Parks Planning & Development Manager

City-of-Trac; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4% COLA increases

9/80 schedule

CalPERS benefits

Job summary

The City of Tracy is seeking a strategic Parks Planning Division leader to oversee the planning, design, and capital projects for parks and recreational facilities. You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams, manage budgets, and report to City management and commissions, guiding community-aligned development.

The ideal candidate brings strong project management, sound judgment, and experience navigating regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations. Strong communication is essential.

Qualifications

• Ideal candidate is a strategic, collaborative leader with strong communication and project management skills.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and complex capital projects is preferred.
• Ability to translate technical and financial information into clear recommendations for leadership.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize and direct parks planning and development activities and CIP projects.
• Coordinate landscape, design and construction efforts with internal teams and external partners.
• Present staff reports to City Council and commissions and engage with community stakeholders.
• Lead budgeting, policy development, and performance evaluation for the Parks Planning Division.

Job description

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

Application Deadline: September 23, 2026 @ 4:00 PM

Virtual Panel Oral Board Interviews (Tentative): October 1, 2026

Selection Interviews: Week of October 12, 2026

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a strategic, collaborative leader who can build and support a high-performing team while leading a diverse portfolio of parks planning and development initiatives and capital improvement projects. This position requires the ability to coordinate multidisciplinary project teams and effectively navigate complex projects involving developers, architects, landscape architects, engineers, contractors, construction managers, consultants, City departments, and community stakeholders.

The successful candidate will be a confident communicator who can translate complex technical, financial, and project information into clear recommendations for City management, City Council, commissions, and the community. The ideal candidate will bring strong project management skills, sound judgment, and the ability to move projects forward while balancing quality, budget, schedule, regulatory requirements, and community expectations. The incumbent will also have the opportunity to work from the Tracy Area Recreation Center (TRAC) upon completion of the facility.

Why Choose City of Tracy

The City of Tracy offers excellent pay, including 4% COLA increases in July 2027, and 2028. Employees approved to work a compressed work schedule also enjoy strong work-life balance through a 9/80 schedule, providing a three-day weekend every other week.

Our competitive benefits package includes fully covered HMO Medical, Dental and Vision for employee + family, generous vacation and sick leave, life insurance, optional 457(b) deferred compensation with a City match, and longevity pay. We proudly participate in CalPERS, with employees enrolled in either the2% @ 55or2% @ 62 formula based on eligibility, with retirement calculated using a three-year final compensation average.

For a full overview of everything we offer, check out our Benefits section to learn more about the programs and support available to City of Tracy employees. Together, these benefits reflect our commitment to employee well-being, long-term stability, and rewarding career growth.

Definition

Under general direction, plans, organizes, directs and coordinates, and reviews the work of staff performing duties related to parks planning and development including the design, construction, renovation and long term planning of the parks, sports fields, street landscapes and related recreational facilities, including oversight and implementation of the Parks Capital Improvement Plan and management of complex capital projects; supervises program development and planning and oversees the daily operations of the Parks Planning Division; manages and administers policies and procedures for the division; serves as a professional and technical resources to the Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services; and performs related duties as assigned.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Receives general direction from assigned supervisory or management staff. May exercise direct and general supervision over assigned staff.

Class Characteristics

This is a management classification responsible for planning, organizing, reviewing, and evaluating the day to day operations of the Parks Planning Division. Responsibilities include developing and implementing policies and procedures for assigned programs, budget administration and reporting, and program evaluation. Incumbents serve as a professional-level resource for organizational, managerial, and operational analyses and studies. Performance of the work requires the use of considerable independence, initiative, and discretion within established guidelines.

