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Principal Park Planner

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Principal Park Planner

Salary

$77,507.00 - $120,133.00 Annually

Location

Durham, NC

Job Type

Full time with benefits

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

25-05667

Department

Parks and Recreation

Opening Date

10/14/2025

Closing Date

10/28/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Position Description

Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham

Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

Hiring Range: $77,507.00 - $100,000.00/year

Work Day/Hours: 8:00am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday, with some evenings and weekends

We Are:

The Durham Parks and Recreation Department (https://www.dprplaymore.org/) is a 101-year-old, nationally accredited team of 136 full-time passionate professionals, over 200 part-time team members, and over 150 independent contractors devoted to building better lives and a better community through the power of parks and recreation. With an operating budget of over $20M, our talented team is devoted to community service and providing a wide range of programs, services, opportunities, and experiences while united through our core pillars. Internally, we’re focused on strengthening our culture through inclusion and equity and having fun. We believe, regardless of job title, each of us has a voice, an opportunity to make a difference, and to be a part of something great.

The Opportunity:

Reporting to the Parks and Recreation Assistant Director for the Park Planning, Project Development Division. The division coordinates the department’s efforts in the areas of strategic and long-range planning, park maintenance operations, Capital Improvement Programs (CIP), and Capital Life Cycle Planning as they relate to park and recreation facilities.

As Principal Park Planner, you will manage the planning, design, and construction of the new and renovation of existing park and recreation projects. Your responsibilities include managing projects from initial concept to construction, ensuring they align with established goals, budgets, and timelines. Key responsibilities include project planning, design development, internal coordination, contract administration, budget management, and stakeholder communication.

Duties/Responsibilities

+ Manage the design and construction of multiple large and small Capital Improvements Program (CIP) including parks, trails, courts, amenities and other recreational features.

+ Manage the development and implementation of projects and planning studies required for the implementation of priorities identified in the DPR Comprehensive Plan.

+ Manage the preparation of a five-year capital program for development and maintenance of park and facility improvements. Assists in establishing project budgets, program needs, and schedules for capital projects and park plans. Assists with evaluating facility needs and developing priorities and planning strategies.

+ Manage evaluation process to assess facility needs and develop priorities and planning strategies.

+ Collaborate with stakeholders to establish project goals, scope of work, and deliverables.

+ Assess the feasibility of projects by preparing and evaluating schematic and preliminary designs options and alternatives.

+ Prepares design recommendations for implementation of short and mid-term repairs and rehabilitation of park infrastructure.

+ Coordinate with architects, landscape architects, and other design professionals to advance design development and ensure designs meet project requirements and relevant standards by guiding the development of construction drawings, specifications, cost estimates, and other necessary documents for bidding and construction.

+ Coordinate with internal departments to provide recommended standards for implementation as part of new construction and rehabilitation of park, trail and recreation facilities.

+ Track project expenses, managing budget allocations, and ensuring projects stay within budget.

+ Maintain communication with project stakeholders, including community members, internal departments, government agencies, and other relevant parties.

+ Guide the development and implementation of an asset management approach for recreational facilities and establish prioritization of program needs.

+ Coordinates, plans, directs, and reviews the work of project personnel and contractors in all phases of work, including studies, designs, construction, and environmental review activities.

+ Coordinates the selection of landscaping, architectural, or engineering firms and reviews their subsequent planning, design, and construction work products.

+ Coordinates construction and maintenance projects with Maintenance and Operations Division to ensure compliance with rules, regulations, plans, and specifications.

+ Coordinates assignments and work performance among multi-disciplinary teams to complete required project tasks.

+ Research and evaluate project data for completeness, accuracy, and timeliness.

+ Make recommendations to management based on study results and raise project issues to keep management informed.

+ Draft memos and letters in association with park, recreation, and maintenance projects.

+ Attend public hearings and committee meetings to provide project updates and offer subject matter expertise as appropriate.

+ May supervise other staff members involved in park development projects.

+ Prepare regular project reports for stakeholders and management.

+ Perform day-to-day administration of grants, prepare required reports and ensure conformance with grant agreements.

+ Prepare Requests for Proposals/Requests for Bids, and review bids. Select and manage contractors and consultants in conjunction with other staff. Ensure bidding process meets applicable regulations. Assist with estimating and selecting vendors for best value.

+ Maintain positive relationships with coworkers, representatives of other government agencies, non-profit organizations, homeowner’s associations, and the public at large.

+ Perform related duties as required.

Knowledge of:

+ Design, construction, and maintenance principles and practices.

