Parks Project Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $137,884.00 - $172,355.00 Annually
Location : Pasadena City Hall, CA
Job Type: Full -Time
Job Number: 26-132
Department: Public Works
Division: PW - Engineering Division
Opening Date: 03/12/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
The City of Pasadena's Public Works Department is seeking an experienced and collaborative Senior Project Manager/Project Manager to oversee the design and construction of a variety of capital projects within the Civil Design Section. This role will manage projects from inception through completion, including planning, programming, public outreach, design, and construction phases. The selected candidate will handle multiple projects concurrently, each involving the management of consultants and contractors, as well as tracking budgets and schedules. This position requires close collaboration with the public, staff from various departments, and external stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in managing both the design and construction of a wide variety of competitively-bid capital projects, particularly in municipal building renovations and upgrades, ground-up public facility construction, and park and recreational facility improvements. Experience with capital programs involving projects such as structural rehabilitation of public facilities, accessibility upgrades, and modernization of aging civic buildings, as well as park and open space improvements and recreational amenities is desirable. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget, while minimizing disruptions and impacts to public use of facilities and ongoing municipal operations.
Please note: Appointment will be made at either level based on experience and other qualifications.
Project Manager: $112,116.00 - $152,645.00 Annually
Senior Project Manager: $134,194.00 - $167,742.00 Annually
Please note: A cover letter MUST be submitted with the application in order to be considered. All applicants must also submit a resume.
This recruitment is open until filled with a first review of applications scheduled for March 26, 2026. Apply now!
Essential Functions
The major responsibilities of this position are listed below. For more detailed information, please review the
Project Manager:

• Act as project and construction manager, overseeing the planning, design, and construction/repair of various capital projects, including municipal building renovations and upgrades, ground-up public facility construction, and park and recreational facility improvements;
• Work closely with staff from other City departments including Transportation, Fire, Police, Public Health, Planning & Community Development, and Parks, Recreation & Community Services to coordinate project efforts and ensure alignment across teams;
• Develop project budgets and schedules, and review plans, specifications, and estimates for construction projects;
• Manage professional consultant contracts, including developing Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs); negotiate contract terms, recommend award decisions, and oversee contract execution;
• Collaborate with City departments, external agencies, and the public on project coordination, approvals, and troubleshooting technical issues;
• Prepare bid packages, manage the bidding process, and award construction contracts;
• Negotiate change orders and ensure projects are completed on time and in line with specifications;
• Coordinate with consultants, contractors, finance professionals, and maintenance staff to ensure smooth project delivery from design to completion;
• Administer grant funding for projects and prepare required reports for local, state, and federal agencies, ensuring compliance with contract terms;
• Address citizen complaints related to projects and provide timely responses;
• Represent the department at public meetings, preparing and delivering presentations to build consensus and gain community support; ensure effective public participation throughout assigned projects;
• Review daily inspection reports and prepare periodic progress reports on contract status; track contractor performance and maintain records; conduct field inspections for complex assignments and perform final project reviews; and
• Prepare and present reports at City Council, commissions, and committee meetings.

Senior Project Manager:
In addition to the responsibilities outlined above, the Senior Project Manager is also responsible for the following tasks:

• Supervises, evaluates, schedules, and assigns work to both administrative and non-management employees; develops work plans and sets priorities;
• Completes constructability reviews and support to staff; and
• Oversees the development and implementation of capital programs related to municipal facilities, park improvements, and related public infrastructure.

Qualification Guidelines
COMPETENCIES
The following list represents the core competencies needed for success in this position:

• Action & Results Focus - Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment
• Self-Management - Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability
• Informing - Proactively obtaining and sharing information
• Relationship Building - Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Project Management - Ensuring that projects are on-time, on-budget, and achieve their objectives
• Political and Organizational Savvy - Working skillfully with politics, procedures, and protocols across organizational levels and boundaries

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Project Manager:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, landscape architecture, construction management, or closely related field.
• Four years of progressively responsible experience in capital project and construction management involving public facilities, municipal building improvements, or park and recreational facility projects, with at least two years in a lead supervisory role.

Senior Project Manager:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, landscape architecture, construction management, or closely related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in capital project and construction management involving public facilities, municipal building improvements, or park and recreational facility projects, with at least two years in a lead supervisory role.

SELECTION PROCESS
The selection process will consist of any combination of application evaluation, written exam, oral panel interview, department interview and may be required to complete a brief soft-skills assessment during the selection process. The candidate assessment provides insight into core interpersonal skills, behavioral traits, and preferred work environment-helping us support your success in the role.
VACANCY INFORMATION
There is currently one full-time vacancy in the Engineering Division of the Public Works Department. The resulting eligibility list from this recruitment may be used to fill this vacancy and similar vacancies in the future.
Candidates selected for this position are subject to a one-year probationary work period.
Special Requirements
Must have or obtain a Class C California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.
Retirement:
The City of Pasadena contracts with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) to offer a defined benefits program for eligible employees.
"New" CalPERS members are subject to the provisions of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) and receive the following benefit formula: 2% at 62
"Classic" members of CalPERS receive the following benefit formula: 2.5% at 55
Deferred Compensation:*
The City offers a 457(b) deferred compensation plan to help employees save for their retirement and supplement their CalPERS pension. Employees can defer salary with pre-tax or Roth after-tax deductions.
Health Insurance: *
The City contracts with CalPERS to offer several comprehensive health plans that include Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans and Preferred Provider Organization (PPO).
Other Benefits include: *

• Dental Insurance (HMO and PPO plans offered)
• Paid leave (holidays, sick leave, vacation leave)
• City-paid Life and Long-Term Disability insurance
• Voluntary vision, life, accident, and critical illness insurance
• Medical & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Professional Development Allowance
• Free Employee Assistance Program

*These benefits may vary for employees whose FTE is less than .75 or work less than 30 hours per week.
01
Please prepare responses to each of the following items. Relevancy of your experience and training together with composition, grammar, spelling, and punctuation will be considered when evaluating responses. Provide as much detail as you believe will fully describe your experience and training. Applications without a cover letter, resume, and supplemental responses will not be considered. Do you understand these requirements?

• Yes
• No

02
Do you have a bachelor's degree in engineering, landscape architecture, construction management, or a closely related field?

• Yes
• No

03
What best describes your years of experience in capital project and construction management involving public facilities, municipal building improvements, park and recreational facility projects, or similar public infrastructure?

• Less than 4 years of experience
• 4 - 6 years of experience
• More than 6 years of experience

04
Do you possess municipal government experience managing the planning, design, or construction of public facility, park, or municipal building capital projects?

• Yes
• No

05
Based on your response to the previous question, please provide a list of recent capital projects you have managed. If no experience, type "N/A".
06
Have you lead a project through a public (community) outreach process? If so, list the project(s), describe your specific role, the process, and the outcome. If no experience, type "N/A".
07
In 500 words or less, describe a situation when acting as a representative for your organization you had to interact with an individual or group that strongly opposed an objective you were pursuing. Describe the circumstances, your specific role, skills you used to move the process forward, and the eventual outcome of your interactions with that individual or group.
08
What best describes your years of lead supervisory experience in project management?

• No experience
• Less than 2 years of experience
• 2 - 4 years of experience
• More than 4 years of experience

Required Question