Landscape Architect (14309, Grade 28)
SALARY
$73,523.00 – $132,614.00 Annually
LOCATION
Prince George's County, MD
JOB TYPE
Career
JOB NUMBER
14309
DEPARTMENT
PGC Parks and Recreation
OPENING DATE
03/10/2025
CLOSING DATE
3/30/2025 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a six-time National Recreation and Parks Association Gold Medal Award Winner, is currently seeking to recruit a Landscape Architect/Development Review Planner to work in our Land Acquisition/ Land Management and Development Review Section. The Land Acquisition/Land Management and Development Review team is an integral part of the Park Planning and Environmental Stewardship Division with responsibilities including implementation of the Department of Parks and Recreation’s significant program of land acquisition, facility planning, design, and construction of the parks and recreation facilities throughout the Prince George’s County. Additionally, the Team provides a critical and strategic focus on Parkland Acquisition, Land Management and Development Review in the County. The Land Acquisition/Land Management and Development Review team is responsible for the implementation of the County Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance regulations as they pertain to parks and recreation.
Examples of Important Duties
Ensure compliance with legislative process governing Planning Board and County Council actions to include apply appropriate criteria for evaluation and provide required findings for regulatory cases, mandatory referrals as related to parks and recreation and forward for legal review.
Review preliminary design plans, facility plans, written reports, construction drawings, specifications, computations, cost estimates, maintenance and operations manuals, bid forms, submittals and shop drawings for quality assurance, and provides input at appropriate stages.
Write and develop planning reports, correspondence, plans, and other materials; explain technical planning issues and concepts to support research conclusions and recommendations.
Balance competing interests and recognize sensitive political and organizational issues when they arise.
Apply professional expertise to improve and add value to the project, or specialized portfolio, and develops practical solutions. Interjects an awareness of Commission objectives into the review and ensures work complies with internal park and facility design and construction standards. Effectively communicates and collaborates with others internal and external clients during the review process. Present and advocate for plans and recommendations to Planning Board.
Manage Request for Proposal process for consultant services and develop and manage consultant work and contract; troubleshoot problems and work toward achieving creative and equitable resolutions; recommend and implement changes in project scope which may include additional hiring of different consultants to work on new and parallel project components usually supported by different team of staff appropriate to subject matter.
Monitor completion of assignments at each stage of a project for timeliness, accuracy and effectiveness in meeting work objectives.
Review and approve design work and final construction documents and recommend certification. Review progress of construction work at regular intervals to ensure park, space, facility or building/landscape system is constructed according to the contract documents.
Visits job site during construction and monitors progress to ensure work is being performed to contract requirements to meet design intent.
Communicate regularly with construction management and inspection staff to identify any project design issues requiring resolution. Resolve problems and technical design issues reported by the Commission’s construction manager, inspector and other team members.
Reviews as-built plans at the completion of construction.
In proactive and solution-oriented manner communicates and interacts effectively with business contacts. Establishes and maintains or enhances working relationships, including teamwork. Identifies, involves and coordinates with internal and external stakeholders including staff, consultants and sub-consultants, contractors and subcontractors, citizens, community groups, public officials, regulatory inspectors, and representatives from other agencies at appropriate stages.
Preferred Skills
The incumbent represents the Parks Department through negotiations with the development community, property owners, and through participation in regulatory processes, particularly subdivision and site plan review. S/he will be highly proficient with skill in land planning and design including: an understanding of residential and park design principles; an understanding of grading; utilities and construction operation; knowledge of environmental ecosystems and regulations; the ability to converse and negotiate in the multi-disciplinary environment; ability to read design and grading plans; and the ability to visualize design elements and their relationship to both the existing and proposed environment, project management, communication, and enforcement. S/he must be detail oriented and a problem-solver who is able to deal with complex situations. The position requires a creative thinker with the ability to develop and communicate design solutions that achieve shared goals. The selected person will be responsible for ensuring development proposals, park dedications, and improvements that are compatible with the objectives and policies in the adopted Formula 2040 Functional Master Plan for Parks and Recreation. In addition, the person should demonstrate an ability to manage seamlessly the implementation of priorities in the plan while satisfying the tactical needs of the department’s internal clients.
