Park Unit Manager

The PositionThe Park District is currently recruiting for a Park Unit Manager. This role is an exciting opportunity to oversee parklands spanning Alameda, Hayward, San Leandro, Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, and San Pablo — each with its own unique challenges and characteristics reflective of the diverse communities they serve. The Park Operations Division is seeking a motivated, self-starting leader who is ready to help set the foundation for staff success in this unit. As the largest Division in the District, Park Operations plays a vital role in enhancing the visitor experience, ensuring public safety, and maintaining sensitive habitats across our parklands.Tentative Date of Onsite Oral Panel Interviews: Week of June 1 (likely either June 2 or June 4)Supplemental Questions Review: Week of May 4Selection Interviews: Mid to Late June**All dates are subject to change.**ABOUT US:The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful parklands in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to the east of San Francisco. The system comprises 73 parks spanning across 126,809 acres, 1,330 miles of trails, and 55 miles of shoreline. We manage and preserve natural and cultural resources for all to enjoy and protect. The regional parks are ideal for healthful recreation and environmental education. Learn about our Mission and Vision, History, and our contributions to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.OUR MISSION:EBRPD preserves a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provides open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation and environmental education. An environmental ethic guides the District in all of its activities.OUR VALUES:Respect – We honor the land we steward, each other, and the park visitors we serve.Resilience – We creatively adapt to change. We address challenges with empathy, perspective, and determination.Relationships – Our greatest strength lies in the trust, accountability, and teamwork we cultivate with our colleagues, partners, and the public we serve.Responsiveness – We communicate openly, honestly, and reliably.Transparency – We hold the public's trust through meaningful stakeholder engagement and access to timely and reliable information on decisions and performance.WHY WORK FOR EBRPD?Work with a purpose for a better world today and for future generations through the preservation of open space, public access to the outdoors, and a commitment to the conservation of the natural world found east of the San Francisco Bay across 33 cities in Alameda and Contra Costa countiesA community of colleagues who are passionate about public service and the East Bay Regional Park District, the communities it serves, and its missionExcellent benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, and pension benefits through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Click here (Download PDF reader) for details regarding additional benefitsTuition reimbursement and professional developmentFree on-site parkingFree parking permit for EBRPD parks (for up to 2 privately owned vehicles)Employee discounts for certain EBRPD park amenities (reservations, daily fishing permit, public boat launch.WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING: Under general direction, plans, organizes and implements the objectives, and administrative and operational activities of a Park Unit within the Park Operations Department, including parks and facilities consolidated by their environmental and recreational similarities (i.e., shorelines, lakes, parklands, regional trails, recreation areas and interpretive parklands); plans, develops, and achieves operational goals and standards by coordinating and overseeing the operations of assigned parks, facilities, and programs; supervises and evaluates program and operational staff; ensures program compliance with regulatory agency and Park District requirements; performs representational duties internally and externally with unit staff, Park District departments, outside agencies, concessionaires, special interest groups, and the general public; and performs related duties as assigned.IDEAL CANDIDATE:Strong supervisory and leadership experience in the field of park landscape and open space maintenanceProven track record of developing, implementing, and evaluating park operations to ensure standards, goals, and objectives are in line with an agency's missionAbility to develop and defend proposed budgets; experience using budgetary tools to provide direction and ensure operational and financial goals are metExperience collaborating with internal departments to resolve broad challengesExperience developing short and long-term plans to ensure compliance with established laws and regulationsEssential FunctionsPlans, develops, implements and evaluates park operations within a Park UnitDevelops program standards, goals and objectives in line with the Park District’s mission, vision, and Master PlanDevelops short and long-term plans for the unitSupervises, motivates, develops and evaluates parks and facilities staffExercises second and third level supervisory responsibilities over a large workforce of regular, seasonal, and temporary park maintenance classifications and support personnelIndirectly oversees a large number of volunteers, and both directly and indirectly oversees contract concessionairesMakes recommendations concerning programmatic policies and proceduresEnsures compliance with established laws and regulations; allocates appropriate resources necessary to operate and maintain parks and trailsManages physically dispersed parks and facilities through coordinated leadershipAssumes overall responsibility for a significant operating and capital budgetDevelops, justifies, and defends proposed budget submissions, including annual Budget ObjectivesProvides direction and oversight for the diverse elements of a complex unit, ensuring ongoing and annual operational and financial objectives are metResolve internal problems and issues and coordinates with other Park District staff on broader problem and issuesConfers with the Division Lead of Park Operations, Unit staff, and other Park District departments to address issuesParticipates in negotiating, managing, and monitoring contracts, leases, and agreementsResponds to public agency and public inquiries and complaintsOversees and ensures the overall maintenance of good public relations, including making public presentationsServes as a Park District representative to external organizations related to assigned unit, such as public agencies, water districts, local municipalities, and park neighbor associations, as necessaryEnsures the Park District's operational, maintenance, and financial interests receive maximum attention and that decisions are consistent with overall Park District goals and objectivesServes on internal Park District committees, working groups, and/or ad hoc task forces, providing parkland operational expertise and contributing to the attainment of successful resultsPrepares and analyzes complex reportsConducts analysis and researchMaintains recordsPrepares and reviews a variety of written reports and correspondenceMay present to or prepare material for the General Manager and/or Board of DirectorsProvides oversight and guidance to subordinate supervisors in personnel and labor relations mattersDevelops maintenance and operational standards and evaluates staff's performanceOversees project management on a variety of Park Operations projectsResponds to on call incidences, including public operation or maintenance emergencies, as well as disasters caused by fires, flood, earthquakes, or other natural events; and performs related duties as assigned.Minimum QualificationsEducation: A Bachelor's degree in park management, environmental science, public administration or a related field from an accredited college or university,ANDExperience: Four years (4) of full-time experience in park operations, including two (2) years of supervisory responsibility. Additional experience in park and facility maintenance is desirable.License or Certificate: Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License is a condition of initial and continued employment.Equal Opportunity Employer:The East Bay Regional Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects a diverse workforce and community. It is committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive workspace that is welcoming to all. Applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.