Job Description

Parks & Recreation

Parks Design, Assistant Director

Posting Expires: June 11, 2026

Salary Range: $88,654 - $100,000 annually

General Description and Classification Standards:

The City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation is seeking an experienced urban planner and leader with a background in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, or planning to support the Director of the Office of Park Planning & Design. The Office of Park Planning & Design is a diverse, nimble team responsible for leading park and park facility acquisitions, planning, design, construction, and oversight of capital projects. This Office is also the main interface with many of our communities and development partners, including the Atlanta Beltline, Path Foundation, The Trust for Public Land, Park Pride, The Conservation Fund, and many more. The Assistant Director of the Office should be a strong manager and technically adept who can help the Department build on a strong track record to develop Atlanta’s park system of the future.

The Assistant Director would report directly to the Director of Parks Design and would provide management and technical expertise for the office as well as, supervising staff and directly overseeing strategic planning, urban planning, park visioning and master planning, real estate acquisitions, asset management, technical oversight, site design, architecture, engineering, construction activities, and other duties as assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: These are typical responsibilities for this position and should not be construed as exclusive or all inclusive.

• Assist the director in providing direct management responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Office of Park Planning & Design.
• Develop policy and write rules, regulations, and ordinances for DPR's construction land development.
• Ensure that construction projects are in compliance with local and regional policies.
• Provide positive leadership by ensuring that project managers and other team members are working harmoniously from a good neighbor perspective.
• Provide leadership and direction to team members to ensure project delivery strategies.
• Develop project strategies, implementation plans, project scopes, and milestones.
• Provide oversight, coaching, and professional development opportunities for Park Planning & Design team members to ensure a high-performing team that is consistently delivering the best results for the Department and the City.
• Work in partnership with the Director of Park Planning & Design to develop and execute a design vision for the City’s park system.
• Provide technical expertise and gather community feedback on the planning and execution of park design projects.
• Manage and optimize key park design functions such as acquisitions, planning, design, and construction.
• Support the Director of Park Planning &Design in developing a long-term capital improvement and investment plan and budgeting.
• Reviewing and making recommendations on RFP's, consultants, and bids for all capital improvement projects and serving as a technical expert.
• Support the Director of Park Planning & Design in managing the overall Capital Project portfolio effectively, prioritizing funding to deliver the highest impact projects for the city, and ensuring these projects are delivered on time and within budget.
• Support the Director of Parks Design in effectively engaging with the park and park design community, including helping to manage relationships with our external partners such as the Atlanta Beltline and Park Pride, as well as the broader park development community and inter-governmental agencies such as the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Support the broader Department leadership team in managing and operating a first-class Parks and Recreation Department including assisting in the development of the departmental budget and preparing budgetary requests and receiving, reviewing, and approving contract invoices and monitoring contract performance.
• Support the legislative process and decision-making process.
• Produce clear, concise and consistent deliverables to monitor and communicate progress of projects with attention to presentation and potential audiences.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

The above statements reflect the general duties, responsibilities and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job and should not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. COA may change the specific job duties with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience –

Bachelor’s Degree or higher in urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, city and regional planning, construction management, or related field.

5-7 years of progressively responsible project management experience, including project design and management; (Equivalent professional experience may be considered for substitution for the required degree on an exception basis).

Licensures and Certifications –
 
Applicants should possess and maintain active professional licensure, registration, or certification in a relevant discipline associated with the position. Acceptable credentials may include, but are not limited to, a certified planner or licensure as an architect, landscape architect, or professional engineer; general contractor licensure; or other equivalent professional credentials recognized within the fields of planning, design, construction, engineering, or project delivery. Applicants must provide documentation of current standing upon request.

Preferred Requirements -

Same as minimum.

Lifting Requirements:

Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects.

It is the policy of the City of Atlanta (“COA”) that qualified individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against because of their disabilities regarding job application procedures, hiring, and other terms and conditions of employment. It is further the policy of the COA to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. The COA is prepared to modify or adjust the job application process or the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of the applicant or employee to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position he or she desires, to perform the essential functions of the position in question, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Human Resources Director for your department.

The City of Atlanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran’s status or national origin, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce.