Project Manager – Bay Area Parks for People Community Partnerships

Who We Are:

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is the leader of a movement to connect everyone in America to the outdoors. A national nonprofit, TPL partners with communities to create high-quality parks and protect public lands—especially in communities that need them most—to improve public health, create social cohesion, strengthen historic and cultural connection to place, and increase climate resilience. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, generated over $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit www.tpl.org.

position Summary:

Trust for Public Land envisions a future where every community has safe, equitable access to a high-quality park within a 10-minute walk of home. The 10-Minute Walk program is one way we work – in collaboration with cities, community-based partners and residents – to address the most pressing questions and challenges to park equity.

The Bay Area Parks for People Community Partnerships Project Manager is a position created to help increase park equity and access in the Bay Area with initial focus on Richmond and Oakland.  The Project Manager will be a key member of the Parks for People Bay Area team based in San Francisco.

In Richmond, recreation and parks are governed by the City Council. The City Manager, appointed by the City Council, oversees the Community Services Department, which includes the Recreation and Parks Commission that serves in an advisory role to the City Council. The City manages 54 parks that cover 336 acres of land. Richmond’s parkland inclusive of regional parks within the city boundaries is 6,050 acres; regional parks are managed by the East Bay Regional Park District. The operating costs of Community Services – Recreation for FY 25/26 are $110 million. 

Oakland’s recreation and parks are governed by the Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development Department (OPRYD), under the control of the City Administrator. OPRYD manages and operates the city’s parks and recreation services; Oakland Public Works (OPW) manages park maintenance and capital improvements. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) provides recommendations to the City Administrator, City Council, and OPRYD. The City Council approves budget and adopts ordinances for parks and recreation services. Oakland has 129 city parks and public spaces, spanning more than 2,300 acres. OPRYD’s annual budget ranges from $34 million to $40 million.  

Essential Functions:

The Community Partnerships Project Manager will be responsible for developing and leading the implementation of a coalition-building workplan to increase park access and equity in Richmond and Oakland. The project manager will be responsible for building and maintaining coalition support with local appointed and elected officials, work with partners and key leaders at City agencies, including Departments of Community and Economic Development, Community Services, Recreation and Parks, Public Works, Planning Departments, etc., as well as closely engaging and collaborating with community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and park and equity advocates. A successful candidate must be comfortable with public speaking and talking with media, including being a representative for the organization.

Within TPL, the Community Partnerships project Manager will work closely with the Bay Area Parks for People program director, project managers and associates, and in collaboration with the California Government Affairs team in staff meetings, strategic planning sessions, and project strategy in the framework of an urban park system. The new team member will participate in park strategy planning for the entire California Parks for People Program.

The work includes but is not limited to:

• Develop, plan, coordinate, and implement a robust coalition-building campaign involving diverse team members, partners, and local media;
• Research and assist in managing and distributing information on public and private grant opportunities, and manage park activation grants;
• Research and analyze park-related policies master plans, general plans, etc. in Richmond and Oakland;
• Use data and analysis gathered through TPL’s GIS team to support and inform the work, and ensure focus on program goals;
• Work with partner organizations and elected officials to strengthen and leverage relationships;
• Track and represent TPL with partner organizations at City Council, relevant committee meetings and/or other delegation visits as needed;
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with partner organizations and other community-based organizations, and assist with their community supportive strategies;
• Work with consultants, and internal and external marketing professionals to create consistent messaging around park advocacy.
• In Richmond, participate in meetings, and lead our collaborative work with the existing Richmond Park Equity Project (RichPEP) group;
• Manage Parks Funding Roadmap project in Richmond, including coordination of work with TPL’s 10-Minute Walk and jobshiringnearme.org Finance teams;
• Support project management of individual park improvements projects.

Qualifications:

• A degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Environmental Design, Urban Planning or other related field from an accredited university;
• 5+ years experience in successful coalition building and community empowerment, policy analysis, or urban planning;
• Understanding local government budgeting and operations;
• Experience working with community-based organizations in a collaborative and community lead coalition;
• Experience managing partner relationships;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Experience with public speaking to promote a project, or program or organizational goals;
• Experience working for or with community-based organizations and public agencies;
• Ability to manage complex projects from start to finish with moderate level of supervision;
• Must have the ability to determine procedures on new assignments;
• Demonstrated ability to function well as a team member;
• High degree of creativity, vision, and resourcefulness, and ability to problem solve;
• Ability and willingness to work outside regular business hours with frequent local travel;
• Awareness and understanding of environmental justice and park equity issues in disinvested urban communities;
• Ability to collaborate and negotiate with diverse groups and interests in dynamic environments;
• Excellent time management skills;
• Familiarity with East Bay political landscape is a plus;
• fluency in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog or other frequently spoken languages in the East Bay is a plus.

Compensation:

Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment, and this role will ideally be located near a Trust for Public Land office. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $72000-82000.

Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that ca