Trails Planning and Design Project Manager (15192, Grade 22) chez The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, MD

About the Department

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a six-time National Recreation and Parks Association Gold Medal Award Winner, is seeking a Trails Planning and Design Project Manager to join Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). M-NCPPC serves over two million residents in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties and manages more than 70,000 acres of parkland and facilities. In Prince George’s County, the Department oversees 421 parks across 37,000 acres and serves a diverse population of nearly one million residents.

This position will serve as a Project Manager within the Trails Team in the Park Planning and Environmental Stewardship Division (PPES). The Project Manager will join three existing Trail Planners who provide expertise in GIS, Trail Planning & Design, Graphic Design, Project Management, and other areas needed by the Team. The Trails Team, within the PPES Division as a whole, provides trail planning, design, implementation, and operations oversight for more than six DPR Divisions involved in developing, managing, maintaining, securing, and marketing the Department’s shared-use path and natural surface trail networks. This position will be responsible for both leading and supporting a wide variety of trail projects, initiatives, and tasks related to shared-use path & park trail design, development, construction, management, and maintenance. A primary goal includes monitoring and advancing implementation of the DPR Strategic Trails Plan. 

Key responsibilities will include the following:

1. Leading specific shared-use path and trail planning, design, and implementation efforts.
2. The Trails Project Manager will work closely with DPR divisions responsible for shared-use path and trail maintenance, operations, and enforcement, as well as municipalities and other entities that own and manage shared-use paths open to the public. The Trail Project Manager may be required to work with DPR Counsel to develop and execute legal agreements between M-NCPPC and public or private property owners regarding trail construction, management, and/or maintenance.
3. Additionally, the role involves collaboration with the Natural and Historical Resources Division (NHRD) and other stakeholders who build, manage, and maintain the DPR natural surface trail system.
4. The Trail Project Manager will help facilitate cross-functional trail policy development and collaboration among the various Divisions of the Department of Parks and Recreation that are engaged with trail development, maintenance, and management. Policies and practices may include facility design standards and guidelines, user safety and operational policy, maintenance policies and practices, and/or inter-agency policy coordination among various entities serving Prince George’s County.
5. The Trails Project Manager may also be asked to coordinate inter-agency and public communication and engagement strategies related to trail planning, management, and marketing.

Position Duties

• Serve as project manager for trail design and implementation projects and initiatives, including coordination with the Capital Program and Development Division (CPDD) staff.
• Conduct site visits and review construction progress to ensure compliance with contract documents and design intent. Collaborate with CPDD and other PPES staff on construction management and inspection teams.
• Support the Implementation of large-scale and multi-year, multi-phase trail development projects, such as at Lake Arbor Park, Westphalia Central Park, Walker Mill Regional Park, and other park development initiatives with major trail components, which may be undertaken by DPR in the future.
• Coordinate issues raised by trail project components that relate to the jurisdiction of the M-NCPPC Planning Department, the County Department of Public Works and Transportation, the County Department of Permits, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE), the Maryland Department of Transportation and the State Highway Administration, the National Park Service, and local Municipalities.
• Support the Implementation of RAISE grant projects being undertaken by DPR.
• Support development of scopes of work for RFPs for consultant services and support management of consultant work and contracts.
• Monitor project milestones for timeliness, accuracy, and alignment with objectives, and provide summary reports for the Trails Team, its Managers, the PPES Division Chief, and the DPR Executive Leadership Team (ELT).
• Support the PPES Development Review Team on development projects that have trail-related components and/or impacts, ensuring integration of new or improved trail segments and active transportation infrastructure.
• Contribute to updates of the DPR Trail Design Guidelines; the Trail Alert, Construction Impact and Detour Program; and assist in monitoring and maintaining the Automated Trail User Counting Program.
• Coordinate implementation of the Shared Use Path elements of the Countywide Master Plan of Transportation.
• Assist in developing annual budgets and spending plans for trail projects.

Minimum Qualifications

1. A Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Landscape Architecture or Engineering or a degree in any related field.
2. Two years of progressively responsible designer and/or construction manager experience that includes substantive work in the range of duties and responsibilities in this class specification.
3. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together total 6 years.
4. Valid driver's license in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations.  Driver's license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee's ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required by the position of assignment.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Master’s Degree and/or professional certification in recreation management, landscape architecture, construction management, transportation planning, natural resources, civil engineering, or a related field.
• Six (6) or more years of experience in project management, land design, private development, transportation planning, or an equivalent combination of education and experience totaling eight (8) years.
• Proven proficiency in project management and the ability to manage multiple projects and changes in prioritization of work.
• Experience in trail planning, design, implementation, management, and/or maintenance.
• Background in capital program management and operational planning.
• Experience with public and elected official engagement in the trail planning processes.
• Ability to interpret site development plans and visualize design elements in context.
• Strong communication skills and creative problem-solving abilities.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to effectively use photographs, graphics, and maps to communicate about project objectives and project progress.
• Ability to create computer-generated perspective renderings to communicate about project intentions and design solutions.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

Other Qualifications