Program Manager (Natural Resources and Open Spaces)

City of Sacramento•Sacramento, CA

12h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Program Manager (Natural Resources and Open Spaces) provides leadership and coordination for the City's natural resource areas and open spaces managed by YPCE and other City departments. This position serves as the City's subject-matter expert by providing policy guidance, regulatory support, and strategic direction for natural resource management and environmental compliance. The position develops and implements conservation and stewardship initiatives, establishes standards for preservation and habitat management, and coordinates with departments to support consistent management practices and project delivery. It also provides technical expertise and recommendations to support executive leadership and Citywide decision-making. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned natural resource professional with extensive experience leading complex, multi-departmental programs in a municipal or public-sector environment. They will bring deep knowledge of environmental regulations, land conservation, habitat management, and long-term stewardship practices, along with a strong ability to navigate CEQA/NEPA processes and regulatory agency coordination. The ideal candidate will excel at strategic planning, interdepartmental collaboration, and building partnerships that support Citywide sustainability, climate resilience, and open space management goals. They are an effective communicator, a thoughtful problem-solver, and a proactive leader who can guide policy implementation, secure funding, and ensure consistent stewardship of the City’s natural areas and open spaces. Under limited direction, a Program Manager organizes and manages major programs or projects with a high degree of visibility and substantial citywide impact; supervises professional, technical, and clerical staff; coordinates administrative functions; and develops procedures, programs and methodologies.

Requirements

Six years of professional level administrative and analytical experience including two years of which must be in the program area.
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business or public administration or a closely related field.
Knowledge of: Principles and practices of public administration, including governmental finance, budgeting, personnel administration, procurement methods.
Knowledge of: Methods and practices of modern office management.
Knowledge of: Advanced principles and practices of research, analysis, and technical report writing.
Knowledge of: Functions and missions of publicly appointed Boards or Commissions.
Knowledge of: Principles and practices of supervision.
Knowledge of: Advanced principles and practices of project/program development, management and administration.
Knowledge of: Principles and practices of supervision and training.
Skill in: Collecting and analyzing large volumes of data and reaching a conclusion supported by the research.
Skill in: Building a consensus among parties with competing or conflicting interests.
Skill in: Supervising and motivating employees and generating department-wide cooperation in support of strategic goals and plans.
Skill in: Use of computers, computer applications, and software.
Ability to: Prepare technical or analytical reports.
Ability to: Interpret and apply regulatory practices, rules, and policies to actual situations.
Ability to: Present ideas effectively, orally and in writing.
Ability to: Establish and effective working relationships with people of diverse backgrounds.
Ability to: Meet deadlines in a highly political environment.
Ability to: Effectively plan, develop, and implement a comprehensive program with a broad scope and high degree of complexity.
Ability to: Manage highly complex subject matter.
Ability to: Make program or project changes based on analysis of results, new legislation, or departmental changes.
Ability to: Exercise administrative supervision and direction over professional, technical, and clerical staff.

Nice To Haves

It is highly desirable the required years of professional-level experience be attained in a governmental jurisdiction.
A post-graduate degree may substitute for one year of the required professional level governmental administrative and analytical experience.

Responsibilities

Organizes, coordinates, and manages one or more major programs or projects with high visability and citywide impact; coordinates administrative functions including budget preparation, financial management, contract administration, and personnel administration for the program.
Develops procedures and methodologies within compliance requirements; interprets and applies existing policies to actual situations; coordinates development of work plans, selects and supervises staff; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems, assigns work activities, and evaluates work products.
Serves as principal contact for the program/project; confers with department heads, division chiefs, members of professional staff, and other officials concerning programs, regulations, procedures, policies, etc.; represents the department in a variety of meetings involving program coordination or regulatory requirements; may serve on commissions or non-profit boards as part of program service delivery.
Develops and maintains informational and statistical reports regarding program performance, goal attainment, and service levels; conducts customer service audits and delivers customer service training.
Works with vendors and suppliers; writes RFP/RFQs, contracts, and grant applications; negotiates terms, conditions and performance standards.
Provides exceptional customer service to those contacted in the course of work.