Assistant Director of Parks and Open Space

Job Description

Primary purpose:

The Assistant Director of Parks and Open Space assists with managing small and large-scale park and open space improvement initiatives throughout various phases of a project life cycle, including but not limited to funding requests, design, and construction phases. Works with volunteers, community groups, and the general public as part of the City’s city-wide volunteer and community partnership programs.

Supervision:

Supervision Received : reports to Director of Parks and Open Space and/or designee.

Supervision Given : to volunteers and outside vendors

Essential Functions:

(The essential functions or duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.)

Essential Elements – Community Outreach

Assist with administering citywide volunteer efforts throughout the City’s open spaces and parks. This will include park and open space adoption projects, community volunteers, and work provided by stakeholder groups. Work includes assisting the Director of Parks and Open Space in the implementation of the Adopt-a-Space program, NewtonServes day, maintaining databases for volunteer programs and stakeholder groups, assessing the viability of projects, issuing agreements to volunteers and permits to contractors, and creating new volunteer opportunities for the public.

Working with the Director of Parks and Open Space conducts public outreach, meetings, and surveys to assess the public’s needs and wants as it relates to recreation opportunities and public open spaces. This includes reporting findings and working with other City agencies to build a cohesive plan for the City’s parks, open spaces, and green infrastructure.

Attend community events and meetings related to parks and opens spaces to educate the public on the Department’s mission and to receive input from the public. Many of these events and meetings are held in the evening after normal work hours.

Assist with coordinating and managing City-wide memorial bench/plaque donations.

Assist the Director, the Maintenance Division, and Programming Staff in support of running, repairing, and improving the City’s community gardens.

Facilitate and coordinate community service projects conducted by individuals and organizations involving parks, open spaces, and recreation facilities.

Must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

Essential Elements – Park & Open Space Planningand Project Management

Involved with coordinating projects, both in-house and with other City departments, Friends groups, design consultants, vendors and construction contractors; provide technical and horticultural expertise and site supervision, as needed; review and comment on design and construction plans, specifications and cost estimates; attend project meetings; respond to inquiries and update the public.

Performs request writing for proposals and requests for qualification (RFPs & RFQs) for design and construction services.

Assist Director of Parks and Open Space and other City staff with all aspects of the City’s tot-lot and playground build and replacement program.

Under the supervision of the Director of Parks and Open Space assist in soliciting, reviewing, and evaluating construction bids and design proposals; checking references; interviewing, as necessary, making recommendations to the Director of Parks and Open Space; coordinating with Purchasing Department; reviewing and submitting invoices for payment; tracking project progress.

Assist in submitting applications for park project funding (CPA, CDBG and/or state grants): writing project summaries and develop cost estimates; attend relevant meetings and assist with developing presentations, as needed, to the Community Preservation Committee, Planning and Development Board, City Council committees, Parks and Recreation Commission, Commission on Disability and Conservation Commission.

Works hand in hand with other City agencies and groups to provides peer review of projects that directly or indirectly impact land and facilities under the jurisdiction of the Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department.

Assists the Department’s Grounds Maintenance and Beautification divisions in creating plans for their areas of oversite.

Work in developing park signs, including design and coordinating installation.

Works closely with other City Departments, citizen-based groups, stakeholders, elected officials, and the public to build consensus on park and recreation facility improvements.

Secondary Elements

Work with the other divisions of the Department to support their work by providing input and guidance. This includes Recreation and Culture programs, Grounds Maintenance, Community Beautification and Urban Forestry.

Provides advice to other City agencies on the feasibility and cost of projects as it relates the green infrastructure and landscape elements.

Assist the Director of Parks and Open space with miscellaneous administrative tasks and work related to the parks and open spaces of the City.

Performs other related duties as directed by the Commissioner.

Minimum Entrance Qualifications:

(To perform successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.)

Education, Training and Experience :

Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university with studies in landscape architecture, environmental studies, landscape design, park management, city planning or related field; plus, four to six years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience managing projects, tracking finance, and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams, preferably in a municipal setting. Experience working with elected and appointed officials and community engagement. Knowledge of plants and planting design, public landscape maintenance, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), broad knowledge of Massachusetts Architectural Access Board regulation, wetland resource areas, permitting and best management practices. A strong commitment to public service required. Massachusetts Class D driver's license is required.

