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Program Director - North Texas Parks for People
Trust for Public Land is a national non-profit organization that creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Our Texas office is working to ensure that every resident of the Lone Star State has close-to-home access to parks, trails, and the outdoors. As a part of this program, the Trust for Public Land is embarking on an ambitious plan to develop the Five Mile Creek Greenbelt, a network of parks and trails across southern Dallas. Once complete, the Greenbelt will encompass three new parks, over a dozen miles of new trails, and hundreds of acres of land protected as natural space. The Dallas Greening Initiative is also a critical part of the North Texas Program and is a program to deliver parks on underutilized public lands through innovative and efficient methods. The program is underway, and the office is working on the first five sites of the 15 neighborhoods greens it will delivery over 4 years.
The Program Director leads the North Texas Parks for People Program, including the Five Mile Creek and Dallas Greening Initiative Programs. The Program Director is responsible for working with the Texas State Director, the Texas Director of Philanthropy, Parks for People Senior Program Manager, staff, Texas Advisory Board Members, donors and partners to develop the existing portfolio, future project vision, and implementation of the Parks for People program. Parks for People Program requires the Program Director to develop and cultivate key working partnerships, lead the creation and management of a diverse range of projects including parks, trails, and open space planning, developing budgets, assistance in securing public and private funding for program and project launches and operations, and advance equity, social justice, and nature access through TPL’s on-the-ground projects (parks and green infrastructure), park activations, community engagement, and project delivery.
The Director works closely with key TPL state and national staff in Philanthropy, Finance, Federal Affairs, Marketing, and the national initiatives to ensure mission alignment and coordination of the program with the wider goals of the organization.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
COMPENSATION
As a full-time exempt employee, you will be eligible for The Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, three weeks of vacation annually plus paid holidays, and a 403(b) retirement plan, currently with a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the range for this position is $80,000-to $95,000 annually.
The Program Director leads the North Texas Parks for People Program, including the Five Mile Creek and Dallas Greening Initiative Programs. The Program Director is responsible for working with the Texas State Director, the Texas Director of Philanthropy, Parks for People Senior Program Manager, staff, Texas Advisory Board Members, donors and partners to develop the existing portfolio, future project vision, and implementation of the Parks for People program. Parks for People Program requires the Program Director to develop and cultivate key working partnerships, lead the creation and management of a diverse range of projects including parks, trails, and open space planning, developing budgets, assistance in securing public and private funding for program and project launches and operations, and advance equity, social justice, and nature access through TPL’s on-the-ground projects (parks and green infrastructure), park activations, community engagement, and project delivery.
The Director works closely with key TPL state and national staff in Philanthropy, Finance, Federal Affairs, Marketing, and the national initiatives to ensure mission alignment and coordination of the program with the wider goals of the organization.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Assumes primary responsibility for a portfolio of park and trail projects in Dallas like the Five Mile Creek Program and the Dallas Greening Initiative Project, including community engagement, design, and construction
- Manage design, engineering, and construction consultants
- Build authentic and meaningful relationships with residents and leaders within the community
- Assist with fundraising for the project, including providing project updates (both written and verbal) and attending donor meetings
- Speak publicly about the project to various audiences, including elected officials, public meetings, media, and general public
- In partnership with colleagues, oversee the planning, organization, and execution of community meetings
- In partnership with colleagues, oversee the planning, organization, and execution of volunteer events, such as park beautification days, park cleanups, and more.
- Liaise with TPL’s legal department to coordinate contracts with consultants, partner organizations, and public agencies
- Work to develop and maintain relationships with strategic partners like other nonprofit and for profit organizations, government agencies, Universities and other entities as needed.
- Completes assorted administrative tasks required for a well-regulated organization.
- Proven ability to both manage complex projects, programs, and budgets and to create a strategic and coherent vision for long-term leadership in building and/or renovating parks, trails, schoolyards, playgrounds and public spaces.
- Familiarity with urban planning, particularly park planning, landscape architecture and capital improvements and an understanding of urban environmental quality of life issues including parks and trails, environmental justice, brownfields, walkability, climate change, community development, and housing.
- Familiarity with advocacy and government relations needed to impact policy and funding.
- Excellent leadership, meeting facilitation, collaboration, public speaking, stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
- Experience in working with community leaders, agency staff, elected officials and local media to promote and implement successful projects.
- Experience in collaborating and negotiating with diverse groups and interests, including communities of color and historically under-resourced communities.
- Possesses an entrepreneurial spirit, initiative, energy, the capacity to lead, mentor and inspire others, and the capacity to be a high performer and a team player, with common sense and resiliency.
- Bachelor’s degree including course work in urban planning, landscape architecture, and land use management or equivalent experience.
- Minimum 6 years related experience.
- Frequent independent travel required a willingness to attend evening meetings.
- Computer Proficiency: Microsoft Office and proficiency with Adobe products a plus
COMPENSATION
As a full-time exempt employee, you will be eligible for The Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, three weeks of vacation annually plus paid holidays, and a 403(b) retirement plan, currently with a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the range for this position is $80,000-to $95,000 annually.
