General Position Summary
The City of Washougal is seeking a Parks and Cemetery Program Manager to coordinate long-term planning, develop policies, create recreational programs, manage partnerships, write grants, and coordinate capital projects for the city's 19 parks, open spaces, and public cemetery. The ideal candidate is an effective and collaborative project manager, adept at building partnerships both internally and externally, and knowledgeable about parks planning, capital project management, and recreation best practices.
In the near term, the Parks and Cemetery Program Manager will prioritize:
- Completion of capital projects including upgrades to Hamllik Park and the Washougal Towncenter Revitalization Project in coordination with the Public Works team
- Master Planning for Schmid Family Park
- Updating the Comprehensive Park and Recreation Plan
- Implementing a facility reservation system
- Enhancing the city's recreation program
- Enhancing the city’s Adopt-a-Park volunteer program in coordination with the Community Engagement Manager
- Exploring funding and cost recovery options and budgetary policies to sustain and ideally enhance recreation and maintenance resources in coordination with Public Works
- Participating as a member of the citywide Leadership Team
General Position Summary
Plans and directs the programming of city parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, recreation programs, and the cemetery. Designs and organizes construction of city parks; coordinates parks projects and public meetings.
Job Scope
This position involves a wide diversity of work situations. The incumbent operates from some established and well-known procedures, while developing or contributing to the development of new concepts concerning Cemetery & Parks Programming. A high degree of complexity is involved in coordinating the multiple activities of the division, and in interacting with various citizens and communities. The incumbent will perform duties independently, with little direction given. Work is occasionally verified by a supervisor. Errors in work may result in interference with the flow of activities, negative impact on citizen satisfaction and/or safety, or may put the City at risk of liability.
Supervisory Responsibility
The Parks & Cemetery Program Manager is responsible for the supervision of assigned staff. Supervisory responsibilities include providing daily work direction, performance evaluations, approval of absences or overtime, and providing recommendations and/or approval regarding hiring, pay changes, job changes or termination of employment.
Interpersonal Contacts
The Parks & Cemetery Program Manager position involves frequent communication with others both inside and outside the City. Contacts within the City are made most frequently within the Community Services and Public Works departments and with other departments. Contacts outside the City are made with the public, engineers, biologists, surveyors, contractors and others. Contacts are usually made on the incumbents’ own initiative or as a result of inquiry. These contacts may be about confidential or sensitive matters. These contacts occur most frequently on the phone, face to face and by email and other electronic means.
Job Conditions
The normal working hours for the Parks & Cemetery Program Manager are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. A large percentage of the incumbents’ time is spent outside the office at the various division locations. Extensive local travel is involved. The job includes extensive computer work. The incumbent will often have to deal with the public. The Parks & Cemetery Program Manager is responsible for the activities, operations and resources of the division.
Essential Functions
Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities:
- Promotes programs; develops parks, recreation and cemetery programming; chairs or serves as a member of citywide activity committees; represents the department at meetings of various kinds; interfaces with a variety of agencies regarding programs/activities.
- Plans, directs and coordinates the work of subordinate division personnel;
- Facilitates, plans, organizes, and participates in special activities and events; assists with special event applications and requests.
- Administers, researches and seeks available grants; acts as primary contact in writing grant proposals; evaluates contractor performance.
- Orchestrates special parks and cemetery projects (i.e. improving service to the public, park improvements, expansions, additions, new parks, etc.); interacts with various agencies and individuals regarding special projects; coordinates projects with engineers and consultants.
- Responsible for design and construction of city parks; performs research, communicates with other departments and various agencies,
- Writes and revises programming plans and master plans.
- Contacts and maintains a working relationship with interested members of the public, outside organizations and special interest groups; prepares and delivers speeches and presentations to commissions, advisory groups, and/or public and private organizations.
- Acts as primary liaison to the Parks and Cemetery Board and attends recurring board meetings.
- Develops and conducts community outreach for Parks and Cemetery services, including community meetings, notifying neighborhoods, mailings and public information on the city website.
- Collaborates with the Communications Manager to maintain and update information on the city website.
- Recruitments, selects, evaluates, trains and develops subordinate staff. Administers performance management in accordance with personnel policies and/or collective bargaining agreement.
- Approves and maintains records for employee work sheets, absences, overtime and vacation requests.
- Approves expenditures; manages budget reports for parks programming and cemetery operations.
- Interacts with citizens regarding concerns and complaints.
Additional Functions
- Coordinates with Public Works to ensure effective management of cemetery, including lot sales, burial permits, inscriptions, marker settings and clearings, deed generation and records maintenance including use of Cemetery software.
- Effectively persuades, informs, educates, trains, solicits information, and directs a wide variety of individuals or groups.
- Prepares correspondence and miscellaneous documents and reports necessary for the implementation of the functions of assigned programs.
- Develops or assists in the development of training programs for assigned staff, administers training programs.
- Assists in drafting city ordinances related to assigned programs.
- Other duties as assigned.
Specific Job Skills
Specific Job Skills
Job Specific Skills and Knowledge:
- Knowledge of park and cemetery design and architecture
- Knowledge of park, recreation and cemetery programming and practices
- Knowledge of project funding options, including grants and appropriations
- Project management skills
- Customer service skills
- Knowledge of relevant codes and ordinances
Mental Activities
- Interpersonal, teamwork, and customer service skills
- Decision making skills
- Creative and problem analysis skills
- Mentoring, training, and supervising skills
- Ability to speak, understand, read, and write English
- Ability to perform basic math (add, subtract, multiply, and divide)
- Ability to exercise independent judgment and/or independent action
Physical Activities
- Frequent talking, hearing, sitting, standing, walking, fingering/typing, and grasping
- Occasional stooping, reaching, bending, kneeling, handling, feeling, and repetitive motions of the hands and wrists
- Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds
Education and Experience
Education And/or Experience
- Five to eight years of experience in parks planning, facility scheduling, and/or recreational programming-
- Two to four years supervisory experience
- Valid Washington State Driver’s License
The City of Washougal offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes; medical, dental, vision, long term disability, life insurance, paid holidays, vacation, sick leave and an employee assistance program.
