Contact Name: Maureen Moyer
Company/Organization/Agency: Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission
Address: Montgomery County Department of Parks, 9500 Brunett Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20901 USA
Email Address: maureen.moyer@montgomeryparks.org
Contact Phone:
Job Title: TRAILS MASTER PLANNER
Job Description: The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a six-time National Recreational and Parks Association Gold Medal Award Winner, is seeking a Trails Master Planner to oversee the management, expansion and improvement of its extensive network of trails. The current network includes 80 miles of hard surface trail and 180 miles of natural surface trail. The Montgomery County Department of Parks in Silver Spring, Maryland has a career staff complement of nearly 800 employees, and we serve a diverse population of more than one million residents. We manage 421 parks on nearly 37,000 acres of parkland and we are fiscally sound with an annual operating budget of over $100 million, and a six-year Capital Improvement Program of over $220 million. In addition to having a world-class Park System, Montgomery County, Maryland is a metropolitan destination for technological innovation, higher education, performing arts, hospitality/tourism, and entrepreneurship.
This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who is passionate about trails and the many benefits they offer to link people, parks and open space for today and future generations. Our team is committed to creating a world-class destination trail system to help shape the future of one of the Nation’s largest and most diverse Park Systems. To advance that goal, we are seeking an innovative, highly motivated Trails Master Planner who is forward-thinking and can see the “big picture”. The successful candidate will work in the Park Planning and Stewardship Division of the Montgomery County Department of Parks, and report directly to the Division Chief.
Job Summary:
Under very general direction, manages the Surface Trail Program, including supervising unit personnel and managing unit administrative functions. Responsible for analyzing current trail plans and systems, and developing a creative, workable overarching strategy to achieve and maintain the Department goal of a world-class trail system. Collaborates with multi-disciplinary professional staff in team environments as the lead on plan review and analysis of trails, transportation, and other infrastructure projects on parkland. Creates and contributes to Park Master Plans, participates in park system planning, and reports on park issues and projects as they pertain to trails, transportation, and other infrastructure improvements on parkland. Supervises, plans, develops and implements work programs and projects that involve the Parks trail systems including planning and regulation of land use, functional planning, and the provision of public facilities for Montgomery County Department of Parks. Resolves complex and sensitive issues or roadblocks to progress, and acts for or represents the Division Chief as requested. Performs other duties as assigned.
Examples of Important Duties:
Plans, schedules, and assigns work to staff within the Surface Trails unit, and monitors work performance. Develops and trains staff, conducts staff meetings and provides technical guidance on planning and implementation methodologies and approaches. Prepares annual budget analysis and request for the unit.
Develops collaborative relationships with trail user groups, transportation agencies, planning agencies, citizen groups and other trail stakeholders.
Analyzes the Countywide Trails Plan and develops a strategy for implementing the recommendations.
Leads and coordinates complex natural and hard surface trail planning studies. Creates and implements an annual trail work program including setting priorities and goals, budgeting, and managing workflow. Coordinates with the Volunteer Trail Coordinator.
Works with the Planning Board, County Council, and other public officials to resolve difficult trail planning related public policy issues. Authors complex policies and defends trail planning and implementation programs, concepts and policies as required.
Formulates responses to sensitive or complex inquires for information from citizens, developers, engineers, architects and attorneys about proposed developments, Planning Board actions, and regulatory compliance. Serves as the source of expertise for trail planning and implementation to the Planning Board, County Executive and County Council.
Stays informed of developments in the functional areas of Trail Program Management, and of changes in guidelines, regulations and innovation benchmarks. Conducts research and analysis to identify, prepare and inform others of emerging issues in these areas.
Important Skills and Characteristics:
- Extensive experience with multimodal trail planning, natural and hard surface trail design, evaluating trail needs and connectivity, understanding environmental constraints on trail alignments, the principles of sustainable trails standards, environmental and forest conservation laws, policies and plans, and hands-on experience constructing natural surface trails.
- Effectively reads and interprets technical engineered drawings and grading plans to understand potential impacts to trails and project management. Knowledge of Federal, State and County construction regulations, transportation engineering, GIS and different strategies for trail user counts.
- Collaborative with a strong work ethic; having strategic awareness and a sense of vision, a cooperative spirit, excellent communication, creative thinking and interpersonal skills.
- Communicates and interacts effectively with all Trail Program stakeholders. Establishes and maintains working relationships, including obtaining buy-in from internal and external contacts. Actively listens to understand key information, concerns, wants and needs of stakeholders including hikers, bikers and equestrians. Proven ability to approach and interact with people of all backgrounds and the ability to think collaboratively with senior members of the organization.
- Proven workload management and analytical data skills and ability. Excellent working knowledge of core principles and practices of project management.
- Demonstrated ability to work under pressure on multiple projects, meet tight deadlines within budgetary constraints, creatively problem solve by selecting, organizing and logically processing relevant information to resolve a problem.
- Superb written, verbal, organizational and interpersonal skills. Uses a computer and modern office software, enterprise software and specialized software for planning, scheduling, communicating, word processing, collecting and reporting data, preparing presentations, researching, and performing other computer functions.
Preferred Qualifications:
A Master’s Degree in Planning, Transportation Planning, Parks, Engineering, Environmental Science, or a related field and six (6) years of progressively responsible experience, including at least (3) years in a Supervisory capacity; or
A Bachelor’s Degree in one of the above categories and eight (8) years of experience, with at least three (3) years in a Supervisory capacity.
A valid Driver’s License and be able to qualify to drive Commission vehicles to locations within Montgomery County.
Ability to communicate in another language a plus.
Minimum Qualifications:
1) A Master’s Degree in Planning, Architecture, Parks, Environmental Science, Public Administration or related fields; and
2) Six (6) years of progressively responsible professional level planning experience that included at least three (3) years of Supervisory or Project Leadership and Coordination experience; or
3) An equivalent combination of education and experience
Working Conditions:
Work is performed in a combination of field and office environments and includes exposure to inclement weather and outdoor hazards. May be subject to various job demands such as high volume of work and tight deadlines.
Job Start Date: 4/1/2019
Application Deadline: 3/14/2019
Additional Information: Job Start Date is approximate and flexible.
Apply through our online portal at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mncppc/jobs/2324821/trails-master-planner-13665-grade-30
(Sent via Professional TrailBuilders Association)