Trails and Natural Lands Operations Manager – Public Lands

Salt Lake City Corporation

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Salt Lake City Public Lands Department is looking for an Operations Manager to join its team. This position will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the field workgroups within the Trails and Natural Lands (TNL) Division, a division within the Public Lands Department. The TNL Division is responsible for managing, maintaining, and restoring the City’s natural areas, nature parks, and natural-surface trails. The TNL Operations Manager works with the TNL Supervisor, Restoration Ecologist, and team members to create property assignments, management plans and safety protocols for each property and project; assesses and implements operational processes and systems for efficiencies; and prioritizes and schedules maintenance tasks. The Operations Manager is responsible for fulfilling the division’s various responsibilities – natural lands maintenance and restoration, trail repair, native plant propagation, restoration plantings, weed control, irrigation maintenance, signage and fencing maintenance, etc. - with full-time, part-time, and/or seasonal staff; contracted professional services or conservation corps; or through community volunteers. Additionally, this position will support the TNL Supervisor with all human resource functions (recruiting, hiring, supervising, training, evaluation) for the team members. The TNL Operations Manager also works with the TNL Director and Planning & Design Division team on planning, design, and implementation of the Salt Lake City Foothills Trail System, the Emerald Ribbon Action Plan, the Native Plant Program, and publicly funded CIP projects. The ideal candidate will have graduated from accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Sciences, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Recreation Management, Construction Management or a related field and have five years of related work experience and three years of proven leadership and supervisor experience. Education and work experience may be substituted for each other when applicable. The Trails & Natural Lands team consists of the leadership team of the Division Director, Natural Lands Supervisor, & Restoration Ecologist; 7 full-time and 8 part-time Natural Resource Technicians (NRT’s) with specialties in trail maintenance, restoration ecology, plant propagation, irrigation, weed mitigation, volunteer management, property management, or bike parks; a part-time GIS analyst; and a seasonal crew that runs May to October. TNL is one of Salt Lake City’s Public Lands Department’s divisions which also includes Parks, Urban Forestry, Golf, Planning & Design, and the Park Ranger program.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Sciences, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Recreation Management, Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, Public or Business Administration or a related field.
Five years of related work experience.
Three years of proven leadership and supervisor experience.
Education and work experience may be substituted one for the other on a year-for-year basis.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate the work of others, communicate effectively both orally and in writing, provide guidance and direction to both internal and external program participants.
Demonstrated ability to perform budgetary analysis.
Possession of a valid state driver’s license or driving privilege card.

Responsibilities

Manage the day-to-day operations of the field workgroups within the Trails & Natural Lands Division ensuring efficient management of activities within their assigned areas.
Create property assignments, management plans and safety protocols for each property and project.
Assess and implement operational processes and systems for efficiencies.
Prioritize and schedule maintenance tasks.
Fulfill the division’s various responsibilities – natural lands maintenance and restoration, trail repair, native plant propagation, restoration plantings, weed control, irrigation maintenance, signage and fencing maintenance, etc. - with full-time, part-time, and/or seasonal staff; contracted professional services or conservation corps; or through community volunteers.
Support the TNL Supervisor with all human resource functions (recruiting, hiring, supervising, training, evaluation) for the team members.
Work with the TNL Director and Planning & Design Division team on planning, design, and implementation of the Salt Lake City Foothills Trail System, the Emerald Ribbon Action Plan, the Native Plant Program, and publicly funded CIP projects.
Supervise the Natural Lands Supervisor and Restoration Ecologist who manage hiring of staff, training, evaluation, and other necessary personnel functions.
Prepare and oversee the division’s operational budget, evaluating personnel and equipment needs, the use of vendors and subcontracted labor, and preparing for unexpected maintenance needs.
Work with the TNL Director, the Public Lands Planning & Design Division staff, and other City departments in the planning of new and improved properties to ensure best practices in natural resource management are advised.
Partner with other Public Lands team leaders in the creation and evolution of policies and procedures to build a positive and productive work culture while efficiently maintaining the TNL property inventory.
Provide administrative direction to workgroups and management of activities in their assigned areas.
Supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate personnel for compliance with standard operating procedures and division objectives.
Resolve work procedure problems and questions presented by subordinate level employees.
Communicate with the general public, other City employees, City process improvement teams, vendors, management, contractors, public officials, architects, engineers, and other development related personnel to explain the applicable City regulations and policies.
Assess and assign priorities to problems and work assignments when confronted with several pressing demands at one time.
Participate in project planning with appropriate City departments, agencies, and jurisdictions.
Identify process delays and demonstrate continuous effort to improve operations and decrease turnaround times; analyze and report operational outcomes and processes.
Direct and coordinate the activities of assigned work group or groups within the Division responsible for the completion of large projects.
Perform field inspections and coordination with other City departments.
Develop and maintain a current knowledge of the policies, procedures, and standards of the assigned area.
Direct, oversee and participate in the development of a workgroup plan, assigning work activities and projects, monitoring workflow, and reviewing and evaluating work products.
Perform other duties as assigned.