Project Manager - Minnesota Parks & Schoolyards

Who We Are:
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is the leader of a movement to connect everyone in America to the outdoors. A national nonprofit, TPL partners with communities to create high-quality parks and protect public lands—especially in communities that need them most—to improve public health, create social cohesion, strengthen historic and cultural connection to place, and increase climate resilience. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,500 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, generated over $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit www.tpl.org.

Position Summary:
The Minnesota Parks and Schoolyards program works with communities across the state to ensure everyone enjoys access to high-quality, close-to-home outdoor space. Employing a participatory design process, we plan, fund, build/renovate, and activate parks, schoolyards, and public spaces where they're needed most—in strong partnership with community and public partners. Our approach involves working closely with diverse partners with an emphasis on hope, respect, creativity, and mutual trust.

The Parks and Schoolyards Manager 1 will be responsible for managing all phases of several park and schoolyard projects across Minnesota. For their projects, they will be responsible for overseeing all project management activities, including construction, coordination with outside design consultants, and robust participatory design processes. They will work hand-in-hand with a variety of partners, including community members, schools and other institutional partners, nonprofits, state agencies, contractors, and subject-matter experts, to envision, design, and construct transformative green spaces that meet local needs, align with Trust for Public Land’s mission, and successfully completed within the constraints of constructability and budget.

Critical aspects of the position involve maintaining close coordination with public agencies, community partners, and internal staff to ensure all legal, financial, and regulatory guidelines are followed, that projects are completed on or under budget, and that community needs are met. The ability to work independently with a high level of organization and initiative is essential. This position reports to the Minnesota Parks and Schoolyards Associate Director and will join a team of committed, passionate, and collaborative team members working to deliver TPL’s mission.

This position will be based in TPL’s Minnesota Office with hybrid/remote work possible. This position requires moderate travel across the state, including work in the field and in community. Evening and weekend work are anticipated.

Essential Functions:
Community Schoolyard and Park Project Management- 70%

• Oversee the day-to-day project management for schoolyard projects from engagement, design, construction, through project completion, including:
  • Develop and manage budget, schedule, and contracts
  • Select, hire, and manage landscape architects, architects, engineers, contractors and other consultants needed to deliver the projects.
  • Track project progress and deliverables, organize meetings, and define agendas.
  • Manage project evaluation, grant management, and reporting.
  • Develop graphics as needed, including presentations, boards, flyers, etc.
  • Provide regular project updates and clear communication to staff and funders.
  • Design and conduct meaningful in-school participatory schoolyard design with students, in partnership with the Parks and Schoolyard Program Associate.
  • Develop and manage relationships with school districts and school staff, local government, and tribal nations, school districts, local representatives, and community leaders.

Site Stewardship, Activation, and Maintenance – 15%

• Manage ongoing stewardship of completed schoolyard project sites, including:
  • Regular check-ins with school team
  • Liaise with partner organizations and volunteers for stewardship events
  • Select, hire, and manage community partners and landscape vendors contracted for ongoing maintenance
  • Evaluate site condition and use
  • Support ongoing community and school activation through curriculum integration, community events, and technical assistance
  • Support fundraising and donor cultivation for stewardship program and related initiatives

Program and Organizational Support: 15%

• Support Philanthropy, Marketing, and Conservation Finance staff as needed and appropriate to spotlight projects, heighten overall program visibility, and build philanthropic support.
• Collaborate with TPL’s national staff to advance the organization’s initiatives and share information internally.
• Provide technical assistance to schools, community partners, and other partners around best practices for participatory design, schoolyards, and green space development.
• Strategize with Program and State Directors on program development and organizational goals, including evaluating potential new projects and partnership opportunities.
• Support Program Director with key program events, including biannual Schoolyard Summit, and with assorted administrative tasks required for a high functioning program.
• Work with team members to develop tools and best practices for the program.
• Represent TPL and build awareness of the organization through outreach events, meetings, public meetings, and fundraising efforts.
• Other duties as necessary.

Qualifications:

• Strong commitment to TPL’s shared values (Belonging, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Hope) to effectively work across the organization.
• Minimum 3-5 years relevant experience
• Experience managing design, construction, or planning projects. A successful candidate will be able to juggle multiple projects, navigate setbacks with resourceful solutions, and meet project timelines and budgets.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Clear written and oral communication with a strong collaborative mindset and creative approach to challenges.  A successful candidate will be able to maintain a high degree of situational and political awareness including the ability to:
  • Communicate clearly, concisely, and persuasively across a wide range of audiences, including senior leadership, peers, and external stakeholders;
  • Exercise strong judgment in politically sensitive situations, understanding both formal decision-making processes and informal influence networks; 
  • Navigate complex organizational dynamics with professionalism, empathy, and sound judgment; 
  • Anticipate stakeholder perspectives, sensitivities, and potential implications of decisions or communications;
  • Build trust through credibility, active listening, and thoughtful follow-through
• Ability to work independently with project partners in the field and in a standard office environment.
• Ability to work travel throughout the state of Minnesota; reliable transportation is required
• Work occasional nights and weekends for community events

Desired Experience, Education, and Skills:
The ideal candidate may also possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences.

• A degree or work experience in Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Urban Design/Planning, Parks and Recreation Management, or related profession
• Experience working with youth and/or within public schools
• Knowledge of or experience working with public grant funding, procurement, and prevailing wage
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with people of diverse community members, elected representatives, and non-profit partners
• Demonstrated cultural competency and understanding of environmental issues in under resourced communities
• Demonstrated experience with community engagement, community organizing, stakeholder engagement, etc.
• Experience hiring and managing design professionals and construction contractors, providing oversight of independent contractors, budgets, contracts and project schedules
• Understanding of horticulture and/or urban ecology
• Basic computer and graphic design skills: Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva

Compensation:
Trust for Public Land is a hybrid work environment, and this role will ideally be located near a Trust for Public Land office. As a full-time employee, you will be eligible for the Trust for Public Land’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation and sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match. We offer competitive salaries commensurate with experience; the anticipated hiring range for this position is $72,000 to $82,000.

Trust for Public Land’s active goal is to be an inclusive and equitable place to work and build community. As the organization actively works to eliminate racial and other disparities it welcomes candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skillsets. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all the above criteria; if you believe you are the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.