It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.
 
Why Work for Aurora?

• Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
• Diverse community
• Competitive total compensation package
• Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• Light rail station minutes away
• On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement
• Access to innovation workspaces
• Hybrid work opportunities

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Hiring salary $94,208 - $117,760/annually. Salary to be commensurate with experience. 

Please note that the City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first-come, first-serve basis; as soon as we determine to have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice.

OVERVIEW OF POSITION / DEPARTMENT

Parks, Recreation & Open Space (PROS) is responsible for encouraging active and healthy lifestyles and contributing to the quality of life in Aurora through the acquisition, planning, design, construction, programming, maintenance, and operation of the city’s parks, recreation, and open space system.

This position reports to the Planning, Design and Construction (PD&C) manager and is responsible for supervising planning staff, providing technical expertise and guidance while leading parks and open space planning initiatives to ensure city, departmental and division goals are met. The planning team currently consists of four planners, three focused on current planning and development review, and one focused on long-range planning. Current planning is responsible for the review and approval of development applications and has timeline expectations as set forth by the City of Aurora and offers information and responds to inquiries for past and current development information with timely and courteous customer service. Long-range projects will include elements of regional, multijurisdictional, local and strategic planning as well as policy recommendations. This position will assist with identifying and defining projects, developing and implementing projects, and seeing them through completion. The position serves as a leader for complex capital improvement project planning and a subject matter expert on planning and public policy for parks, recreation and open space.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervise a team of a minimum of 4-6 planners. Provide leadership, training and mentoring of planners to enhance their understanding and career development. Provide performance evaluations and feedback.
• Perform advanced planning duties for Parks, Recreation and Open Space by reviewing complex multi-faceted projects, including annexation, redevelopment, rezoning, site planning, master plans, urban infill, and large greenfield mixed-use developments as well as civil plan review.
• Assign staff to development reviews and provide mentoring and support as the application progresses through the process.
• Responsible for tracking and managing on-time performance of development review staff work, quality control, review comments and reports.
• Ensure compliance with professional ethics standards and rules of the American Institute of Certified Planners
• (AICP) and American Planning Association (APA).
• Develop, recommend, and implement work plans and program priorities for current to long-term planning projects, grant applications and capital planning.
• Lead the navigation of complex and controversial projects or situations; ensure establishment and maintenance of appropriate policies, SOPs, park and open space standards and quality assurance.
• Cultivate new and foster existing relationships and collaborative partnerships with internal and external interest groups, related departments, stakeholders, members of the public, boards and commissions, elected officials; serve as a technical advisor, team advocate and key liaison; build consensus and support for initiatives and projects and collaborates on related project needs.
  • Serve as department liaison, helping identify and vet potential acquisition properties to provide recommendations to leadership; provide assistance to the Real Property division through acquisition process.
  • Represent the department in planning efforts led by partners, such as: Aurora Water, Public Works, Historic Preservation, Art in Public Places, Planning and Business Services, and Development Services
  • Collaborate with internal PROS staff, including park and open space operations, forestry, recreation, golf, and communications.
  • Enhance and actively seek out positive public relations for the department through a positive disposition and constructive engagement; cultivates and supports efforts to secure grants and other project funding; assists with public outreach and engagement; provides internal and external customer service to the City of Aurora’s diverse community.
• Lead and manage complex short- to long-range planning, strategic planning, acquisition and trail projects, including management of scope, schedule, and budget on assigned projects.
  • Leads system-wide planning efforts, such as updates to the Our Parks, Our Places master plan; trail plan, wayfinding plan; acquisition plan, etc.
  • Prepares planning strategies and initiatives aligned with the mission, vision and values of the department and city.
  • Conducts complex research and analysis to determine the needs of the community and inform strategic responses.
  • Coordinates and facilitates public participation in multiple stages of project planning through community outreach and engagement, public presentations, meetings and park visits, which may occur on evenings and weekends.
  • Provides direction, mentorship and training to others assigned to assist with projects and programs at the request of the Manager of Planning, Design and Construction.
  • Organizes and participates in the development of requests for proposals (RFP) by reviewing solicitation documents, evaluating proposals/bids, participating in interviews, and completing recommendations to award.
  • Plans, reviews, develops and coordinates the design and construction of parks, open space, and trails projects from conception to completion, including coordination with local, state, and federal agencies.
  • Monitors, evaluates, and manages the performance of professional services and construction contracts, including the project budget, and ensures delivery of high-quality projects on time and within budget.
  • Assists with the writing and coordination of intergovernmental agreements, funding agreements, license agreements and access agreements.
  • Assists with the coordination of research, writing and management of grants received by the division.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.