Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of her people through intentional and sustained stewardship of over 10,200 acres of public land and waterways as well as through hundreds of safe, stimulating recreation, environmental, and cultural centers. PPR promotes the well-being and growth of the City’s residents by connecting them to the natural world around them, to each other, and to fun, physical, and social opportunities. PPR is responsible for the upkeep of historically significant Philadelphia events and specialty venues, and works collaboratively with communities and organizations in leading capital projects and the introduction of inventive programming. To learn more about Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, visit us at www.phila.gov/parksandrec, and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr.

Job Description

Position Summary

The Natural Lands and Urban Forestry unit of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation is responsible for capital projects, grants management, land acquisitions, development and review of architectural designs and construction plans, and development of short and long-term planning. This unit also manages the department's properties, which includes licenses, leases and other property agreements.

The Director of Property, Preservation and Property Management is a senior management position providing oversight of system wide planning, preservation of historic assets, grant acquisition and management, natural lands and ecosystem management, and non-profit partnerships for special projects

This position provides assistance in Capital budget preparation, planning & strategic implementation of Capital and Ecosystem Management projects, as well as the evaluation of policy and operational and administrative functions.  Through an understanding of the social and economic climate, the Director will strategically investigate, recommend, and lead the implementation of projects in support of the department’s strategic plan.

Responsibilities

• Develop long range plans for the department, including park-wide master plans and individual park and trail plans
• Assist with planning and development of new trail systems throughout the City of Philadelphia, Conservation Plans with the Philadelphia Water Department, neighborhood park plans with local community groups and often with the Community Design Collaborative, plans for the department’s watershed parks, along with master plans and other studies
• Assist with the development and implementation of the capital program budget; Coordinates this funding with master plans and other studies, as well as the operating budget
• Acquire grants for park planning, capital projects, development and rehabilitation; Complete administrative grant requirements
• Act as department liaison to other City departments, City Council and other government officials, park users and community/friends groups
• Oversee the rehabilitation of structures, 206 of which are historic, including historic fountains, bridges, sculpture and other structures and infrastructure
• Supervise Planning, Property Management, Natural Lands, and Urban Forestry staff
• Responsible for the restoration and interpretation of the department’s historic and cultural resources
• Oversee the of the park’s professional resource archive, an important research and information tool for the city, park, Department of Public Property, students, professors and the general public
• Oversees property leases and licenses
• Assist staff with fundraising strategies and implementation; Coordinate park fundraising activities with non-profit park partners
• Project oversight of streambank restoration projects, invasive vegetation and insect removal and/or management, native vegetation plantings and monitoring
• Oversees execution of annual maintenance and conservation contracts and the management of the PPR nursery
• Serve as liaison for a variety of special projects and assignments with partners like PennDOT, SEPTA, Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, various City Commissions and Departments (Historical, Art, Office of Arts, Cultural and the Creative Economy, Planning, Streets, Water) etc.
• Other related duties as assigned

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to demonstrate successes in motivating teams with strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to establish and foster relationships across City departments
• Excellent self-direction and the ability to take ownership and drive responsibilities through to completion
• Strong work ethic, with the ability to motivate teams to high performance levels
• Ability to make sound, independent judgment and implore discretion in matters of significance.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong analytical skills with great attention to detail
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite, Adobe, AutoCAD, and remote working applications
• Ability to read, review and provide feedback on plan sets

Qualifications

• Completion of a bachelor's degree program in planning, architecture or landscape architecture from an accredited college or university
• 10-15 years’ experience managing renovations of large or public projects
• Experience working with a diverse set of partners, including government, non-profits and residents/community members
• Experience managing a team
• Experience managing new technologies, adjusting business processes and work culture to maximize the system and reporting capabilities
• Experience with presentation-building, data analysis display, and being able “to build a case”

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that  are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx