Sidewalk Program Manager

Position Summary

We are seeking a qualified Sidewalk Program Manager to plan, coordinate, fund, and oversee the construction, inspection, repair, and long-term improvement of sidewalks and pedestrian facilities throughout the City. The position develops work programs for designated Sidewalk Improvement Districts and manages projects from initial planning through design, bidding, construction, inspection, financial reconciliation, and closeout. The employee works with residents, businesses, contractors, consultants, public works crews, City officials, and state and federal stakeholders. The Sidewalk Program Manager works under the general supervision of the Director of Engineering and exercises independent judgment in administering assigned projects and program responsibilities.

Onsite: In ithaca, New York

Position Summary

The Sidewalk Program Manager is responsible for developing and managing sidewalk construction and repair programs that align with the approved budgets and priorities of the City's Sidewalk Improvement Districts. The employee prepares plans, specifications, construction documents, cost estimates, budgets, procurement materials, contracts, and project reports. The position also manages contractors and consultants, inspects construction, oversees material testing, reviews change orders, responds to public questions, maintains sidewalk maps and inventories, and evaluates overall program performance.

In addition to managing district assessments, the Sidewalk Program Manager develops supplemental revenue sources through grants and long-term borrowing. The position oversees the allocation of project expenses to the appropriate district budgets and coordinates project closeouts and budget reconciliations. The role also supports pedestrian accessibility by overseeing ADA-compliant design, evaluating pedestrian facilities, collecting field data, and participating in long-term pedestrian planning efforts with professional staff, municipal boards, and the Municipal Planning Organization.

Key Responsibilities

Sidewalk Program Planning

• Develop annual and multiyear work programs for sidewalk construction, inspection, maintenance, and repair.

• Align project recommendations with the approved budget of each Sidewalk Improvement District.

• Evaluate sidewalk conditions, accessibility needs, public input, inspection findings, and available funding.

• Recommend project priorities to engineering and leadership.

• Establish project scope, schedule, budget, and delivery requirements.

• Monitor projects from initiation through construction and closeout.

• Evaluate program effectiveness and recommend operational or policy improvements.

Sidewalk Improvement District Administration

• Develop work plans for designated Sidewalk Improvement Districts.

• Coordinate program priorities with district assessments and available budgets.

• Track project activity by district.

• Allocate construction and repair expenses to the appropriate district budgets.

• Monitor the financial status of each district.

• Coordinate financial closeouts and budget reconciliations.

• Maintain records supporting district funding, expenses, work completed, and future needs.

• Provide program and financial information to leadership and the public.

Public Engagement and Communication

• Solicit public input regarding proposed sidewalk programs and district priorities.

• Explain work plans, construction activities, project schedules, and program requirements to residents and businesses.

• Respond to questions regarding project scope, accessibility, funding, schedules, and construction impacts.

• Serve as a liaison among City departments, officials, businesses, residents, contractors, and consultants.

• Communicate technical and financial information clearly to nontechnical audiences.

• Address public concerns professionally and transparently.

• Maintain productive relationships with diverse community stakeholders.

Plans, Specifications, and Estimates

• Develop plans and specifications for sidewalk construction and repair projects.

• Prepare construction documents.

• Develop project cost estimates.

• Review plans and specifications for City pedestrian facilities.

• Evaluate constructability, accessibility, materials, and technical compliance.

• Use computer-aided design software when appropriate.

• Prepare technical recommendations regarding pedestrian infrastructure and accessibility.

• Maintain accurate project files and design documentation.

ADA and Pedestrian Accessibility

• Develop and oversee engineering designs for pedestrian facilities.

• Ensure designs comply with applicable Americans with Disabilities Act technical standards.

• Evaluate sidewalks, curb ramps, pedestrian routes, and related facilities for accessibility.

• Identify barriers affecting pedestrians with disabilities.

• Recommend practical accessibility improvements.

• Review project plans for ADA compliance.

• Coordinate accessibility requirements with contractors, consultants, City crews, and relevant stakeholders.

Bidding and Contract Awards

• Prepare sidewalk projects for public bidding.

