Staff Landscape Architect

Staff Landscape Architect

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority is recruiting for a Staff Landscape Architect to oversee design elements of all park development/landscape improvement projects, prepare landscape designs, construction documents and specifications, perform construction observation and troubleshooting, provide general project management and administration, and represent the agency at public meetings.

This is highly technical and professional work for a person at a senior staff/management level. The work performed will support MRCA's operation of nature parks within greater Los Angeles, land acquisition and capital improvement Workprograms, and other efforts related to public access, open space conservation, habitat restoration, and urban park development.

Ability to speak Spanish and a current landscape architect license issued by the State of California are required.

This position reports to the Deputy Executive Officer. Assorted tasks may be supervised by Executive Staff and may include participation in multi-division teams. The position may supervise other staff at the entry-level or intermediate project manager level.

Essential functions include producing landscape improvement plans, coordinating with Construction Supervisors and Site Managers, signing/stamping plans, producing early concept designs, monitoring and tracking project budgets and spending, reviewing and approving landscape plans, coordinating the assessment and removal of architectural barriers, making reports about improvement projects, conducting a bi-annual Request for Qualifications for various professional disciplines, reviewing proposal submissions from environmental design consultants, attending senior staff meetings and participating in management discussions, overseeing agency design standards, performing Construction Administration tasks, specifying and procuring supplies for improvement projects, producing written materials including construction specifications, staff reports, text for publication, proposals, progress reports, and a variety of other documents, determining project scope, options, and alternatives to overcome constraints, maintaining good habits of answering and responding to incoming telephone calls, correspondence, and when communicating and providing customer service to citizens who seek assistance, maintaining positive relationships with coworkers, representatives of other government agencies, non-profit organizations, homeowner's associations, and the public at large, leading and participating in group hikes, project site tours, and kayak trips with project stakeholders, representing the agency in public forums, and performing related duties as required.

Non-essential functions include writing and coordinating grant proposals and researching new funding opportunities for land acquisition, park development, and related planning efforts, and performing day-to-day administration of grants, preparing required reports and ensuring conformance with grant agreements.

Physical demands include remaining in a stationary position, moving about inside the office to access supplies and office machinery, communicating and exchanging information, reviewing documents, operating a computer and other office productivity machinery, moving items weighing up to 20 pounds inside the office, positioning self to perform measurement and inventory tasks, moving about work sites, operating a mobile system to complete checklists, traveling to various park sites, operating measuring tools to record measurements indoors and in outdoor weather conditions, transporting tools between vehicles and work sites on a daily basis, and occasionally ascending/descending a ladder to access areas of work.

Minimum qualifications include a B.L.A, B.A. or B.S. degree, completion of Landscape Architecture degree (bachelor or masters), four (4) years of experience with landscape architect duties, work experience directly managing landscape improvement projects with force account or via design/build relationship, experience in the public sector in park planning and design is desired, and ability to speak Spanish.

Training and certification include a current, valid Landscape Architect license with the State of California.

Knowledge includes State of California Building Code and ADAS requirements for public facilities, intermediate proficiency with AutoCAD, BlueDAG, and Land F/X software, construction practices for architecture and landscape improvements, California Environmental Quality Act requirements, basic proficiency in email and Office 365, and office practices and procedures.

Ability includes cooperating with coworkers and revising project approach as needed to accommodate concerns, traveling to various park sites to conduct site evaluations and evaluate projects, maintaining files and records in an orderly manner, prioritizing varying tasks and projects to manage multiple projects at once, working independently to handle multiple tasks under deadlines, revising work approach to address changed conditions, completing projects and following oral and written directions, consistently following established procedures, exercising discretion and sensitivity to confidential information, communicating to a variety of audiences about projects and objectives, reading maps and navigating through greater Los Angeles, in both urban developed and undeveloped open space areas.

Competencies include accurate use of measuring devices for distance, height, slope and adjacencies, demonstrated creativity and ability to troubleshoot landscape construction issues, spatial analysis, excellent oral and written English language skills, excellent organizational skills, and establishing and maintaining cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of work including the general public.