As the Parks Planner III you will be coordinating and assisting with a range of park planning, community outreach, park design and development, and park-related policy initiatives. You will assist with long-range and strategic park planning efforts, capital improvement projects and associated activities including project management and development of park site and facility standards associated with park capital improvement projects. As a Parks Planner III you will develop recommendations and take independent action consistent with policies, general directives, and broad regulations. Apply today and become a member of this dynamic team!

Job Description:

Park Planning and Design:

Makes recommendations on projects and prepares conceptual park/preserve site plans and related facility designs based on public input, staff recommendations, analysis of existing conditions, and applicable policies and regulatory parameters. Acts as a technical advisor and serves as a subject matter expert in this area. Creates construction drawings and specifications and obtains permits for small projects. Facilitates the procurement of professional design services for the development of construction drawings, permits and other design/development related activities for larger projects. Coordinates with PRNR staff and other County departments such as Capital Projects, Public Works, Utilities, Transportation, and Procurement as needed. Coordinates and manages public workshops, research, development of maps and displays, community outreach, and provides technical design oversight. 

Project Management:

Oversees the design, permitting, budgeting, and construction process in-house, or through assigned teams, to ensure projects are completed per the approved scope of work, within budget, on time, and per standard construction methods.  Coordinates efforts with other project managers, park staff, design professionals, permitting agencies, procurement officials, public information officers, and contractors. Participates on inter-department and inter-agency teams to ensure the park projects align with the desires of the community and will function appropriately from a Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources (PRNR) operational and maintenance perspective. Coordinates project meetings, provides quality control inspections, and facilitates the transition of projects from construction to operations and maintenance; coordinating with other PRNR divisions and other departments as needed.

Long Range/Strategic Planning:

Researches, develops and creates written, graphic, and budget related documents in support of department and division related strategic planning goals, actions and projects. Assists with efforts related to strategic, long range, regional planning and associated needs related to PRNR.  Assists with efforts related to updates to the Sarasota County Parks, Preserves and Recreation Strategic Master Plan, such as data collection and analysis, public meeting facilitation, development of park master concept plans and related activities. Performs periodic reviews of accreditation standards and requirements and provides support documentation for Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). Assists with reviews of private development plans through the Development Review Coordination team (DRC) working collaboratively with Planning and Development Services and other departments. Assists with Sarasota County Comprehensive Plan amendments, Evaluation and Appraisal Reports (EAR), rezones and other planning initiatives. Assists with the coordination and development of policies, guidelines, standard operating procedures, and ordinance/code revisions related to parks.

Budget Process:

Supports the department’s annual Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget process.  Facilitates the collection of proposed park development ideas, refines proposed projects scopes of work, develops project budgets, and identifies potential funding sources. Develops concept plans and budgets for proposed park projects. Reviews and recommends updates to department program spending plans as needed. Contributes to the development of CIP project detail sheets for review and approval by the Board of County Commissioners.

Special Projects/Initiatives

Provides support documentation and helps facilitate presentations to community stakeholders including neighborhood groups, Friends of Sarasota County Parks, Advisory Boards (Parks Advisory and Recreation Council and Environmentally Sensitive Lands Oversight Committee) and the County Commission. Performs grant research, writing, management and reporting for existing and future park projects. Assists other departments (e.g., Planning and Development Services) with park-related projects. Assists with development and training of Planner II as needed.

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Work schedules may vary due to split shifts, rotations, on-call, emergencies, etc.

About You

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture, Planning, or related field and minimum of six (6) years of related professional experience
• Demonstrated leadership experience in large and complex projects
• Master’s degree may substitute for one year of required professional experience
• Professional planning experience may substitute for education on a year for year basis
• Valid Florida driver’s license

About Everything Else

Pay Range: $65,000.00 - $77,600.00

Benefits:

• Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! 
• For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net for additional information.
• Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms and classes at multiple Sarasota County Government locations. 
• Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)​​

A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) are the keys to serving, representing and understanding our community. We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different and are committed to creating a culture of understanding and respect where our employees realize that we are stronger together. 

Our vision is to have a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that attracts, develops, retains and engages a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally. 

Sarasota County Government promotes diversity and inclusion in its workforce and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identity or expression, genetic information, religion, national origin, marital status, age or disability. A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353.

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