• Advertise construction opportunities according to applicable procedures.

• Review bids and supporting materials.

• Evaluate contractor qualifications, pricing, responsiveness, and project requirements.

• Prepare recommendations regarding contract awards.

• Maintain appropriate procurement documentation.

• Coordinate contract execution and preconstruction requirements.

• Ensure awarded work is consistent with approved budgets and project objectives.

Construction Contract Administration

• Manage and administer sidewalk construction contracts.

• Review budgets, contractor payment requests, and supporting documentation.

• Interpret contract documents, plans, specifications, and construction standards.

• Resolve differences in interpretation with contractors.

• Monitor schedule, cost, quality, and contractual compliance.

• Review and recommend change orders.

• Coordinate project changes with contractors, municipal officials, consultants, and other involved parties.

• Maintain complete contract-administration records.

• Coordinate project closeout and final reconciliation.

Construction Inspection and Quality Control

• Inspect sidewalk construction and repair work.

• Verify conformance with plans, specifications, contract provisions, and construction standards.

• Document deficiencies and required corrective actions.

• Monitor completion of corrective work.

• Oversee material testing.

• Confirm that materials meet designated standards.

• Resolve field questions involving contract requirements and construction quality.

• Maintain inspection reports and supporting project records.

• Prevent incomplete or noncompliant work from being accepted.

Contractor and City Crew Coordination

• Assign sidewalk work to available contractors or City crews as appropriate.

• Coordinate project schedules, access, materials, inspections, and public impacts.

• Monitor contractor and crew progress.

• Communicate technical requirements clearly.

• Resolve scheduling, field, quality, or coordination issues.

• Ensure work assignments align with program priorities and available budgets.

• Maintain professional working relationships with contractors and public works personnel.

Consultant Selection and Management

• Prepare professional-services contracts for surveying, design, inspection, and testing.

• Develop scopes of work and consultant requirements.

• Coordinate consultant-selection processes.

• Evaluate consultant proposals.

• Negotiate and administer consultant contracts.

• Monitor consultant schedules, budgets, deliverables, and performance.

• Review consultant work for technical quality and compliance.

• Address performance or scope concerns promptly.

• Evaluate consultant performance following project completion.

Budgeting, Assessments, and Financial Planning

• Prepare and review sidewalk-program budgets.

• Monitor project expenditures.

• Allocate expenses to the appropriate Sidewalk Improvement District.

• Coordinate project closeouts and financial reconciliation.

• Develop a long-term financial plan for the sidewalk program.

• Maintain documentation supporting assessments, expenditures, revenue, and borrowing.

• Identify funding gaps and recommend financial strategies.

• Provide accurate program-finance information to engineering and City leadership.

Grants and Supplemental Funding

• Identify and pursue grants and other supplementary funding sources.

• Develop funding strategies that complement district assessments.

• Support grant applications and required technical documentation.

• Manage awarded funds according to applicable requirements.

• Monitor grant-supported projects, budgets, eligible costs, and reporting obligations.

• Coordinate with internal City departments and external funding agencies.

• Support long-term borrowing when appropriate.

• Maintain clear and complete funding records.

Mapping and Sidewalk Inventory

• Maintain updated maps of City sidewalks.

• Maintain a current sidewalk inventory.

• Track sidewalk conditions, inspection results, repairs, project history, and accessibility needs.

• Use mapping, database, spreadsheet, and CAD tools to organize infrastructure information.

• Ensure records remain complete, accurate, and accessible.

• Use inventory data to support project prioritization and long-term planning.

Surveying and Field Data Collection

• Conduct surveys involving topography, property lines, street improvements, and related infrastructure.

• Collect field data regarding pedestrian and traffic volumes, movement, and demand.

• Review accident and inspection records.

• Analyze and interpret field-study data.

• Prepare graphs, diagrams, reports, and supporting technical materials.

• Use field data to evaluate safety, accessibility, demand, condition, and project priority.

• Coordinate additional surveying or testing services when required.

Long-Term Pedestrian Planning

• Participate in long-term and large-scale pedestrian-facility planning.

