Project Manager II - Park Design

City of Atlanta; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Atlanta is seeking a seasoned Project Manager II - Park Design to lead complex real estate acquisitions for park properties and to drive park planning, design, construction, and capital projects from inception to completion.

The role requires strong site evaluation, due diligence, and coordination with legal counsel and city departments. Proficiency in budgeting, scheduling, and PM best practices is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Planning, PM, Construction Site Mgmt, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, or related field.
• Five (5) years of Construction, Real Estate, Planning, or Project Management related experience.
• Licensure or professional certifications applicable to the position (PMP, AICP, IRWA SR/WA, GA real estate license, PM Foundations, LEED AP, AIA).

Responsibilities

• Manage real estate acquisition from start to finish, including site evaluation, purchase and sale agreements, covering agreements, easements, and closing in coordination with legal counsel and other City departments.
• Direct due diligence for prospective park properties, including title review, appraisals, surveys, environmental site assessments, and zoning analyses.
• Coordinate with planning and city departments to ensure proper addressing and permitting for parks.
• Develop project fee proposals, RFQs and RFPs; manage consultants and project teams; monitor budgets and schedules.

Skills

Real estate acquisition

Project management

Budget management

Site evaluation

GIS

AutoCAD

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Planning, Project Management, Construction Site Management, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, or related area

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Adobe Creative Suite

Google Workspace

AutoCAD

GIS software

Job description

Parks & Recreation

Project Manager II - Park Design

Posting Expires: October 14, 2026

Salary: $80,000 - $85,000/annually

General Description and Classification Standards:

Performs project management tasks at a professional level, working with the Director of Park Planning and Design and DPR Senior Leadership Team. This position primarily focuses on real estate: applying strong site-evaluation knowledge to manage and curate property acquisition from start to finish, including covering agreements, easements, due diligence, site surveys, property delineations, and all required filings. The ideal candidate will also perform core project management duties for park planning, design, construction, and capital projects, planning, coordinating, and administering projects from start to finish in accordance with the Program Management Plan and serving as the subject‑matter expert on each project's scope, schedule, and budget.

This is a fully seasoned professional level capable of independently carrying out most assignments typical of the profession. This is a single position and not part of a promotional series.

Supervision Received:

Works under very general supervision. Depending on the organization structure, may work independently with responsibility for an assigned function or program.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

These are typical responsibilities for this position and should not be construed as exclusive or all inclusive.

• Manage real estate acquisition from start to finish, including site evaluation, purchase and sale agreements, covering agreements, easements, and closing, in coordination with legal counsel and other City departments.
• Direct due diligence for prospective park properties, including title review, appraisals, site surveys, property delineations, environmental site assessments, and zoning and land-use analysis.
• Ensure all required filings occur following acquisition, especially county property tax exemptions, and that deeds, plats, and agreements are properly recorded.
• Coordinate with the Department of City Planning (DCP) to ensure all parks have a proper address and can be permitted.
• Curate and maintain the department's real property records, including deeds, legal descriptions, easements, agreements, and property maps.
• Manage park planning, design, construction, and capital projects from conception to completion, including work performed by both internal and external resources.
• Engage with community members and city colleagues regarding ongoing and past project delivery, planning, and acquisition efforts.
• Establish budgets, prepare project schedules, and monitor adherence to terms.
• Coordinate engineering work to ensure compliance with the design concept.
• Perform code and zoning analyses.
• Survey and document existing conditions in the field.
• Communicate and coordinate with external and internal team members, and manage consultants (project management plans, invoices, meetings, etc.).
• Develop project fee proposals, RFQs, and RFPs.
• Stay current with graphic standards, building construction, and construction materials and systems.

Other duties may include, based on area of assignment:

• Prepares maps and spatial analyses using GIS to support site selection, acquisition, and planning efforts.
• Supports grant applications and other funding requests for property acquisition and capital projects.
• Assists in developing policies, procedures, and SOPs related to land acquisition, real property records, and project delivery.
• Provides technical support for both internal and external customers.
• Attends/participates in meetings for major projects, legal reviews, and project managers.
• Provides prompt responses to phone calls and emails.
• Manages progress meetings to review the status of ongoing projects and coordinate with stakeholders.
• Reviews work progress and deliverables to ensure projects are within budget and meet deadlines.
• Assists other management team members in identifying trends and establishing departmental goals.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

The above statements reflect the general duties, responsibilities and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job and should not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. COA may change the specific job duties with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.

Qualifications

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of concepts and processes of the profession; knowledge of the relationship of the professional discipline among related organizations and functions.
• Knowledge of real estate acquisition principles and practices, including purchase and sale agreements, covering agreements, easements, title, appraisals, surveys, and closing procedures.
• Knowledge of site evaluation and due diligence practices, including property delineation, environmental site assessments, zoning, and land use.
• Skill in reading, interpreting, and producing legal documents such as legal descriptions of property, plats, deeds, and easements.
• Must have the ability to step into a Project Manager role to lead a project from programming through completion, monitor financial project performance, and manage project teams.
• Proven ability to manage all project phases and to meet deadlines without compromising design intent or internal relationships.
• Comprehensive knowledge of design principles and aesthetics; broad knowledge of building systems, codes, the technical aspects of architecture, and the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
• Ability to coordinate and manage all aspects of Commercial and Parks projects, prepare construction documents, plans, elevations, sections, specifications, schedules, and details.
• Working knowledge of budget preparation and the proven ability to manage projects within budgetary constraints.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Suite (specifically Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Outlook, and Teams), Adobe Creative Suite (specifically Acrobat, InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator), and Google Workspace (specifically Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.).
• Strong design skills in AutoCAD; working knowledge of GIS mapping software.
• Advanced presentation and graphic communication skills; well-developed skills in organizing and presenting information.
• Ability to work within a team structure and independently, managing multiple projects with varying deadlines.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Planning, Project Management, Construction Site Management, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, or related area.

Five (5) years of Construction, Real Estate, Planning, or Project Management related experience.

Preferred Requirements

Six (6) or more years of Construction, Real Estate, Planning, or Project Management related experience including one (1) year of managerial and/or supervisory experience.

Licensures and Certifications –

Licensure or professional certifications applicable to the position. PMP, AICP Certification, IRWA certification (e.g., SR/WA), Georgia real estate license, Project Management Foundations, LARE, LEED AP, AIA.

Work Environment:

Required physical, lifting, and sensory capabilities are requirements to perform the job successfully. Typical environmental conditions associated with the job.

Lifting Requirements:

Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

It is the policy of the City of Atlanta (“COA”) that qualified individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against because of their disabilities regarding job application procedures, hiring, and other terms and conditions of employment. It is further the policy of the COA to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. The COA is prepared to modify or adjust the job application process or the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of the applicant or employee to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position he or she desires, to perform the essential functions of the position in question, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Human Resources Director for your department.

The City of Atlanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, ender identity, marital status, veteran’s status or national origin, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce.