What are the responsibilities and job description for the Parks & Trails Planner position at City of Kennewick?
Description
The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with proven experience in park planning, capital project management, and grant administration, who can balance long-range vision with practical implementation. They are a collaborative communicator with the ability to deliver innovative, community-focused park and trail projects.
Classification Summary
The Parks Planner plays an important role within the City of Kennewick’s Parks & Recreation Department. This position is responsible for the strategic planning of the Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan, and the Pathways and Trails Master Plan. The position reports to the Parks & Recreation Director and assists in long-range planning efforts and grant administration.
Physical Requirements
To perform the essential functions of the classification, incumbents must be able to meet the following physical requirements:
The initial work schedule for this classification will be full-time, Monday through Friday. Early mornings, evenings and weekend work may be occasionally required. Overtime may be occasionally required. This classification is exempt under the FLSA.
Examples of Work Performed (Illustrative Only)
The following list reflects the essential job duties and responsibilities of this classification, but should not be considered all-inclusive. The incumbent will be expected to perform other related duties as assigned.
Capital Improvement & Master Planning
Employment Standards
Paid Holidays
12 per year (9 scheduled; 3 “floating”)
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and three floating holidays selected by the employee. An employee will accrue one of the three floating holidays on each of the following days: February 1, February 12, and August 31. An employee will only accrue a floating holiday on these days if actually employed.
Paid Time Off (PTO)
The purpose of PTO is to compensate employees for absences due to injury, illness, vacation and personal business. In addition, the program is designed to provide employees with personal flexibility regarding the use of leave hours. PTO hours accrue based upon the actual number of regular hours worked.
Accrual Per Month
0-5yrs 6-9yrs 10-14yrs 15-19yrs 20-24yrs 25-29yrs 30 yrs
12 hours 15 hours 17 hours 19 hours 21 hours 23 hours 25 hours
Retirement Plan
All City employees are members of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). The City and the employee both contribute toward the plan. PERS provides regular retirement and disability retirement benefits. City employees also participate in the Social Security Program. Rates effective as of 09/01/2024. (www.drs.wa.gov)
PERS Employee Contribution Rate Employer Contribution Rate
Plan II 6.36% 9.11%
Plan III Employee Choice (see booklet) 9.11%
Deferred Comp
The City contributes an equivalent of 5% of your regular monthly salary to Mission Square Retirement (previously ICMA) deferred compensation program. No employee match required, but employees may contribute towards plan if desired. (www.icmarc.org)
Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
The City currently pays the entire dental and vision insurance premiums for the employee and dependents. Employee current premium share is $200.00 per month for medical insurance to cover themselves and dependents.
Life Insurance
1.5 x annual salary (not to exceed $250K) provided by the City of Kennewick. Employee may purchase Voluntary Term Life Insurance for employee, spouse and/or dependents through New York Life (previously Cigna).
Long Term Disability
The City pays the entire long-term disability premium for employees through New York Life (previously Cigna).
Wellness Program
The Wellness Program has been established to encourage employee health and fitness, both at work and at home. A City Wellness Committee promotes and provides opportunities for healthy lifestyles. Employee fitness center is open to all employees and their spouses.
Employee Assistance
An Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) is provided by the City to assist you and family members, providing counseling and treatment in such areas as stress, drug and alcohol abuse and family counseling.
Other Benefits Offered
Please Select The Highest Level Of Education You've Completed
Please select the field of study your degree/schooling is in:
Duties
If you answered "Other" in the question above, please state your area of study and explain how it's relevant to the duties of this role.:
04
Which of the following areas do you have work experience in? Check all that apply:
Which of these is your strongest area of experience?
If You Answered "Other" In Either Of The Questions Above (#4/#5), Please State The Area Of Work You Have The Most Experience In And The Years Of You Experience You Have In That Area
07
Provide a detailed explanation of your experience in the areas you selected in the questions above (#4, #5) and provide one person of contact who can verify your experience?
08
Please select the number of years of work experience you have related to the position:
The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with proven experience in park planning, capital project management, and grant administration, who can balance long-range vision with practical implementation. They are a collaborative communicator with the ability to deliver innovative, community-focused park and trail projects.
Classification Summary
The Parks Planner plays an important role within the City of Kennewick’s Parks & Recreation Department. This position is responsible for the strategic planning of the Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan, and the Pathways and Trails Master Plan. The position reports to the Parks & Recreation Director and assists in long-range planning efforts and grant administration.
Physical Requirements
To perform the essential functions of the classification, incumbents must be able to meet the following physical requirements:
- Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing/listening, seeing/observing.
- Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
The initial work schedule for this classification will be full-time, Monday through Friday. Early mornings, evenings and weekend work may be occasionally required. Overtime may be occasionally required. This classification is exempt under the FLSA.
Examples of Work Performed (Illustrative Only)
The following list reflects the essential job duties and responsibilities of this classification, but should not be considered all-inclusive. The incumbent will be expected to perform other related duties as assigned.
Capital Improvement & Master Planning
- Lead the development and implementation of the Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan, and the Pathways and Trails Master Plan. Assist in the updates of each Master Plan.
- Oversee the planning, design, and implementation of turnkey projects, such as playground and splash pads that utilize state purchasing agreement, and coordination of Park facility upgrades.
- Act as the project planner for park development initiatives, ensuring projects stay on schedule and within budget.
- Assist in the preparation, administer, and monitoring of grant applications and funding reports, ensuring compliance with both City policies and external agency requirements.
- Coordinate with City Planning, Public Works, and other departments to ensure alignment with the City’s comprehensive planning efforts.
- Represent the department at public meetings, Parks & Recreation Commission meetings, and interagency collaborations.
- Generate regular reports and strategic plans for presentation to the Recreation Commission, Arts Commission, City Council, and other advisory groups.
- Utilize AI data programs to monitor project performance, track assets, and support decision-making.
- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the Park Impact Fee process, and other applicable local, state, and federal regulations to ensure all projects meet legal requirements.
- Assist in developing long-range strategies for parks and recreation.
- Research emerging trends in park planning and recreational facility development to enhance service delivery and community engagement.
- Contribute to departmental strategic planning and budget preparation as required by the Director.
- Prepare supplemental materials, briefing documents, and presentations for internal and external audiences.
Employment Standards
- Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, Parks and Recreation Management, Public Administration, or a related field.
- Experience:
- A minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in park planning, capital project management, or a related area.
- Skills:
- Proven experience managing capital improvement programs and multi-year planning initiatives.
- Excellent communication and project management skills.
- Exposure to GIS, budget tracking, and digital reporting systems.
- Additional Attributes:
- Ability to work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders and adapt to evolving priorities.
- Demonstrated success in preparing grant applications and managing grant-funded projects.
- Must pass a criminal background investigation.
- Must maintain a level of mental and physical fitness required to perform the essential functions of this classification.
- Knowledge in the principals and practices of Project Management.
- Good knowledge of park and recreation facility design operations.
- Ability to work on multiple projects at one time.
- General understanding of competitive bidding process and construction management experience.
- Must maintain regular attendance and punctuality.
Paid Holidays
12 per year (9 scheduled; 3 “floating”)
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and three floating holidays selected by the employee. An employee will accrue one of the three floating holidays on each of the following days: February 1, February 12, and August 31. An employee will only accrue a floating holiday on these days if actually employed.
Paid Time Off (PTO)
The purpose of PTO is to compensate employees for absences due to injury, illness, vacation and personal business. In addition, the program is designed to provide employees with personal flexibility regarding the use of leave hours. PTO hours accrue based upon the actual number of regular hours worked.
Accrual Per Month
0-5yrs 6-9yrs 10-14yrs 15-19yrs 20-24yrs 25-29yrs 30 yrs
12 hours 15 hours 17 hours 19 hours 21 hours 23 hours 25 hours
Retirement Plan
All City employees are members of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). The City and the employee both contribute toward the plan. PERS provides regular retirement and disability retirement benefits. City employees also participate in the Social Security Program. Rates effective as of 09/01/2024. (www.drs.wa.gov)
PERS Employee Contribution Rate Employer Contribution Rate
Plan II 6.36% 9.11%
Plan III Employee Choice (see booklet) 9.11%
Deferred Comp
The City contributes an equivalent of 5% of your regular monthly salary to Mission Square Retirement (previously ICMA) deferred compensation program. No employee match required, but employees may contribute towards plan if desired. (www.icmarc.org)
Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
The City currently pays the entire dental and vision insurance premiums for the employee and dependents. Employee current premium share is $200.00 per month for medical insurance to cover themselves and dependents.
Life Insurance
1.5 x annual salary (not to exceed $250K) provided by the City of Kennewick. Employee may purchase Voluntary Term Life Insurance for employee, spouse and/or dependents through New York Life (previously Cigna).
Long Term Disability
The City pays the entire long-term disability premium for employees through New York Life (previously Cigna).
Wellness Program
The Wellness Program has been established to encourage employee health and fitness, both at work and at home. A City Wellness Committee promotes and provides opportunities for healthy lifestyles. Employee fitness center is open to all employees and their spouses.
Employee Assistance
An Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) is provided by the City to assist you and family members, providing counseling and treatment in such areas as stress, drug and alcohol abuse and family counseling.
Other Benefits Offered
- Flexible Spending Plan (Pre-Tax Deduction for Medical/Dental and Day Care)
- Aflac Supplemental Insurance
- Tuition Assistance
- Bereavement Leave
- Overtime
- Direct Deposit (paydays are 5th and 20th of the month)
Please Select The Highest Level Of Education You've Completed
- High School Diploma/G.E.D
- Associates Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Bachelor’s additional graduate coursework
- Master's Degree
Please select the field of study your degree/schooling is in:
- Urban Planning
- Landscape Architecture
- Parks and Recreation Management
- Public Administration
- Project Management
- Environmental Design
- Civil Engineering
- Community or Regional Planning
- Architecture or Environmental Architecture
- Construction Management
- Environmental Planning
- Natural Resource Management
- Other
- None
Duties
If you answered "Other" in the question above, please state your area of study and explain how it's relevant to the duties of this role.:
04
Which of the following areas do you have work experience in? Check all that apply:
- Landscape design or recreational facility layout experience
- Data analysis to support long-range planning or strategic decision-making
- Collaboration with planning commissions, city councils, or regional partners
- Facilitation of public meetings, advisory boards, or stakeholder workgroups
- Policy research and program evaluation for community development or quality-of-life programs
- Budget development and financial tracking for municipal or community projects
- Grant writing and administration for public projects (e.g., RCO, LWCF, federal/state programs)
- Facility planning or management in a municipal or public agency setting
- Construction administration or inspection, particularly involving public or community spaces
- Environmental or open space planning, including conservation and habitat projects
- Transportation or trail planning, especially non-motorized or active transportation projects, urban or regional planning for cities, counties, or MPOs
- Other
- None
Which of these is your strongest area of experience?
- Landscape design or recreational facility layout experience
- Data analysis to support long-range planning or strategic decision-making
- Collaboration with planning commissions, city councils, or regional partners
- Facilitation of public meetings, advisory boards, or stakeholder workgroups
- Policy research and program evaluation for community development or quality-of-life programs
- Budget development and financial tracking for municipal or community projects
- Grant writing and administration for public projects (e.g., RCO, LWCF, federal/state programs)
- Facility planning or management in a municipal or public agency setting
- Construction administration or inspection, particularly involving public or community spaces
- Environmental or open space planning, including conservation and habitat projects
- Transportation or trail planning, especially non-motorized or active transportation projects, urban or regional planning for cities, counties, or MPOs
- None
- Other
If You Answered "Other" In Either Of The Questions Above (#4/#5), Please State The Area Of Work You Have The Most Experience In And The Years Of You Experience You Have In That Area
07
Provide a detailed explanation of your experience in the areas you selected in the questions above (#4, #5) and provide one person of contact who can verify your experience?
08
Please select the number of years of work experience you have related to the position:
- 0 years
- 1-2 years
- 3-4 years
- 5 - 9 years
- 10 years
- Required Question
Salary : $250,000