Sidewalk Program Manager

Distro•Ithaca, NY

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Sidewalk Program Manager plans, coordinates, funds, and oversees construction, inspection, repair, and long-term improvement of sidewalks and pedestrian facilities throughout the City. The role develops work programs for designated Sidewalk Improvement Districts and manages projects through planning, design, bidding, construction, inspection, financial reconciliation, and closeout. The position works with residents, businesses, contractors, consultants, public works crews, City officials, and state and federal stakeholders. It operates under the general supervision of the Director of Engineering and exercises independent judgment in administering assigned projects and program responsibilities. The manager develops sidewalk construction and repair programs aligned with approved district budgets and priorities; prepares plans, specifications, construction documents, cost estimates, budgets, procurement materials, contracts, and reports; manages contractors and consultants; inspects construction and oversees material testing; reviews change orders; responds to public questions; and maintains sidewalk maps and inventories. The role manages district assessments, allocates project expenses to district budgets, coordinates closeouts and reconciliations, and pursues grants and long-term borrowing as supplemental revenue sources. The position also supports pedestrian accessibility by overseeing ADA-compliant design, evaluating pedestrian facilities, collecting field data, and participating in long-term pedestrian planning with professional staff, municipal boards, and the Municipal Planning Organization. The position is onsite in Ithaca, New York.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Studies, Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban Design, or a related field with a similar course curriculum.
At least one year of full-time paid project-management experience or its paid part-time equivalent.
Must live in a New York area or within a commutable distance.
At appointment, must possess a valid New York State Class D driver's license or equivalent and maintain it throughout employment.
Knowledge of effective project-management principles and practices.
Knowledge of sidewalk construction and repair materials, tools, equipment, and terminology.
Knowledge of design, specification writing, inspection, and surveying practices.
Knowledge of computer-aided design and data-collection and analytical techniques.
Working knowledge of municipal budgeting.
Ability to plan and manage multiple projects simultaneously and prepare project estimates.
Ability to analyze factual and quantitative data and prepare graphs, diagrams, narrative, statistical, and tabular reports.
Ability to interpret complex written, oral, technical, and quantitative information.
Ability to communicate effectively with community groups and stakeholders and establish productive working relationships.
Proficiency with common office software, including word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
Ability to provide project guidance and review the work of others.
Ability to work successfully with and serve a diverse local community.
Physical condition consistent with the demands of the position.
Qualifying degree must be from an appropriately accredited college or university. Applicants with degrees from institutions outside the United States or its territories must provide an independent degree-equivalency evaluation at their own cost.

Nice To Haves

Sidewalk, pedestrian, streetscape, transportation, or municipal infrastructure project experience.
Knowledge of ADA requirements for pedestrian facilities.
Experience preparing construction plans, specifications, estimates, and bid documents.
Construction inspection or contract-administration experience.
Public-sector or municipal project-management experience.
Experience administering improvement districts or assessment-funded programs.
Grant writing or grant-management experience.
Experience managing consultants and construction contractors.
Surveying, CAD, GIS, or infrastructure-mapping experience.
Experience conducting public meetings or community-engagement activities.
Experience analyzing pedestrian, traffic, crash, inspection, or infrastructure-condition data.
Experience supervising interns, seasonal staff, work-study students, or project personnel.

Responsibilities

Develop annual and multiyear work programs for sidewalk construction, inspection, maintenance, and repair, aligned with district budgets and program priorities.
Evaluate sidewalk conditions, accessibility needs, public input, inspection findings, and available funding; recommend priorities and establish project scope, schedule, budget, and delivery requirements.
Manage sidewalk projects from initiation through construction, inspection, closeout, and evaluation of program effectiveness.
Administer Sidewalk Improvement District work plans, track activity and finances by district, allocate expenses, and coordinate financial closeouts and budget reconciliations.
Maintain records supporting district funding, expenses, work completed, and future needs; provide program and financial information to leadership and the public.
Solicit public input and explain work plans, construction activities, schedules, funding, accessibility, project requirements, and construction impacts to residents and businesses.
Serve as a liaison among City departments and officials, residents, businesses, contractors, and consultants; address public concerns and communicate technical and financial information clearly.
Develop plans, specifications, construction documents, cost estimates, and technical recommendations for sidewalk construction, repair, and pedestrian facilities.
Review plans and specifications for constructability, accessibility, materials, and technical compliance, using computer-aided design software when appropriate.
Ensure pedestrian-facility designs comply with applicable ADA technical standards; evaluate sidewalks, curb ramps, pedestrian routes, and related facilities, identify barriers, and recommend accessibility improvements.
Prepare projects for public bidding, advertise construction opportunities, review bids and contractor qualifications, recommend contract awards, maintain procurement documentation, and coordinate contract execution and preconstruction requirements.
Administer construction contracts; review budgets and payment requests; interpret contract documents; monitor schedule, cost, quality, and contractual compliance; review and recommend change orders; and maintain contract-administration records.
Inspect construction and repair work, document deficiencies and corrective actions, monitor completion of corrections, oversee material testing, and maintain inspection records.
Coordinate sidewalk work assigned to contractors or City crews, including schedules, access, materials, inspections, and public impacts; monitor progress and resolve field, quality, scheduling, and coordination issues.
Prepare scopes and professional-services contracts for surveying, design, inspection, and testing; coordinate consultant selection, evaluate proposals, negotiate and administer contracts, monitor performance, and review deliverables.
Prepare and review program budgets, monitor expenditures, develop long-term financial plans, identify funding gaps, and provide financial information to engineering and City leadership.
Identify and pursue grants and supplemental funding, support applications, administer awarded funds and reporting requirements, coordinate with funding agencies, and support long-term borrowing when appropriate.
Maintain sidewalk maps and inventories, tracking condition, inspections, repairs, project history, and accessibility needs using mapping, database, spreadsheet, and CAD tools.
Conduct surveys and field-data collection related to topography, property lines, street improvements, pedestrian and traffic volumes, movement, and demand; analyze findings and prepare supporting reports and materials.
Participate in long-term pedestrian-facility planning with professional staff, municipal boards, and the Municipal Planning Organization, integrating sidewalk needs with transportation, public works, and community-planning initiatives.
Create and maintain project, financial, inspection, contract, inventory, and program records; prepare narrative, statistical, and tabular reports, graphs, diagrams, maps, and summaries.
Supervise interns, temporary employees, seasonal staff, and work-study students; assign and review work, provide guidance and feedback, set expectations, monitor quality, and coordinate staff resources.