Description

  • Are you passionate about playgrounds?
  • Are you a creative problem solver with strong analytical and technical skills?
  • Are you experienced in playground budgeting, planning, design, inspection and maintenance?

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 Playground Program Manager to lead, manage and coordinate the County-wide playground capital and operating work program and budgets for our 276 playgrounds within the park system. This is an exciting time to join the Department of Parks, which serves a diverse population of more than one million residents in Montgomery County, Maryland, and manages 421 parks on more than 37,000 acres of parkland with a career staff of approximately 830 employees. The role and impact of parks have expanded considerably over the last few years, especially during and as a result of the pandemic.

Go to our website to learn more: https//www.montgomeryparks.org/

Examples of Important Duties

A Playground Program Manager leads, manages, prioritizes and coordinates a specialized multigenerational work program of highly visible projects and facilities of County-wide significance. The work program is complex and involves policy coordination as well as extensive internal and external coordination with specialists across varied disciplines, as well as public involvement. Technical complexities include cost effectiveness trade-offs between design, maintainability, sustainability, safety, and other considerations that demand careful assessment, analysis and an adept balance of factors in decision-making.

  • Provides inter-Divisional coordination and reports to leadership on all aspects of work program delivery. Communicates with Operations and Public Relations staff about repairs and temporary closures of facilities.
  • Serves as technical expert to guide design decisions on playground/fitness equipment and surfacing materials, and track current research, public playground safety guidelines, new products and best practices. Serves as project manager for some design projects, and reviews designs prepared by other staff.
  • Evaluates current practices and establishes updated service delivery policies for the planning and design of new and replacement multigenerational playgrounds and facilities throughout the park system, including standard facility types, accessibility, unique facilities, removal and closure policies, and preventive maintenance and repair practices.
  • Coordinates bi-county playground/fitness equipment issues that affect Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties with the Commission’s Risk Management Division, such as signage, inspections and testing, and safety and liability issues.
  • Develops recommendations for capital budget allocations based on analysis of program costs, inspection data, lifecycle replacements and needs. Maintains updated lifecycle cost analyses for equipment and surfacing.
  • Prioritizes and manages capital work program and budgets through data-driven methods and criteria in conjunction with an internal stakeholder team. Tracks project costs, manages capital budgets, monitors program implementation, and provides guidance to staff.
  • Supports analysis of operating work program and budgets. Evaluates Enterprise Asset Management data to support operating budget needs and requests for maintenance, including manhours and materials for surfacing and equipment. Supports analysis of costs associated with alternative operational practices, as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

  1. A Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Engineering or in any related field.
  2. Six 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 10 years.
  4. Valid Registered Professional License issued by any state within the United States consistent with one’s field of professional-technical expertise (Architecture, Landscape Architecture or Engineering) and the position of assignment is required for eligibility.  A valid Registered Professional License issued by the State of Maryland consistent with one’s field of professional-technical expertise is required within six months of appointment to a position in this class.
  5. 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: 

  • Certified Playground Safety Inspector from the National Recreation and Park Association.
  • Experience with ADA Guidelines for Outdoor Recreation
  • Proficiency with use of technology: Databases, Microsoft Office Suite, AutoCAD, GIS ESRI software, advanced graphic software, etc.
  • Knowledge of local, state, and federal government regulatory permitting associated with site development projects.
  • Experience with construction in environmentally sensitive areas

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.