Salary : $164,211.32 - $199,599.66 Annually
Location : 620 Laguna St., Santa Barbara, CA
Job Type: Full-time Unclassified
Job Number:
Department: Parks and Recreation
Opening Date: 08/21/2026
Closing Date: 9/21/2026 5:30 PM Pacific

DESCRIPTION
THE POSITION

The City is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and visionary leader to serve as Parks Planning Manager. This is an exciting opportunity to oversee the planning, development, and delivery of major park and recreation capital improvement projects while helping shape the long-term vision for parks, open spaces, trails, and recreation facilities.

As a key member of the Parks and Recreation leadership team, you will lead multidisciplinary teams, manage complex capital programs, secure grant funding, oversee staff and consultants, and work closely with City leadership, community stakeholders, and regional partners to create exceptional public spaces that enhance quality of life for residents and visitors. The position will oversee a wide range of Parks and Recreation planning and policy initiatives provide leadership for planning park and recreational facility redevelopment projects, address park management needs. Key initiatives include implementation of a forthcoming Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Golf Capital Reinvestment Program. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and experienced project manager with strong leadership skills, community planning and policy knowledge, exceptional communication abilities, strong administration and project management skills, and a passion for creating vibrant parks and public spaces.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Parks Planning Manager completes work under administrative direction and is responsible for exercising full supervision over technical, professional-level, and supervisory staff.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Professional experience in planning, architecture, engineering
• Project management including planning, design, permitting and implementation
• Public speaking and community engagement
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders and building partnerships

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Knowledge of:

• Federal, State, and local laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations as they relate to land development, wetlands, permitting, and wildlife.
• General laws, regulations, and ordinances pertaining to parks and recreation programs, safety practices, and field operations, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).
• Principles and practices of natural resource protection and restoration in a local government environment.
• Federal, state, and local natural resource protection and restoration programs, environmental resources management and permit processing.
• Operational characteristics, services and activities of a comprehensive municipal parks and recreation program, including horticultural and arborist services.
• Project management principles, processes, and techniques.

• Principles and practices for purchasing, contract development and administration.
• Grant preparation and administration.
• Advanced practices of municipal budget preparation and administration.
• Principles of staffing, selection, training, supervision, evaluation and discipline.
• Research and survey techniques including data collection methodologies and statistical principles.
• Principles of performance management, program evaluation, and benchmarking.

• Community outreach and engagement techniques to encourage and foster community involvement in development of park renovation and facility enhancement projects and programs.
• Supervisory principles and performance evaluation practices; employee motivation techniques.

Skill in:

• Operating computer hardware and using applications such as work processing, databases, spreadsheets, GIS and mapping programs.
• Coordinating and monitoring the work of others.
• Independent decision making.
• Preparing clear and concise reports.

Ability to:

• Provide exemplary customer service.
• Oversee and direct the planning and implementation of annual small scale facility management and park enhancement projects, large scale park reinvestment projects, and development of long-range plans to provide community recreation services.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work, identifying the best staff member for the tasks.
• Plan, organize, and implement parks construction, maintenance, and development plans and identify and recommend program development needs and priorities given available resources.
• Prepare and administer large and complex budgets for capital and operating expenditures related to resource management and grant programs.
• Write and review complex staff and agenda reports related to resource protection and environmental management programs, laws, and issues.
• Secure grant funding for capital projects and research programs.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, laws and regulations.
• Research, analyze and evaluate new service delivery methods and techniques.
• Select, train, supervise, coordinate and evaluate the work of staff.
• Prepare clear, concise, and complete administrative and financial reports.
• Work cooperatively with staff, management, committee representatives, contractors, vendors, regulatory officials, Commissions, committees and advisory groups, and the general public.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Make effective public presentations.
• Work independently.

Required Education and Experience
Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted.
Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, urban planning, architecture, engineering, natural resource management, or related field. A graduate degree in a related field is desirable.

Education and/or Training:

• Five (5) years of environmental policy, urban and park planning, natural resource management, and public capital infrastructure professional-level experience involving public policy or public agency management, in addition to at least three years of supervisory and/or lead experience.

License, Certificate and/or Other Requirements:

• Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required

SELECTION PROCESS
It is important that your application and supplemental questionnaire show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess which qualifies you for this position. All applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed and the most qualified candidates will be invited to continue in the selection process. Be sure to be thorough in your responses. Statements such as "See application", "Extensive Experience", or "See Resume" are not an acceptable substitute for a completed application and supplemental questionnaire.

The selection process may consist of an application screening, supplemental questionnaire, written exam, computer skills exam, work sample, and/or an oral interview. The successful candidate's employment history will be thoroughly evaluated prior to appointment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
There is currently one (1) vacancy within the Parks and Recreation Department.

Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email and spam regularly throughout the recruitment process. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view these emails.

CITY APPLICATION AND RESPONSES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:30 PM ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2026.

STEP INCREASES, through the top salary step, are tied to job performance with annual performance reviews.

THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS may vary and are subject to change:
Note: Part-time employees receive pro-rated benefits, e.g., 50%, 60%, etc.

• Cell Phone Allowance of $50 per month will be provided to those applicable employees who do not have a City issued cell phone.
• Deferred Compensation (457) Savings Plan is available.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): A City-paid Employee Assistance Program is available for employees and family members.
• Flexwork/Telecommuting is available.
• Health Insurance including medical, dental, and vision benefits is available. Click here for the benefits rate sheet: Management Unit 2, 22, 32 Rate Sheet
• Holidays: 12 holidays are observed / year.
• Vacation is accrued at 120 hours / year, increasing with City service.
• Sick Leave is accrued at the rate of 96 hours / year.
• Management Leave: 64 hours are provided each July 1st (pro-rated the first year).
• Personal Leave: 32 hours are provided each July 1st (pro-rated the first year).
• Retirement: The City does not participate in Social Security.
  • PERS Miscellaneous Formula: "Classic" members: 2.7% @ 55; City contributes 12.03% and employee contributes 8% of salary. "New" members: 2% @ 62; City contributes 12.03% and employee contributes 7.75% of salary.
• Short-Term Disability Insurance: Optional employee-paid coverage is available.
• Long-term Disability Insurance: City-paid coverage is provided.
• Medicare: Employee pays 1.45% of salary towards future Medicare benefits
• The City is an employer-member of the Coastal Housing Partnership which offers regular employees with home loan assistance and rental reductions.
• Life and AD&D Insurance: City-paid term life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance (2x annual salary) is provided. Employee-paid supplemental life insurance is available subject to a health application if coverage is not elected during the new hire guarantee issue period.

Revised 5/27/2025
01

The following Supplemental Questionnaire is part of the examination for this position and will be used in determining your qualifications. In order to receive every consideration in the selection process, you must complete all questions with concise but detailed answers (1-2 paragraphs) and provide all requested information. Responses such as "See Resume" or "See Application" will result in your application not being considered. By continuing in the recruitment process, you are certifying that all information provided in the Supplemental Questionnaire is true to the best of your knowledge. If you are selected to continue in the recruitment process, your qualifications may be evaluated through employment verification, reference checks, written/skill assessment, and or