Reporting to the Community Preservation Director, the Open Space & Recreation Project Manager will serve as the principal CPA team member responsible for monitoring, assessing, analyzing, and strategizing open space and recreation projects with the City of Boston's Community Preservation Office. This individual will participate as a member of a small, highly functioning, multi-disciplinary team; advancing the policies, procedures, and mission of the Community Preservation Act.

About Community Preservation Act (CPA):

The City of Boston receives more than $25 million annually from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) to fund affordable housing, open space and recreation, and historic preservation. The CPA funds will support Boston's goal of becoming the most livable city in the nation by working with communities to build strong neighborhoods. This will align with the City's numerous agencies, departments, and planning documents. The strategic investment of these new public resources will prioritize equity, public access and meeting the needs of underserved communities. Additionally, coordination with City agencies will guide decision-making for CPA projects. In November 2016, 74% of Boston voters approved for the Community Preservation Act (CPA) by voting “yes” on Ballot Question 5. By adopting the CPA, the City has created a Community Preservation Fund. The City finances this fund in part by a 1% property tax-based surcharge on residential and business property tax bills, beginning in July 2017. Since 2018, the City has used funds from the grant program to support historic preservation, affordable housing, and open space and recreation projects. A nine-member Community Preservation Committee (CPC) reviews all applications. By law, five members represent City commissions and boards. The City Council chooses four at-large members from the general public. All members must be Boston residents for the duration of their three-year term. Members may serve for a maximum of two terms. The Community Preservation Committee recommends a slate of projects to the Mayor. The Mayor then sends the recommendations to the City Council for a public hearing and final vote.

• Responsible for monitoring, assessing, analyzing, and strategizing open space and recreation projects with the City of Boston's Community Preservation Office under the supervision and guidance of the CPA Director and the Manager of Projects and Planning.  
• Conducts monthly check-ins of open space and recreation projects funded by CPA. This includes fiscal monitoring of the projects, such as on-site inspections, ensuring compliance with scoping, project reporting, reviewing and approving invoices. Helping to identify potential areas of risk factors.
• Oversees the open space and recreation project planning process from conceptualization to completion.
• Works closely with the Manager of Project and Planning (MPP) on the development and documentation of resources needed to improve project management duties.
• Assists and monitors the Conservation Restriction (CR) process for CPA open space and recreation acquisition projects with Director and MPP.
• Works with the CPA Office to develop summary reports, information, and materials for internal use and public distribution.
• Works closely with potential applicants during the eligibility determination process to ensure their projects align with the allowable uses of the CPA statute.
• Reviews open space and recreation project applications in collaboration with the CPA team to develop and refine annual Community Preservation Committee (CPC) recommendations.
• Serves as open space and recreation liaison to the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and related city and state agencies under the Director’s management.
• Remains abreast of CPA open space and recreation Grant Agreements and Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) requirements to communicate appropriately with the CPA Director when grant agreements or MOA amendments are needed.
• Attends CPC public hearings and meetings to provide project summary reports, presentation materials, and final project recommendations to the Committee, Mayor, and City Council.
• Provides assistance during the extended hours and crunch periods in the CPA funding round cycle, when the workload is heaviest, including work on evenings and weekends as needed.
• Attends CPA workshops, meetings, and events to highlight open space and recreation projects and requirements during community engagement periods.
• Performs related work as needed.

• Applicants must have at least four (4) years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, architectural, landscape architectural, historic, or construction project management experience.
• B.A./B.S. in Landscape Architecture, recreation planning, community planning, development, construction management, or other related fields is strongly preferred and may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.
• A master’s degree in the above-listed fields or a related field is highly preferred and may be substituted for three (3) years of the required experience.
• Knowledge of public policy and regulation related to open space and recreation, agriculture, park management, construction oversight, ecology, natural resource recreation planning, and conservation restrictions.
• Experience reviewing design plans and knowledge of general construction.
• Familiarity with historic parks, landscapes, community gardens, urban farms, Boston parks and open spaces, and environmental advocates and organizations.
• Knowledge of three issue areas: affordable housing, open space and recreation, parks, and historic preservation a plus.
• The ability to both work independently and stay in regular communication with the Director and the CPA team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications (MS Word, Excel) and Google Suite.
• Strong writing and presentation skills; able to share information in a direct and user-friendly manner; demonstrated customer service skills.
• Superior organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to detail.
• Ability to respond quickly in a fast-paced environment when needed and manage multiple projects at a time.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with diverse community groups and colleagues in the City of Boston.
• Familiarity with Boston neighborhoods; experience working across race, community, age, and class lines; ability to work without bias.
• Must be able to attend occasional meetings and events evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.

THIS IS AN IN-OFFICE POSTION

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Terms:

Union/Salary/Grade: Non-union/MM2-8

Hours: 35