• Collaborate with professional staff, municipal boards, and the Municipal Planning Organization.

• Evaluate pedestrian demand, infrastructure conditions, accessibility, and future needs.

• Support planning for connected, safe, and accessible pedestrian facilities.

• Develop technical and program recommendations.

• Integrate sidewalk needs with broader transportation, public works, and community-planning initiatives.

Records and Reporting

• Create and maintain project, financial, inspection, contract, inventory, and program records.

• Prepare narrative, statistical, and tabular reports.

• Analyze factual and quantitative data.

• Prepare graphs, diagrams, maps, and summaries.

• Maintain documentation supporting contracts, budgets, grants, assessments, inspections, and closeouts.

• Present findings and recommendations clearly to supervisors and stakeholders.

• Ensure records are accurate, organized, and available for operational or administrative review.

Staff and Project Leadership

• Supervise interns, temporary employees, seasonal staff, and work-study students.

• Assign and review work.

• Provide guidance and oversight.

• Establish project expectations and deadlines.

• Monitor work quality and completion.

• Provide constructive feedback.

• Ensure assigned personnel follow safety, documentation, and professional standards.

• Coordinate staff resources according to project and seasonal needs.

Minimum Qualifications Applicants must possess:

• A bachelor's degree in one of the following areas:

• Engineering

• Planning

• Architecture

• Landscape Architecture

• Environmental Studies

• Public Administration

• Public Policy

• Urban Design

• A related field with a similar course curriculum; and

• At least one year of full-time paid project-management experience or its paid part-time equivalent. Both the qualifying bachelor's degree and paid project-management experience are required under the official civil-service classification.

• Must live in a New York area, or in a commutable time.

Degree Verification The qualifying degree must have been awarded by an appropriately accredited college or university. Applicants whose degrees were awarded by an institution outside the United States or its territories must provide an independent degree-equivalency evaluation. The applicant is responsible for the associated evaluation cost.

Special Requirement At the time of appointment, the candidate must possess:

• A valid New York State Class D driver's license; or

• A valid driver's license equivalent to a New York State Class D license. The required license must be maintained throughout employment.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The successful candidate must demonstrate:

• Knowledge of effective project-management principles and practices.

• Knowledge of sidewalk construction and repair materials, tools, equipment, and terminology.

• Knowledge of design, specification writing, inspection, and surveying practices.

• Knowledge of computer-aided design.

• Knowledge of data-collection and analytical techniques.

• Working knowledge of municipal budgeting.

• Ability to plan and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Ability to prepare project estimates.

• Ability to analyze factual and quantitative data.

• Ability to prepare graphs, diagrams, narrative reports, statistical reports, and tabular reports.

• Ability to interpret complex written, oral, technical, and quantitative information.

• Ability to communicate effectively with community groups and other stakeholders.

• Ability to establish productive working relationships.

• Proficiency with common office software, including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

• Ability to provide project guidance and review the work of others.

• Ability to work successfully with and serve a diverse local community.

• Physical condition consistent with the demands of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Sidewalk, pedestrian, streetscape, transportation, or municipal infrastructure project experience.

• Knowledge of ADA requirements for pedestrian facilities.

• Experience preparing construction plans, specifications, estimates, and bid documents.

• Construction inspection or contract-administration experience.

• Public-sector or municipal project-management experience.

• Experience administering improvement districts or assessment-funded programs.

• Grant writing or grant-management experience.

• Experience managing consultants and construction contractors.

• Surveying, CAD, GIS, or infrastructure-mapping experience.

• Experience conducting public meetings or community-engagement activities.

• Experience analyzing pedestrian, traffic, crash, inspection, or infrastructure-condition data.

• Experience supervising interns, seasonal staff, work-study students, or project personnel.

