Project Manager

Job Title: Project Manager (Planning & Design)

Reports to: Director of Community Projects and Engagement

Work Status: Full Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

PPC Mission Statement:

Improving quality of life for the people of Pittsburgh by restoring the park system to excellence in partnership with government and the community. Projects and programs are conducted with respect for the environment, historic design, and the needs of our diverse region.

Position Summary:

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (PPC) is seeking a Project Manager to manage the design and planning of capital projects. This position offers exciting and rewarding opportunities for an experienced, creative, and self-directed project manager who has the necessary technical skills, vision, and passion to help improve the quality of public space through the City of Pittsburgh.

Working under the direction of the Director of Community Projects and Engagement, the Project Manager will be responsible for the planning and design of capital improvement projects, led by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (PPC) in the City of Pittsburgh’s park system. The role will primarily focus on the design, planning, and community engagement phases of capital projects in public parks, with an emphasis on working with residents and stakeholders to develop concepts, designs, and improvement plans that respond directly to community goals and priorities.     

As a member of the Community Projects and Engagement team, the Project Manager will coordinate and collaborate across multiple PPC departments, identifying opportunities to align PPC’s diverse resources and skillsets to develop unique projects that advance the goals of the organization, meet City stakeholder priorities, and deliver transformative projects that improve user experience and quality of life for Pittsburgh Park visitors.

Typical projects may include, but are not limited to, the renovation, expansion, or creation of playgrounds, athletic fields and courts, historical landscapes and structures, plazas, monuments, park support buildings, green infrastructure and stormwater management systems, ecological restoration areas, trails, community gardens, wayfinding and signage, and other park spaces.

Typical Position Duties:

The Project Manager is responsible for, but not limited to, the following duties:

• Support the Director of Community Projects and Engagement in the development and implementation of a 5-year capital project pipeline.
• Perform site analysis and inventory of existing park spaces to understand existing conditions, constraints, needs, and opportunities for potential capital improvement projects.
• Develop and manage project scopes, budgets, and schedules.
• Procure and manage consultant services, including developing RFPs, executing contracts, managing project budgets and timelines, processing invoices and additional services requests, day-to-day consultant coordination, and other related management tasks.
• Coordinate with PPC Community Engagement staff to develop, comprehensive approaches to community and stakeholder engagement, facilitate public meetings, create user surveys, and actively participate in other methods of community outreach throughout the life of a project.
• Review and provide comments on consultant provided plans, graphics, cost estimates, and other deliverables.
• Coordinate and communicate with City of Pittsburgh partners and stakeholders from various departments to secure timely reviews, feedback, and approvals of proposed projects.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other PPC departments and staff at various stages of project design and implementation, pursuant to their roles in programming, maintenance, fundraising, and management of ongoing and future capital projects.
• Support the Development department in preparation of grant applications and funding requests.

Occasional Position Duties:

• Develop presentation materials to support community engagement efforts, coordination with city agencies, and grant applications.
• Produce diagrams, plans, illustrations, renderings, and other graphics to clearly communicate project or design intent.
• Manage design development, permitting, and construction documentation of capital projects.
• Assemble bid packages and manage the bid process for contractor services, including solicitation of bids, issuing clarifications and addenda, reviewing bids, and executing agreements.
• Perform construction administration duties, including observation and documentation of construction activities, facilitating construction meetings, processing pay applications and change order requests, and other required tasks.
• Other tasks or duties as assigned.

Knowledge of (position requirements at entry)

• Broad working knowledge of public park and open space design and implementation, including understanding the need to balance community needs, long-term maintenance resources, and available funding.
• Strong knowledge of community and stakeholder engagement methods and approaches, and experience in public speaking and community meetings of various types and scales.
• Strong knowledge of construction documentation, detailing, specifications, and the public bidding process.
• Modern principles and best practices of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), sustainable park design, and climate resiliency, including knowledge of construction and maintenance techniques (preferred, but not required).
• Knowledge and understanding of the City of Pittsburgh’s Stormwater Ordinance, Historic Review Commission process, Civic Design Commission process, Onestop PGH process, and other pertinent federal, state, county, and city laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations applicable to public park projects in the City of Pittsburgh (preferred, but not required).

Skills and Ability to (position requirements at entry):

• Clearly and effectively communicate through oral, written, and graphic communication styles.
• Comfort and experience facilitating public meetings, engaging with community members, and navigating challenging conversations in a public setting.
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrate creativity, initiative, and an ability to self-direct tasks as necessary to accomplish project goals.
• Negotiate and meet deadlines for multiple projects, identifying critical path items and prioritizing tasks accordingly.
• Work cohesively within a team environment, establishing effective, respectful, and productive working relationships.
• Proactively anticipate problems or opportunities, while also adapting to changing conditions and situations.
• Foster and establish strong professional working relationships with contractors, consultants, and City of Pittsburgh staff.
• Understand and appropriately adhere to and communicate PPC policies and procedures.

Training and Experience (position requirements at entry)

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Landscape Architecture (preferred), Planning, Engineering, or related field. Applicable professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 2-5 years professional experience in park-related design, planning, project management, construction administration, and community engagement.
• Strong proficiency in AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office is required.
• Familiarity with ArcGIS, SketchUp, and other graphic or 3D modelling software is desirable.
• Successful completion of the following within 60 days of hire: Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance; Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check; Federal Criminal History Record Information (CHRI)  

Licensing Requirements (position requirements at entry)

• State licensure in landscape architecture is strongly preferred, but not required.
• National Green Infrastructure Certification, SITES AP, and/or LEED AP are preferred, but not required.

Benefits:

The PPC offers the following benefits package to all full-time employees.

• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• Life insurance and short-term/long-term disability insurance offered at no-cost to employee
• Aflac supplemental insurance
• Twenty (20) paid vacation days and ten (10) paid company holidays
• 403(b) retirement savings program with up to 8% company match
• Hybrid work model
• Professional development opportunities
• Discount on PPC merchandise
• Experience under a licensed landscape architect for LARE exam requirements
• Commitment to maintaining work-life balance, including offering comp time and flexible schedules as required

Other Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

The physical ability to walk, stand, stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, pull, push, finger, feel, grasp, lift, talk, see, hear and perform repetitive motions. 

Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

Occasional weekend, evening and holiday work is required to perform the duties of this job.

The PPC is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Salary : $60,000 - $70,000