement, and parks development—perfect for someone who wants to make a lasting impact on the natural, recreational, and cultural landscape of our county.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Under general supervision from the Parks Director, the Park Planner performs professional and administrative work in planning, coordinating, and administering park and open space land acquisition, park development, natural resource stewardship planning, and other key planning initiatives. This position conducts analytical work across a broad range of tasks related to parks planning, acquisition, development, and community engagement.

As the Parks Planner 2, you will:

Program Administration

• Manage and report on the Parks Planning Program.
• Lead land acquisition efforts, including identifying, evaluating, and recommending properties for acquisition, development, or divestment.
• Implement departmental goals and PROS Plan strategies.
• Establish and maintain standards for trails, signage, and park infrastructure.
• Research and pursue grants; prepare applications and support grant administration.
• Review County contracts and permit applications for potential impacts to Parks.

Planning & Project Management

• Develop and update departmental plans, including PROS and long-range system planning.
• Prepare planning studies, land-use analyses, and park master plans.
• Create conceptual and preliminary site designs for park development.
• Conduct site visits to assess acquisition and development feasibility.
• Provide technical review and recommend improvements for park projects.
• Support contract oversight and ensure timely preparation of planning and development documents.

Public Outreach & Communication

• Plan and lead public meetings, workshops, and outreach efforts to gather community input.
• Conduct needs assessments and prepare presentation materials.
• Represent the department to County staff, partner agencies, and community groups.
• Present to the Board of County Commissioners, Parks Advisory Board, and other stakeholders.

What you bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in planning, parks and recreation, natural resource management, public administration, landscape architecture, or a related field; and four years of experience in park, land-use, or natural resource planning; OR
• Associate degree in a related field and six years of experience in park, land-use, or natural resource planning; OR
• Eight years of experience in park, land-use, or natural resource planning.

Relevant work experience demonstrating required knowledge, skills, and abilities may substitute for educational requirements. Work experience is essential and cannot be replaced by additional education.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience forming and managing partnerships with public or private agencies
• Familiarity with resource conservation practices in park design
• Knowledge and use of GIS and ArcGIS software
• Experience working in government, the public sector, or a Parks and Recreation department
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification
• Parks and Recreation System Master Planning Certification

For the complete job description: https://kitsapgov.jdxpert.com/ShowJob.Aspx?RequestID=190dd2ee4b62

For more information about Parks Department: Kitsap County Parks Department

Who May Apply

This position is open to the general public. Applications will be screened for qualifications and completion of all the required materials and forms. The most competitive applicants may be contacted for further steps in the selection process, which may include testing for office and computer skills. This position is classified as exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Non-represented and covered under the Kitsap County Personnel Manual.

Application Requirements

All applicants, internal and external, must submit a complete and fully detailed application. Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet all minimum qualifications for the position by the posted closing date. The County uses the information provided in the application (not the résumé) to verify relevant work experience and to determine placement on the pay scale if you are selected for the position.

To be considered, your application must:

• Be fully completed, including all supplemental questions. Provide specific and detailed information showing that you have performed the duties and gained the experience required for the role. Include the total years of relevant experience, quantified based on full-time equivalency. Applications that are incomplete, lack sufficient detail, or do not clearly demonstrate that the applicant meets all minimum qualifications will be screened out and will not move forward in the hiring process. Meeting the minimum qualifications is required.

Prior to employment, the successful candidate must:

• Submit official transcripts from an accredited college or university or business school, if education is being used to meet the minimum qualifications.
• Pass all job-related examinations/tests necessary to demonstrate required knowledge, skills and abilities, as determined by the hiring authority at time of job posting.
• Authorize and complete a criminal background check. Information received is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will not necessarily remove a candidate from consideration. This process is conducted in compliance with the Washington Fair Chance Act (RCW 49.94). Information received is evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will not automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration. FCA-Flyer_June 2026_English_Update

Driving Requirements

• Category 1: Driver operates County-owned vehicle.
• Category 2: Driver operates a personal vehicle as an essential function for official County business.

Kitsap County is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please contact our Human Resources Office.

This posting may be used to fill future openings.

Only authorized employees and hiring authorities have access to the application materials submitted. Per RCW 42.56.250, all applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant are exempt from public inspection.