Design & Construction Project Manager

Organization's Mission: Sparking wonder through play, education, and nature to create a community of environmental stewards for a healthier Baltimore.

Parks & People works to sustain and improve Baltimore's parks and open spaces through public-private partnerships. Since 1984, P&P has a history of making investments in green park projects to revitalize neighborhoods and is a major provider of programs to allow children, youth and adults to learn, grow, and explore their natural environment. Parks & People envisions a Baltimore City where green renewal contributes to economic investment and population growth, where people enjoy green spaces that spark wonder, and where communities build the strength and leadership to steward the environment.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY: The Design & Construction Project Manager works with public officials, community leaders, and other constituent groups through the green space development process in an effort to increase the number of people in Baltimore with access to healthy, quality, and equitable parks, green space, and/or playgrounds. The Manager monitors and assesses all phases of design and construction projects, operations, and maintenance while ensuring that best practices and Parks & People standards are incorporated in park design.

REPORTS TO: Director of Park Projects

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Project Design
a. Create supporting project materials including fact sheets, presentations, and documentation of process and standards for external communication of projects
b. Oversee conceptual design development including production of drawings and plans using appropriate drafting technology
c. Work with partners to develop creative design solutions to meet urban community needs
d. Oversee process and meetings with stakeholders and constituents to develop design
e. Work with team to create and maintain list of design elements as standard for park projects and ensures designs incorporate predetermined standards for environmental performance and urban design
f. Identify and utilizes technology to further design and engage constituents in the design process
g. Collaborate with program staff to identify design needs for programming

2. Project Management
a. Develop construction phasing with phasing strategy in consultation with the Park Projects team
b. Document project progress with before/during/after photos and project impact stories
c. Provide data and information for monthly reports regarding work accomplished, project invoices, and project budgets
d. Manage spending on projects to complete within budget
e. Assist with planning of park-related opening events
f. Report regularly to the Director of Park Projects about project status and cost and identifies issues that need to be resolved

3. Project Construction
a. Manage bidding and consultant selection processes as required by funding and regulations
b. Assist with securing permits the park development process as needed
c. Complete and monitor construction cost estimates, project budgets and schedules; work with senior staff to value engineer projects to stay within budget
d. Oversee project construction process
e. Identify and implement repairs needed on past projects

4. Compliance and Reporting
a. Assist with community engagement activities and communications
b. Assist with park reporting and research
c. Publish pre- and post-park completion surveys and manage related data

5. Project Sustainability
a. Work with Volunteer & Community Engagement Manager to organize volunteer events in parks
b. Develop park programming with partners
c. Develop project maintenance guides

6. Other Duties
a. Make presentations before citizen groups, partners and commissions as assigned
b. Attend key meetings and assist the Director of Park Projects in representing the mission and interests of Parks & People to external groups, organizations and providers as assigned
c. Keep current on issues of importance to the organization by literature review, contact with social and professional communities, and participating in relevant conferences
d. Provide support, when requested, for all organization activities

QUALIFICATIONS:

Requirements
• Bachelor's degree in landscape architecture, urban planning, or related field
• At least 3 years of progressive experience in project management methods and practices for planning, budgeting, scheduling, monitoring evaluating results
• Experience working with community groups and government agencies
• Knowledge of construction regulations and requirements
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, superb organizational skills, and attention to detail
• Proficiency in MS Office software
• Excellent time management skills needed to handle multiple, concurrent deadlines
• Exceptional people-skills and perseverance in building and maintaining relationships with partners
• Critical thinking needed to understand and identify opportunities to strengthen connections between vibrant parks and community development
• Ability to analyze problems, synthesize information and develop solutions which support Parks & People's mission
• Able to utilize data as a tool to make strategic and timely decisions regarding program effectiveness and impact
• A willingness to work beyond the usual 8:30am-5pm business day and on weekends is required when needed

Preferences
• Master's degree in landscape architecture, urban planning, or related field