Department:

Parks Recreation & Natural Resources

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

Use your planning and community engagement skills to make an impact in your local community parks! If you are a self-motivated, energetic professional, this may be the role for you! We are a collaborative team that works together as One Team.

Coordinate and manage a range of park planning projects, including long range planning, public outreach, strategic planning, park development regulations, and other park-related policy initiatives. Work closely with other Park Planners, designers, other Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources (PRNR) divisions, management, and other departments. Develop communications, including technical reports, public outreach/education, and excellent customer service for both internal and external stakeholders to provide education, receive input for park projects, support projects and initiatives, and engage the community.

Serve as the PRNR liaison on the Development Review Coordination team that reviews park-related components of development projects submitted to the County.

Coordinate efforts associated with park-related regulatory items (e.g., rezones, Comprehensive Plan amendments, Evaluation and Appraisal Report and UDC amendments).

Coordinate, facilitate, and manage updates to park planning documents (e.g., Parks, Preserves and Recreation Strategic Master Plan, Comprehensive Plan, etc.).

Facilitate long range planning efforts and levels of service analysis related to Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources (PRNR).

Create and facilitate presentations (e.g., neighborhood groups, advisory boards, Planning Commission, County Commission).

Assist with the planning of park projects; assure projects align with long range plans and community needs; assist with the development of annual capital improvement program budget; provide recommendations to PRNR management.

Assist with grant applications, reporting, and administration.

Facilitate community outreach and engagement of stakeholders regarding potential park improvements and land acquisition.   

Develop and manage special assignments, such as research, preparation of reports, presentations, and educational projects.

Support activities associated with Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) accreditation.

Work Hours:

Full-Time, 40 hours per week.

Monday - Friday, 08:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.

Park Planner I

An entry level position, assisting Current Park Planner III positions. Participates in review of parks-related components of development projects submitted to the county, assists with and prepares reports and recommendations, assists with updates to park planning documents, and responds to internal and external requests. Assists with presentations to the public, advisory boards, neighborhood groups, Planning Commission, and the Board of County Commissioners.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Urban and Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture or a major recognized by the American Planning Association as related field. 

One year of related professional planning experience. 

A Master’s Degree may substitute for one-year of required experience. 

Planning experience can substitute for education on a year-for-year basis depending on the type of experience. 

Planner I Starting Pay Range: $55,577.60 - $60,008.00

Park Planner II

An intermediate level position, serves as the PRNR liaison on the Development Review Coordination team that reviews park-related components of development projects submitted to the county, coordinates and prepares reports and recommendations, coordinates updates to park planning documents, makes presentations to the public, advisory boards, neighborhood groups, Planning Commission, and the Board of County Commissioners.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Urban and Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture or a major recognized by the American Planning Association as related field.

Four (4) years related professional planning experience. 

A Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Urban and Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture or a major recognized by the American Planning Association as a related field can substitute for one-year of required experience.

Planning experience can substitute for education on a year-for-year basis depending on the type of experience. 

Planner II Starting Pay Range: $61,131.20 - $70,012.80

Park Planner III

An advanced level position, participating in a project management capacity as a lead planner and primary resource for park-related long-range, strategic planning initiatives, serves as the PRNR liaison on the Development Review Coordination team that reviews park-related components of development projects submitted to the county, makes presentations to the public, advisory boards, neighborhood groups, Planning Commission, and the Board of County Commissioners.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Urban and Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture or a major recognized by the American Planning Association as a related field.

Eight (8) years related professional planning experience, of which two years have been in a supervisory capacity. Demonstrated leadership experience in large and complex projects.

A Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Urban and Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture or a major recognized by the American Planning Association as a related field can substitute for one year required experience. 

Planning experience can substitute for education on a year-for-year basis depending on the type of experience. 

Planner III Starting Pay Range: $67,246.40 - $80,017.60

Preferred Qualifications for Planner I, II, and III:

American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)

Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP)

Project management experience

Experience with GIS mapping, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and/or Adobe Photoshop

Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s).

If you are selected to join our team, please click on this link to review the Required First Day Documents. You will need to present the following items on your first day:

1. I-9 Acceptable Documents to show your identity and authorization to work. Use this link to learn more and review the different document options: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

If your position requires a Florida Driver’s License, this must be one of your documents. (Your Florida Driver’s License can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List B Documents.)  

2. U.S. Social Security Card (signed, physical card). This is a requirement of our Payroll Department and failure to provide this document could jeopardize timely compensation. (Your U.S. Social Security Card can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List C Documents.)  

Benefits:

Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! Choose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits!For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net for additional information.Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations. Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)​​

A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.

We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different.

Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally. 

A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353.

Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).

Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.