The incumbent must demonstrate abilities to manage multiple assignments effectively, coordinate with internal and external stakeholders who have different priorities and deliver work products within tight deadlines.
This incumbent must be able to work well with people inside and outside of the organization to share information, obtain agreement or compliance, present and defend the Department's positions, and represent the Section as an integral part of the Park Planning and Environmental Stewardship Division team. This position will serve as a member of an interdisciplinary planning and design team; the individual selected for this role must have excellent writing skills, be able to work in a collaborative work environment, and be able to develop and apply planning strategies in Urban, Suburban, and Rural settings. Case management will require coordinating with many specialists (internal or external) across varied disciplines such as land use planning, landscape architecture, architecture or engineering (civil/structural, mechanical, environmental), coordinating with multiple regulatory agencies, and handling such other factors as high levels of public interest.
The incumbent must be skilled in conceptual design as well as the review of technical documents (including grading plans, landscape plans, environmental studies) to ensure that recreation and open space components of development projects are responsive to the County and the Department’s needs for parks and recreation. Success will require the application of comprehensive professional knowledge of landscape architecture along with good working knowledge of related fields (including planning, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction management) to ensure complete, integrated designs and construction specifications for a full range of park and facility projects. The candidate must be a highly effective and skilled communicator.
Preferred Qualifications
1. Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture, or a related field, plus three years of highly responsible and varied experience related to design, planning, land development, parkland acquisition and development through negotiation process with developer’s;
2. Minimum 5 years of experience in land design, land development, development review and related fields.
3. Comprehensive knowledge of land design and development techniques and processes. 4. Considerable experience in negotiating with the developers and property owners as related to parkland dedication and land acquisition.
5. Considerable knowledge and experience in administering zoning and subdivision regulations
Minimum Qualifications
A Bachelor's Degree in Landscape Architecture, or a degree in any other related field.
Five years of progressively responsible landscape architectural designer and/or construction manager experience that includes substantive work in the range of duties and responsibilities in this class specification.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together total 9 years.
Valid Registered Professional Landscape Architect License issued by any state within the United States is required for eligibility. A valid Registered Professional Landscape Architect License issued by the State of Maryland is required within six months of appointment.
Valid driver's license in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations. Driver's license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee's ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required by the position of assignment.
Supplemental Information
Class/Specification: Landscape Architect
May be subject to medical, drug and alcohol testing.
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis ofrace, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.
Applicants with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
If you require accommodations or special arrangements due to a qualifying disability, please notify the Recruitment & Selections Services Unit at the time of applications at or 301-454-1411 (Maryland Relay 7-1-1)
M-NCPPC will make all efforts to reasonably accommodate you.
Employer
The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission
Address
7833 Walker Drive
Suite 425
Greenbelt, Maryland, 20770
Website
https://www.mncppc.org/jobs
Landscape Architect (14309, Grade 28) Supplemental Questionnaire
*QUESTION 1
Do you have a Bachelor's Degree in Landscape Architecture, or a degree in any other related field?
Yes
No
*QUESTION 2
Do you have five years of progressively responsible landscape architectural designer and/or construction manager experience that includes substantive work in the range of duties and responsibilities in this class specification?
Yes
No
*QUESTION 3
Do you have an equivalent combination of education and experience that may be substituted, which together total 9 years?
Yes
No
*QUESTION 4
Do you have a valid Registered Professional Landscape Architect License issued by any state within the United States?. A valid Registered Professional Landscape Architect License issued by the State of Maryland is required within six months of appointment.
Yes
No
*QUESTION 5
Do you have a valid driver's license in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations? Driver's license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee's ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required by the position of assignment.
Yes
No
*QUESTION 6
Do you have progressive public speaking skills and experience?
Yes
No
*QUESTION 7
Do you possess Geographic Information Systems skills and Computer Aided Design experience?
Yes
No
* Required Question