+ Short and long-range planning processes and techniques.

+ Park and recreation system planning and current trends in facility development

+ Recreation, community, and urban planning.

+ Experience in park design and construction of recreation facilities.

+ Experience in planning, design, and construction of paved and natural surface trails.

+ Construction principles and best practices including landscape construction.

+ Ecologically sustainable landscape design, plant material, and planting methods.

+ Stormwater management and principles of best management practices for green infrastructure.

+ Computer applications for planning and design of parks and recreation facilities and systems.

+ Asset management technologies for prioritizing and tracking implementation of park facility improvements.

+ Standard methods, materials, tools, and equipment to construct recreation facilities.

+ Design/build principles.

+ Site design and grading principles.

+ Laws governing landscape design: Uniform Building Code, Americans with Disabilities Act, Playground Safety Regulations, etc.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

+ Master’s degree in planning, landscape architecture, civil engineering, or a directly related field.

+ Three years of experience in planning, organizing, and managing complex projects.

+ American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP) Certification "or" American Society of Landscape Architects/Professional Landscape Architect (ASLA/PLA) Certification.

Additional Preferred Skills

+ Experience in park development, project management, or construction management.

+ Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.

+ Ability to manage competing priorities.

+ Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to convey project concepts using plans, graphics, and other illustrative means.

+ Ability to work independently and as part of team.

+ Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.

+ Ability to identify and resolve issues that arise during projects.

+ Ability to mediate contrasting needs.

+ Experience managing project budgets and tracking expenses.

+ Passion for parks and recreation, learning and collaborating.

+ Outstanding communication and organizational skills.

Benefits – General Full-Time Employees

+ 12-13 paid holidays per year

+ 13 standard work days of vacation per year

+ 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement

+ 2 weeks paid military leave per year

+ Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans

+ State and City retirement plans

+ Short and long term disability plans

+ Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions

+ City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System

+ Paid funeral leave

+ Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling

+ Paid life insurance equal to annual salary

+ 48 hours for volunteer work each year*

+ 4 hours parental leave each year

+ Workman's Compensation Insurance

+ 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)

+ 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)

+ State retirement plan

Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)

+ 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)

+ State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire

+ Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire

+ Dental and life insurance, after one year of service

+ Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service

01

Where did you first hear about this opportunity?

+ City of Durham Website

+ Walk in

+ Job fair

+ Employee referral

+ Professional organization ***Please list the organization in "other" box below***

+ Internet posting ***Please list the specific web site in the "other" box below***

+ Craig's List

+ Facebook

+ LinkedIn

+ GlassDoor

+ governmentjobs.com

+ Monster.com

+ Indeed.com

+ Employment Security Commission

+ Magazine/Newspaper

+ Other

02

If you listed "other" above please give specific web site, organization, or publication.

03

Please select your highest level of COMPLETED education.

+ Less than a High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)

+ High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)

+ Associates Degree

+ Bachelor's Degree

+ Master's Degree

+ Doctoral Degree (PhD, Juris Doctorate)

04

How many years of experience do you have in planning, organizing, and managing complex projects?

+ No related experience

+ Less than 1 year of related experience

+ 1 year but less than 3 years of related experience

+ 3 years but less than 5 years of related experience

+ 5 or more years of related experience

05

How many years of experience do you have as a Project Manager guiding the rehabilitation of existing and/or new park and recreation infrastructure projects?

+ No related experience

+ Less than 1 year of related experience

+ 1 year but less than 3 years

+ 3 years but less than 5 years

+ 5 or more years

06

How many years of experience do you have in park development, project management, or construction management?

+ No related experience

+ Less than 1 year of related experience

+ 1 year but less than 3 years

+ 3 years but less than 7 years

+ 7 or more years

07

Do you have the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification "OR" American Society of Landscape Architects/Professional Landscape Architect (ASLA/PLA) Certification?

+ Yes

+ No

08

Do you have experience with establishing priority improvements for the implementation of park and recreation infrastructure?

+ Yes

+ No

09

If you answered yes to the previous question, please briefly describe your experience. If no experience, put N/A.

10

Do you have experience with developing conceptual and preliminary plans for rehabilitation of existing and/or new park and recreation infrastructure projects?

+ Yes

+ No

11

If you answered yes to the previous question, please briefly describe your experience. If no experience, put N/A.

12

Do you have experience with planning, design, and construction of paved and natural surface trails?

+ Yes

+ No

13

If you answered yes to the previous question, please briefly describe your experience. If no experience, put N/A

14

Briefly list any licenses and certifications you currently have.

Required Question