Core Competencies

• Sidewalk Program Management

• Pedestrian Infrastructure

• Municipal Project Management

• Sidewalk Construction

• Sidewalk Inspection

• Sidewalk Repair

• ADA Compliance

• Pedestrian Accessibility

• Capital Project Management

• Construction Administration

• Contract Management

• Construction Inspection

• Cost Estimating

• Bid Administration

• Change Orders

• Consultant Management

• Public Engagement

• Sidewalk Improvement Districts

• Municipal Budgeting

• Grants Management

• Long-Term Financial Planning

• Assessments

• Surveying

• Computer-Aided Design

• Infrastructure Mapping

• Pedestrian Planning

• Field Data Collection

• Public Works

Ideal Candidate Profile The ideal candidate:

• Meets the City's exact civil-service education and project-management requirements.

• Can manage several public-infrastructure projects simultaneously.

• Understands the complete project lifecycle from planning through closeout.

• Can prepare and evaluate plans, specifications, estimates, contracts, and change orders.

• Understands ADA requirements and pedestrian-accessibility principles.

• Communicates effectively with residents, businesses, contractors, consultants, public officials, and City crews.

• Can explain technical and financial information clearly to members of the public.

• Maintains accurate budgets, project records, maps, and inventories.

• Uses field data and inspection findings to prioritize work objectively.

• Is comfortable managing grants, assessments, and long-term funding strategies.

• Exercises sound independent judgment while keeping engineering leadership informed.

• Is committed to safe, accessible, and well-maintained pedestrian infrastructure. What Success Looks Like A successful Sidewalk Program Manager will:

• Develop practical work programs aligned with district budgets.

• Move sidewalk projects from planning through construction and closeout.

• Maintain accurate sidewalk maps and condition inventories.

• Complete inspections and resolve deficiencies promptly.

• Ensure pedestrian-facility designs meet ADA technical standards.

• Manage contractors and consultants effectively.

• Maintain control of project budgets, assessments, grants, and reimbursements.

• Communicate project impacts clearly to residents and businesses.

• Improve the safety, accessibility, and condition of the City's sidewalk network.

• Develop sustainable long-term funding and improvement strategies.

• Maintain complete, reliable, and decision-ready program records.

Non-Desirable Candidate Characteristics Likely Disqualifiers

• Does not hold a qualifying bachelor's degree.

• Does not possess one year of qualifying paid project-management experience.

• Attempts to substitute unrelated education or unpaid experience for the official requirements.

• Cannot provide acceptable degree documentation.

• Has an international degree but is unwilling to obtain the required equivalency evaluation.

• Does not possess a valid qualifying driver's license at appointment.

• Is unwilling to accept a provisional appointment or complete the future civil-service examination.

• Cannot manage multiple projects, budgets, contractors, and deadlines.

• Demonstrates poor communication with the public or project stakeholders. Project-Management Red Flags

• Cannot explain a project personally managed from initiation through completion.

• Has supported projects but has not owned schedules, budgets, deliverables, or follow-up.

• Does not maintain organized project records.

• Fails to identify risks or delays early.

• Cannot explain how competing projects should be prioritized.

• Does not follow through on contractor or consultant action items.

• Requires continuous direction for routine project decisions. Construction and Technical Red Flags

• Cannot interpret plans or specifications.

• Has no understanding of construction inspection or quality control.

• Cannot explain how to review contractor payment requests or change orders.

• Accepts noncompliant work without documented corrective action.

• Has limited understanding of ADA pedestrian-accessibility requirements.

• Cannot prepare or review construction cost estimates.

• Has no experience with field data, surveying, CAD, mapping, or comparable technical tools. Financial and Administrative Red Flags

• Cannot explain project-budget tracking.

• Does not understand the importance of assigning expenses to the proper funding source.

• Has weak documentation or reconciliation habits.

• Cannot manage grants, assessments, contracts, or related reporting.

• Makes funding commitments without confirming available authority or budget.

• Does not monitor project closeout and final financial reconciliation. Public-Engagement Red Flags

• Is uncomfortable answering public questions or explaining project impacts.

• Communicates technical information in a confusing or dismissive manner.

• Avoids public input.

• Becomes defensive when residents or businesses raise concerns.

• Does not demonstrate a public-service mindset.

• Has difficulty working with contractors, consultants, municipal staff, and community stakeholders.

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