Examples of Typical Job Functions (Illustrative Only)

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Plans, manages, and oversees the daily functions, operations, and activities of the Parks Planning Division, including oversight of landscape development projects to include new construction, rehabilitation and developer-built projects; manage bid process, including pre-bid conferences and walk-throughs; provide technical information in the response to bidder inquiries; and administer construction projects, including managing project budgets and conducting field inspections.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the divisions; recommends within policy, appropriate service, and staffing levels; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
• Participates in the development, administration, and oversight of division operational and CIP budgets.
• Plan, organize and direct parks planning and development activities including land acquisition, planning, design, and implementation.
• Attend, prepare and present staff reports and informational items to City Council, Parks Commission, Planning Commission, and other commissions and boards as assigned.
• Prepare and facilitate public meetings that deal with sensitive community concerns regarding park development/renovation projects; respond to citizen concerns and complaints.
• Conduct public and internal meetings regarding the design and development of new parks, sports, and recreational facilities.
• Plan review of projects from other City departments as they relate to department facilities.
• Plan review of municipal landscape and irrigation projects prepared by outside consultants.
• Participates in the selection of, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; works with employees to correct deficiencies; recommends discipline to the Director.
• Oversee and review the work of outside contractors and consultants and maintenance and operations staff from other City departments; ensure work is performed consistent with project requirements, timelines, and budget guidelines; take remedial action when necessary.
• Analyze Capital Improvement Program needs for the department and develop recommendations.
• Research and prepare technical and administrative reports.
• Inspect City, developer, and commercial landscape installations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of

• Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, and evaluation, and project management of large-scale projects including managing timelines, monitoring, and administering project budgets, and developing and delivering progress reports to governing bodies, management, and other stakeholders.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment review and evaluation, discipline, and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Principles and practices of leadership.
• Organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis, and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs of the assigned area of responsibility.
• Principles and practices of park, sports and recreational facility, and landscape design, architecture, construction, maintenance, and horticulture related to park and landscape planning and design and related recreational uses.
• Principles and utilization of architecture tools, templates, scale, and graphics.
• Principles and practices of contracts and agreements, contract negotiations, and grants administration.
• Pertinent local, State and Federal rules, regulations, and laws.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination.
• Computers and software programs (e.g., Microsoft software packages) to conduct, compile, and/or generate documentation.

Ability To

• Select and supervise staff, provide training and development opportunities, ensure work is performed effectively, and evaluate performance in an objective and positive manner.
• Develop and implement goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.
• Analyze and evaluate complex financial, budgeting, and administrative problems, and develop, recommend, and implement effective solutions.
• Direct the formulation, implementation, and interpretation of administrative, budget, personnel, policies and procedures.
• Develop short-term and long-range plans to anticipate service needs for the City.
• Conduct studies, prepare and present complex technical reports.
• Prepare budgets, monitor expenditures and revenues, and identify and effectively utilize available resources.
• Coordinate departmental services with City departments and public and private organizations.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Ensure conformance with applicable laws and regulations governing the business of the Department, make difficult decisions and award contracts impartially and objectively.
• Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with individuals; governmental agencies; community groups; various business, professional, and regulatory organizations.
• Learn and understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture, architecture, engineering, parks administration/management, public administration, community development, construction management, or related field and five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in regional and community planning, capital improvement project management, and/or parks and landscape construction including two (2) years in a supervisory capacity.

Licenses and Certifications

• Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid Class C California driver’s license upon appointment.
• Registration as a Landscape Architect issued by the State of California Architects Board is highly desirable.
• Certified Construction Manager (CCM) certificate is highly desirable.
• May be required to complete National Incident Management System (NIMS) Training.

Physical Demands

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to operate a motor vehicle to visit various City and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Standing in and walking between work areas is frequently required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned duties, as well as push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 25 pounds with the use of proper equipment.

Environmental Conditions

Employees predominately work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may work in the field and occasionally be exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous chemical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with members of the public or with staff under emotionally stressful conditions while interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Disaster Service Worker

All City of Tracy employees are, by State and Federal law, Disaster Service Workers. The roles and responsibilities for Disaster Service Workers are authorized by the California Emergency Services Act and are defined in the California Labor Code. In the event of a declaration of emergency, any employee of the City may be assigned to perform activities which promote the protection of public health and safety or the preservation of lives and property. Such assignments may require service at locations, times, and under conditions that are significantly different than the normal work assignments and may continue into the recovery phase of the emergency. If a “Local Emergency” is declared during the employee’s shift, employees will be expected to remain at work to respond to the emergency needs of the community. If a “Local Emergency” is declared outside of the employee’s shift, employees must make every effort to contact their direct supervisor or department head to obtain reporting instructions as Disaster Service Workers.