Landscape Architect Manager (Ub004)

Position Summary:

The Landscape Architect Manager supervises and manages capital project design, construction and infrastructure related operations, as well as trail, trailhead and park facility planning initiatives. They coordinate assigned activities with other divisions, departments and outside agencies, as well as provide complex administrative support to their director. Develops programming ideas and concepts for enhancing public use of land and access to TRWD recreational assets.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this position.

• Perform other duties as required
• Supervises staff, which includes prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff is trained; ensuring employees follow policies and procedures; maintaining a healthy and safe working environment; and, making hiring, termination, and disciplinary decisions or recommendations.
• Performance review alignment
• Oversees the construction bid process, award of contracts, and site construction management of multiple projects.
• Oversees and participates in the development and administration of the Capital Projects/Infrastructure program budget. Forecasts funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials and supplies; monitors and approves expenditures; and implements adjustments as necessary.
• Identify training budget needs
• Conducts studies and analyzes demographic and socioeconomic information to identify present and future needs and deficiencies in parks and recreation facilities; and meets with community groups to assess needs.
• Job description review
• Coordinates construction activities with those of other divisions and outside agencies and organizations.
• Maintain familiarity with strategic District levels of service
• Reviews construction plans, documents and specifications for compliance to codes and for technical accuracy.
• Determines and oversees implementation of accessibility improvements at facilities in compliance with federal laws and regulations.
• Continuous improvement monitoring and innovation efforts
• Manages the organization, staffing and operational activities for the capital project design, construction and infrastructure related operational activities; and directs project assignments and time scheduling of multiple capital improvement construction projects.
• Prepares grant application and grants administration procedures.
• Monitors and evaluates the quality, responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness of assigned programs, methods and procedures; and works with employees on the continuous improvement of District services.
• Manages and participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and priorities for assigned programs. Recommends and implements resulting policies and procedures.
• Provides technical and administrative assistance to developers and departments; participates on a variety of committees; and prepares and presents staff reports and other correspondence as appropriate and necessary.

Required Experience:

• Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations.
• Ability to follow a construction plan through bidding to completion phases.
• Five (5) years of responsible experience in landscape architecture and park and recreation design
• Knowledge of modern and complex principles and practices of preparing and reviewing designs, drawings, specifications, and sketches
• Knowledge of capital project delivery process.
• Two (2) years of supervisory experience
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Knowledge of principles of budget preparation and control.
• Knowledge of planning guidelines for the design of recreational, athletic, and programming facilities

Desired Experience:

• Knowledge of fiscal policy, various funding sources and revenue and expenditure codes.
• Knowledge of grant application and administration requirements.

Required Education/Certification/License:

• Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from an accredited university
• Valid Texas driver’s license
• Professional licensure and registration as a Landscape Architect in the State of Texas

Desired Education/Certification/License:

• Other various architecture certifications

Success Factors/Job Competencies:

• Critical Thinking / Judgement – Uses analysis, wisdom, experience, and logical methods to make good decisions and solve difficult problems with effective solutions; appropriately incorporates multiple inputs to establish shared ownership and effective action.
• Vision And Direction – Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others; acts as a catalyst for organizational change. Influences others to translate vision into action.
• Dependability / Reliability – Recognizes the relative importance of certain tasks and responsibilities and has the ability to prioritize to ensure that deadlines are met. Actively demonstrates commitment by maintaining a consistent and predictable work schedule.
• Commitment to Safety – Is aware of conditions that affect own and other’s safety. Actively monitors, records and educates others around unsafe acts and unsafe conditions; maintains safety standards within a designated area; proactively identifies and improves unsafe conditions.
• Resilience – Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks. Has the ability to identify stress factors and apply learned coping skills to mitigate those factors.
• Time Management – Uses his or her time effectively and efficiently; concentrates his or her efforts on the most important priorities; adeptly handles several tasks at once.
• Problem Solving – Builds a logical approach to address problems or opportunities or manage the situation at hand by drawing on one’s knowledge and experience base, and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
• Adaptability – Changes behavioral style or method of approach when necessary to achieve a goal; adjusts style as appropriate to the needs of the situation. Responds to change with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn new ways to accomplish work activities and objectives.
• Technical Expertise – Applies and improves extensive or in-depth technical knowledge, skills, and judgment to accomplish a result or to accomplish one’s job effectively.
• Planning – Accurately determines the length and difficulty of tasks and projects; sets clear, realistic, and measurable goals; sets priorities and time parameters to accomplish tasks and projects; anticipates roadblocks and develops contingencies to redirect tasks so momentum is not lost.
• Delegation – The ability to assign responsibilities and authority to the right employees, taking their interests, ambitions, development, and competency into account. Following up on delegated tasks.
• Leadership – Inspires, motivates, guides others toward goals; coaches, mentors, challenges staff; adapts leadership styles to various situations; models high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness, and respect for individuals by applying these values daily.
• Project Management – Ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources, to achieve project objectives.
• Cooperation / Teamwork – Cooperates with others to accomplish common goals; works with employees within and across departments to achieve shared goals; treats others with dignity and respect and maintains a friendly demeanor; values the contributions of others.
• Organizing – Can arrange resources (people, funding, material, support) to get things done; can orchestrate multiple activities at once to accomplish a goal; uses resources effectively and efficiently; arranges resources and stores them in a useful manner.
• Organizational Awareness/Political Savvy – Uses knowledge of the workings, structure and culture of the organization and political climate to solve problems and accomplish goals.
• Business Administration – Completes procedures, processes, documents, forms, reports and/or budgets that are essential to the daily operations of TRWD as expected from the associated level of leadership.
• Collaboration/Synergy – Works with others, cooperating in both interpersonal and team relationships; fosters enthusiasm and maintains mutual trust, candor and respect. If applicable, manages groups effectively and builds partnerships with others.
• Initiative – Proactively identifies ways to contribute to TRWD’s goals and missions; achieves results without needing reminders from others; identifies and takes action to address problems and opportunities.
• Readiness – Physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared; prepared and willing to do something or act immediately
• Ability to prepare and review designs, drawings, specifications, sketches, architectural rendering, and project proposals.
• Accountability – Accepts responsibility for one’s own actions and decisions and demonstrates commitment to accomplish work in an ethical, efficient and cost effective manner.
• Developing Others – Works to improve and reinforce performance of others. Facilitates skill development by providing clear, behaviorally specific performance feedback, and by making or eliciting specific suggestions for improvement in a manner that builds confidence and maintains self-esteem.
• Results-Oriented – Demonstrates concern for achieving or surpassing results against an internal or external standard of excellence. Shows a passion for improving the delivery of services with a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Innovation – Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas; designs and implements new or cutting edge programs/processes.
• Fiscal Responsibility – Understands TRWD’s fiscal responsibilities and financial processes, including the preparation, justification, and administration of the budget in a fiscally sound manner. Monitors expenditures and uses cost-benefit analysis to set priorities.
• Ability to prepare and review designs, drawings, specifications, sketches, architectural rendering, and project proposals.
• Customer Service – Seeks to understand the needs of internal and external customers; delivers products and services that meet customer needs/objectives; is committed to continuous improvement and providing high quality products and services; communicates with customers to improve processes and provides updates on the delivery of services.
• Communication – The ability to listen actively; to impart thoughts, views, information, and ideas persuasively and adaptively.
• Work Standards – Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

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

• Physical demands: While performing duties of job, employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, and use hand to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, talk or hear. Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee typically resides within an office or cubicle and may have occasional field work, including job sites or construction locations, that will expose the employee to weather conditions prevalent at the time.