Project Manager - Bay Area Parks for People Community Partnerships

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:
Trust for Public Land envisions a future where every community has safe, equitable access to a high-quality park within a 10-minute walk of home. The 10-Minute Walk program is one way we work – in collaboration with cities, community-based partners and residents – to address the most pressing questions and challenges to park equity.

The Bay Area Parks for People Community Partnerships Project Manager is a position created to help increase park equity and access in the Bay Area with initial focus on Richmond and Oakland.  The Project Manager will be a key member of the Parks for People Bay Area team based in San Francisco.

In Richmond, recreation and parks are governed by the City Council. The City Manager, appointed by the City Council, oversees the Community Services Department, which includes the Recreation and Parks Commission that serves in an advisory role to the City Council. The City manages 54 parks that cover 336 acres of land. Richmond’s parkland inclusive of regional parks within the city boundaries is 6,050 acres; regional parks are managed by the East Bay Regional Park District. The operating costs of Community Services – Recreation for FY 25/26 are $110 million. 

Oakland’s recreation and parks are governed by the Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development Department (OPRYD), under the control of the City Administrator. OPRYD manages and operates the city's parks and recreation services; Oakland Public Works (OPW) manages park maintenance and capital improvements. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) provides recommendations to the City Administrator, City Council, and OPRYD. The City Council approves budget and adopts ordinances for parks and recreation services. Oakland has 129 city parks and public spaces, spanning more than 2,300 acres. OPRYD’s annual budget ranges from $34 million to $40 million.  

Essential Functions:
The Community Partnerships Project Manager will be responsible for developing and leading the implementation of a coalition-building workplan to increase park access and equity in Richmond and Oakland. The project manager will be responsible for building and maintaining coalition support with local appointed and elected officials, work with partners and key leaders at City agencies, including Departments of Community and Economic Development, Community Services, Recreation and Parks, Public Works, Planning Departments, etc., as well as closely engaging and collaborating with community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and park and equity advocates. A successful candidate must be comfortable with public speaking and talking with media, including being a representative for the organization.

Within TPL, the Community Partnerships project Manager will work closely with the Bay Area Parks for People program director, project managers and associates, and in collaboration with the California Government Affairs team in staff meetings, strategic planning sessions, and project strategy in the framework of an urban park system. The new team member will participate in park strategy planning for the entire California Parks for People Program.