PROJECT MANAGER 

Job Specifications

Class Code:	WA6
Analyst:	GLD, CJS

Date Originated:	2/92
Date Revised:	10/98, 6/04, 7/10, 6/11

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

DEFINITION 

Under general direction, to plan, organize, direct and coordinate the implementation of capital improvement or housing projects; and to do related work as required. 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS 

For all Positions: This class is characterized by the responsibility for directing and coordinating the administrative, fiscal, and policy aspects of the planning, design, and construction of major projects in the program areas of housing and capital improvement. During construction phases of projects, incumbents continue to perform administrative, fiscal and policy oversight, while the technical oversight and on-site inspection functions are typically performed by other classifications. This classification may be used in various County departments. Incumbents are responsible for working with other staff, the private and non-profit sectors, consultants and the community to provide input at all phases of project development.  Some positions within this class may work on a limited number of projects in a more detailed fashion, while others may work on a large variety of projects with a more general management role.

Capital Improvement: Incumbents serve as project managers for a wide variety of capital improvement and community development projects, including preliminary planning and design phases of projects prior to construction and may continue to serve as project manager during construction or implementation phases in order to provide administrative, fiscal and policy oversight and coordination.  Projects include parks and community facilities, road and sidewalk improvements, drainage improvements, special studies, property acquisition and landscape improvement projects. 

Housing: Incumbents serve as project managers in the county-wide housing program.  Incumbents oversee a wide variety of housing projects and programs, including the development of new housing and the improvement of existing housing for very low, low and moderate income households.  Incumbents are responsible for the preliminary planning and design phases of projects and programs prior to implementation or construction and may continue to serve as project manager during construction or implementation phases in order to provide administrative, fiscal and policy oversight and coordination.  Projects include family apartments, home ownership projects, mobile home park acquisitions and rehabilitation, farm worker units, senior apartments, and special needs housing. 

TYPICAL TASKS

For All Positions: Directs and coordinates initial project phases, including environmental impact reporting, geotechnical surveys and site surveys; establishes and leads project advisory committees and community participation meetings; conducts and coordinates community outreach programs; coordinates development of projects/programs with other County projects/programs; coordinates and performs research related to the development and monitoring of projects and programs; collects and analyzes data; prepares Board of Supervisors reports for department head; develops project time lines and monitors and insures that all phases of a project are completed on schedule and on budget; attends public meetings and makes presentations to community groups, boards and agencies; appears before regulatory commissions and hearing bodies on behalf of the department; prepares scopes of work, requests for bids, and contracts for work performed by consultants and professional contractors; evaluates project/program funding requests for compliance with department goals and priorities; negotiates property acquisition, real estate, and financial transactions; gathers information from department representatives to assist in defining project requirements; conducts regular meetings with consultants, from the programming phases through the project completion, to review and approve proposals and ideas and to track progress; conducts meetings with lenders and financial or other consultants; establishes and monitors project/program budgets; participates in obtaining and monitoring grants and special funding for projects/programs; reviews and approves claims for payment; requests legal advice and interpretation from legal counsel; provides interim overall management of publicly owned properties pending ultimate development/disposition; may supervise the work of others.

Capital Improvement (additional typical tasks): Prepares needs assessments and recommends priorities for capital improvement and community development projects; evaluates capital improvement projects and residential, commercial, and community facility development projects, including developing and recommending preferred cost/project alternatives. 

Housing (additional typical tasks): Prepares needs assessments and assists the Housing Program Manager to recommend priorities for the county wide housing program to the Board of Supervisors; evaluates housing project design alternatives and costs and recommends preferred project alternatives; coordinates community access to local housing programs, which may include Measure J, First Time Homebuyer, Individual Unit Rehab Loans, and Second Unit Loans; performs various public relations activities, which may include development of promotional materials for various housing projects and programs; assists Housing Program Manager to formulate improvements to local housing programs.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS 

For all positions:

• Thorough knowledge of research methods, including data collection and analysis. 
• Working knowledge of the principles and practices of budgeting and finance. 
• Working knowledge of public improvement project financing and construction. 
• Working knowledge of the principles and practices of community development.
• Some knowledge of the organization and functions of public/governmental agencies. 
• Some knowledge of real estate acquisition and finance and property management. 
• Some knowledge of the principles of environmental and land use planning. 
• Some knowledge of housing and commercial development, financing and construction. 
• Some knowledge of community participation programs. 
• Some knowledge of community development or related grant programs.
• Some knowledge of sustainable or green building methods, practices or programs.
• Some knowledge of the principles of supervision. 

Ability to:

• Plan and organize major projects;  
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of individuals and groups, including elected officials, the business community, community groups, academic representatives, lenders and financial institutions, consultants, county departments, in-house and contracted architects and engineers, and contractors. 
• Analyze complex administrative problems and arrive at solutions. 
• Prepare clear and concise reports and correspondence.
• Develop and prepare outreach, promotional and informational materials.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. 
• Make oral presentations before a wide variety of groups. 
• Facilitate public meetings and workshops.
• Supervise and evaluate the work of subordinates.

Additional Knowledge and Abilities:

For positions in capital improvement:

• Working knowledge of community development principles and practices;
• Ability to plan and carry out capital improvement and community development projects.

For positions in housing:

• Working knowledge of housing finance issues, including the practices and procedures for coordinating local access to State and Federal grant programs;
• Some knowledge of low income housing policies and programs;
• Ability to plan and carry out housing projects.

Training and Experience 

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited college with a major in business or public administration, engineering, planning, architecture, landscape architecture, economics, finance or a related field, and three years of experience in community development, capital improvement, housing, or a related field,  including at least one year of work with project coordination/management. 

Note: Selective recruitment or certification to positions may be based on the working knowledge and abilities required for the program assignments (e.g. capital improvement and housing).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS 

Possession and maintenance of a valid California Class C Driver License or the incumbent must provide suitable transportation approved by the appointing authority. Physically and mentally capable of performing the classification’s essential functions as summarized in the typical tasks section of this specification.


Bargaining Unit: 11
EEOC Job Category: 02 
Occupational Grouping: 85 
Workers Comp. Code: 0053