Chief of Park Operations

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THE DISTRICT
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) contains 73 parks, 55 miles of San Francisco and Delta shorelines, 1,330 miles of park trails, and a regional green trail transportation network of 250 miles of paved trails all within its 125,496 acres, making it the largest regional Park District in the United States. The EBRPD has a diverse portfolio of parks, from shorelines, lakes, mountains, forests, wilderness areas, swim facilities, golf courses, and cultural sites. These parks reach across two counties, which include 33 urban cities.
Located on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay, the East Bay quality of life offers open spaces, waterways, world-class educational and cultural institutions, urban centers, and a culturally diverse community. The East Bay has drawn many of the region’s most innovative companies, workers, and students from around the world, thus creating many economic opportunities. The Park District works to ensure a healthy and thriving ecosystem that protects wildlife and habitat by adapting to the changing climate by restoring wetlands, repairing levees, thinning trees, monitoring algae blooms, and building park facilities.

The Park District is dedicated to honoring the rich history and diversity of this community
through leadership and a workforce that reflects the community it serves. The EBRPD is a result of decades of hard work by innumerable citizen activists, elected district directors, general managers, district employees, environmental organizations, public officials, volunteers, and taxpayers who have collaborated to ensure that residents in the region have access to a system of magnificent regional parklands.

The Park District has a mission to preserve a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provide open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation, and environmental education. An environmental ethic guides the Park District in all its activities.

THE DIVISION
The Operations Division is led by the Assistant General Manager of Operations and assumes a lead role in managing, maintaining, and restoring the District’s parklands in order to retain their important scenic, natural, and cultural values. The division is comprised of over 551 FTE and four program areas, each respectively led by the Chief of Park Operations, the Chief of Interpretive and Recreational Services, the Chief of Maintenance and Skilled Trades and the Business Services Manager. The division workforce is comprised of permanent, seasonal, and temporary professional, technical, administrative and support employees, and includes oversight of a large number of contract concessionaires and volunteers. It has an annual Operating and Capital Budget of approximately $121.3 M.

THE POSITION
The Chief of the PARKS OPERATIONS
The Park Operations Department operates and maintains the majority of park units, open space, and recreational facilities in the field. Park Operations provides a diversified system of regional parklands, trails, and parkland-related services that offer outstanding opportunities and experiences outdoors. These include swimming, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, boating, and family and large group picnicking, camping, special events, and numerous other specialized recreational activities. It is the department’s goal to provide recreational development that fosters appropriate use of parklands while preserving their remoteness and intrinsic value.

Park Operations has a workforce of approximately 370 permanent and seasonal employees at 44 work locations, managing over 125,000 acres of parklands and 1,200 miles of public trails. The Department manages public use of parks and facilities, collects park user fees at numerous sites, controls opening and closure of facilities, performs routine maintenance of grounds and buildings, and provides emergency response support to police, fire and environmental emergencies. The Department performs natural resources management activities such as vegetation management and soil conservation to manage, maintain and restore the parklands and retain their important scenic, natural, and cultural values. Administrative staff provide budget administration, leadership and support for units that manage the District’s parklands and recreational facilities.Serves as a senior-level department head, directly supervising unit managers, in the daily operations and routine maintenance of Park District’s parks and trails.  Evaluates and implements operating requirements for new parks and trails. Key program objectives include allocating appropriate resources necessary to operate and maintain parks and trails safely and efficiently.  Exercises second and third level supervisory responsibilities over a large workforce of permanent, seasonal and temporary professional, technical, administrative and support employees Within the Department, establishes, promotes and monitors professional standards and development.  Manages assigned programs through coordinated leadership assuring the Department meets specifically assigned on-going and annual operational and financial objectives.  Assumes overall responsibility for a large Operating and Capital Budget and develops and justifies proposed budget submissions.  Resolves intra-departmental problems and issues and coordinates with other District organizations on broader problems and issues.  Serves on many internal committees, working groups and/or ad hoc task forces, providing assigned program expertise and contributing to the attainment of successful results.   
 
Individually, serves as a District representative to various parkland operations related external organizations, e.g., water districts, local municipalities, park neighbor associations, , and special interest groups.   On call to respond to a wide range of potential public operational or maintenance emergencies, as well as disasters caused by fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural events.Education:       A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university parks management, forestry, landscape architecture, or a closely related field; and

Experience:     Six years of experience in park management, three of which must have been at the middle management level.

 Substitution:    A Master’s Degree in parks management or a closely related field may be accepted as an equivalent to a maximum of two of the required six years of experience.


SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:  

• A valid California State driver’s license is a condition of initial and continued employment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 
 
Thorough knowledge of parkland operations and routine maintenance methods, techniques, principles, and practices.  Must possess significant knowledge of management and supervisory principles and practices and sound judgment and leadership skills.  Well developed verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work cooperatively with divergent groups are also required.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

MANAGEMENT DESIGNATION:   This position is not affiliated with a union and is considered part of the Management group and is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (i.e. is not eligible for overtime); in addition to the regular work schedule, this position may require availability to work evenings and/or weekends. The probationary period for this position is one year.  This position is designated as “at-will” and serves at the pleasure of the General Manager.
 
Application materials for these positions consist of two (2) required parts:

1. A current East Bay Regional Park District application submitted online, and
2. Completed supplemental questions

 
Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least one (1) hour to submit your application if you are a new user to the system.  If you have previously applied to a position on GovernmentJobs.com, please allow time to update your existing profile.  Applications are accepted online only.  Our online application system is provided by NeoGov.  If you encounter problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov Help Desk toll-free at (855) 524-5627.
 
Notification:  All applicants will be notified of the status of their application via email, generally within two to three weeks after the closing date. You may also sign into your GovernmentJobs.com account to view your current application status and notifications.
 
Selection Process: Following the closing date, resumes will be screened according to the qualifications outlined above. The most qualified candidates will be invited to an oral panel tentatively scheduled for July 10, 2024. Thereafter, a select group of candidates will be asked to provide references once it is anticipated that they may be recommended as finalists. References will be contacted only following candidate approval. Finalist interviews will be held with the East Bay Regional Park District Main Office in Oakland, California, on July 15, 2024.
 
Special Testing Arrangements: If you require special arrangements due to a verified disability or medical condition, please contact the Human Resources Department at (510) 544-2154 at least five business days before the test.


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.

 

Salary : $167,378 - $213,762