Knowledge, Ability and Skill:

Language / Communication Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from clients, or regulatory agencies. Ability to write/document information that conforms to prescribed style and format. Ability to present information effectively, which may be controversial in nature, to all levels including clients, groups of clients, families, top management, outside agencies, public groups, or employees of the City. Additional language abilities in addition to English a plus.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to define problems and use judgement to work toward results, modify methods/techniques and make recommendations dealing with several abstract and concrete variables within clearly defined laws, precedents, and policies.

Computer Skills

Must be able to operate a personal computer and technical software, such as Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, AutoCAD, ArcGIS, and other industry specific programs.

Physical requirements/work environment

(The physical demands described here represent those requirements that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

Work is performed under typical office conditions; the noise level is moderate at most times. Essential functions are regularly performed with exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Must be able to work on a fast-paced environment that requires multi-tasking, flexibility, and extensive interpersonal interactions and occasionally climb or lift up to 20 pounds. Some evening and weekend work may be required.

Operates computers, printers, facsimile machine, copier, calculator, telephone and standard office equipment.

Has frequent contact with other City departments, current employees, vendors/service providers, and community constituents.

Has access to all department-level confidential information, which requires the application of appropriate judgment, discretion and professional office protocols.

Performance Standard

Employees at all levels are expected to effectively work together to meet the needs of the community and the City through work behaviors demonstrating the City’s values. Employees are also expected to lead by example and demonstrate the highest level of ethics.

(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)

Company Description

THE CITY:


The City of Newton is a wonderful place to live and work. Newton has safe and attractive neighborhoods, an excellent public school system, an active community life, multiple transportation systems, proximity to Boston and a well-managed and financially strong City government. The City of Newton has a population of approximately 88,900, with 32,600 housing units and occupies a land area of 18.3 square miles. Newton is principally suburban-residential in character. Unlike many other communities that are established around a single Main Street or downtown, Newton is comprised of thirteen distinctive villages. Newton has a diversified economic base with approximately 4,700 establishments employing approximately 79,500 people. Newton is special in many ways. It is home to a variety of private secondary and post-secondary schools including a portion of Boston College, Lasell University, William James College, Hebrew College, and the UMass Amherst – Mount Ida Campus. The longest stretch of the Boston Marathon runs through the City, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham health care system, serves as an important partner to the City. In September 2018, Newton was again ranked #1 in Massachusetts as the best place to live and #12 in the U.S.



OUR GOVERNMENT:


Newton has what is known as a “strong Mayor” form of government with the Mayor having the executive and administrative powers of the City. The legislative branch is comprised of 24 City Councilors. Mayor Marc C. Laredo was sworn in on January 1, 2026 after serving on the City Council. The City of Newton was evaluated by Moody’s Investors Services in February 2020 and assigned its highest rating of AAA. Newton was thus well-positioned to weather the pandemic and economic downturn.



AS AN EMPLOYER:

The City of Newton believes that its employees are its greatest asset. To that end, we are committed to supporting our employees by providing competitive wages and growth, a comprehensive benefits package which includes a defined municipal pension plan, quality health and dental insurance plans, generous paid leave benefits, paid holidays, and access to supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation, short term disability plans, flexible spending accounts, and other employee benefits. We also provide access to an Employee Assistance Program and access to employee training and professional development opportunities. We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings. We encourage you to visit our Human Resources Department website to learn more about our organization and benefits which are available to our employees. And as always, you are encouraged to reach out to our dynamic HR Team by emailing [email protected].

Human Resources Diversity Statement

We recognize our workforce is a source of strength that is vital to our ability to effectively serve the City of Newton’s diverse community. We will:

• Actively recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and talented workforce.
• Proactively address discrimination through education and in partnership with other departments and leaders.
• Serve as a role model to celebrate and nurture diversity.
• Foster inclusion by staying curious and clarifying assumptions.
• Evaluate and develop policies and practices that reflect the diverse nature of our workforce.
• Build and strengthen accountability at all levels to support diversity efforts.

The targeted salary range reflects what the City of Newton reasonably and in good faith expects to offer for this position at the time of posting, but the final salary determination may be within or outside this range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, and market factors. The range will be reviewed regularly and is subject to change.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 457 Deferred Compensation plans
• Metro Credit Union
• Verizon Wireless discount
• Employee Assistance Program
• Generous paid leave time benefits and paid holidays.
• City Retirement (Mandatory)
• Weekly Direct Deposit
• Opportunity to serve the public and join a dynamic team of dedicated employees