The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority is recruiting for a Deputy Chief of Park Development to supervise project managers and manage projects related to park development, urban river restoration, public access, and open space conservation. The Deputy Chief will manage their own projects and be part of project teams, as well as supervising project managers. This is a senior staff level position and may participate in agency management discussions.

Applications for this position are accepted online at https://www.calopps.org/mountains-recreation-conservation-authority. Please contact us at employment@mrca.ca.govif you need an accommodation in the recruitment process. Learn more about joining the MRCA team athttps://mrca.ca.gov/about/employment/.

This is highly technical and professional work for a person at a mid-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 fluent Spanish is required.

Supervision

This position reports to the Division Chief. Assorted tasks may be supervised by the Deputy Executive Officer and may include participation in multi-division teams. The position supervises 2-6 other staff, and generally works as part of a team of 8-10 coworkers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

· Implement Land Acquisition and Park Improvement Workprograms, including lead project management for multiple projects at once.

· Supervise and mentor project managers. Review progress on park improvement and land acquisition projects on a regular basis, including budgets, and advise project managers accordingly. Review time sheets and expense reports. Conduct or participate in performance reviews.

· Strategize with project managers and Executive staff for creative solutions to project obstacles.

· Assist Division Chief with administrative and management tasks, including annual personnel and project budgets for personnel and projects and quarterly reporting.

· Schedule and facilitate team meetings and professional development and/or training activities.

· Develop standard procedures to improve project administration, and train staff.

· Seek out and analyze opportunities for new capital projects.

· Lead and/or participate in multi-disciplinary project teams (including MRCA staff, consultants, partner agency staff, and project stakeholders) responsible for land acquisition and park development projects.

· Perform project management, including oversight of subcontractors, project tracking and scheduling, monitoring of project budgets and expenditures, quarterly status reports and updates on project progress as requested.

· Perform day-to-day administration of grants, prepare required reports and ensure conformance with grant agreements. Perform project tracking, scheduling, and budget management.

· Prepare Requests for Proposals/Requests for Bids, and review bids. Select and manage contractors and consultants in conjunction with other staff. Ensure bidding process meets applicable regulations. Assist with estimating and selection of vendors for best value.

· Prepare written materials including press releases, brochures, and technical writing for a wide audience. Prepare staff reports, resolutions, project plans, and comment letters as needed.

· Keep Division Chief and other Executive Staff apprised of progress.

· Attend senior staff meetings and participate in management discussions.

· Travel to various park sites to conduct site evaluations and evaluate projects.

· Maintain good habits of answering and responding to incoming telephone calls, correspondence, and when communicating and providing customer service to citizens who seek assistance.

· Maintain positive relationships with coworkers, representatives of other government agencies, non-profit organizations, homeowner’s associations, and the public at large.

· Perform related duties as required.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required remain in a stationary position, occasionally move about inside the office to access supplies and office machinery, frequently communicate and exchange information, review handwritten, electronic and facsimile documents, and operate a computer and other office productivity machinery. The employee must occasionally move items weighing up to 20 pounds inside the office. The employee is required to travel to various park sites and move about on various terrain types in outdoor weather conditions.

Required Hours and Location

Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week with some scheduling flexibility. The position will work out of the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens and will be required to travel to various other locations. Offices at the River Center are spread among multiple buildings and floors. Remote working or a hybrid schedule may be allowed, subject to supervisor approval.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Education and Experience

• B.A. or B.S. degree. One year of relevant experience may be substituted for each year of required education.
• Two (2) years performing project management duties.
• One (1) year of highly relevant experience in the public sector in park planning and design, performing duties that include creative problem solving, working on an interdisciplinary team, coordinating consultants, technical writing, scheduling, and budgeting.
• Experience in the public sector in park planning and design is desired.
• Ability to speak Spanish is required.

Training and Certification

• Basic First Aid and CPR certification (or ability to complete within 6 months).

Knowledge of

• Basic proficiency in email and Office 365, or ability to learn.
• Basic knowledge of Southern California geography, climate, water resources, plant species, and habitats.
• Typical requirements for public grant funding including restrictions and reporting.
• California Environmental Quality Act requirements, or ability to learn.
• Moderate proficiency in review and analysis of landscape construction plans, or ability to learn
• Best practices for project management.
• Office practices and procedures.

Ability to

• Mentor project managers to develop their judgement and value to the team.
• Prioritize varying tasks and projects, and manage multiple projects at once.
• Work independently to handle multiple tasks under deadlines.
• Revise work approach to address changed conditions.
• Complete projects and follow oral and written directions.
• Quickly change tasks and focus.
• Learn technical material.
• Consistently follow agency procedures.
• Innovate and improve processes.
• Exercise discretion and sensitivity to confidential information.
• Communicate to a variety of audiences about Agency projects and objectives.
• Read maps and navigate through greater Los Angeles, in both urban developed and undeveloped open space areas.

Competencies

• Ability to troubleshoot common project management obstacles and problems, and determine options for proceeding.
• Excellent oral and written English language skills. Not required to be a native English speaker, but fluency in English will be required.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of work including the general public.

This job announcement is not intended to, and does not, create an employment contract of any kind and does not create any express or implied contractual obligations. Employment at MRCA is at-will without exception. The employee and MRCA may terminate employment at any time with or without advance notice and with or without cause.

Any provision contained in this job announcement may be modified or revoked at any time without notice.