Parks Project Specialist

Project Professional

The City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department is seeking an organized and collaborative project professional to support the planning and development of parks, trails, and recreation amenities throughout the community.

This full-time position supports capital projects, strategic initiatives, long-range planning, and adopted system-plan priorities. The work brings together land use review, trail development, grants, consultant contracts, community engagement, accessibility, technical documentation, and field-based project support.

If you enjoy organizing complex information, building relationships, spending some of your time in parks, working on parks & trail related projects, and helping work move from an idea toward implementation, we encourage you to apply.

Hillsboro Parks & Recreation enhances quality of life by providing welcoming public spaces, recreation opportunities, facilities, and a connected system of parks and trails.

The Parks Planning & Development Division helps guide how the park and trail system grows and evolves. The team works closely with other City departments, consultants, public agencies, community partners, and residents to plan new facilities, improve existing spaces, and respond to the needs of a growing and changing community.

This position reports to the Parks Planning & Development Manager and works within a seven-FTE team that includes Project Specialists, Project Managers, and a Watershed Restoration Coordinator.

This position combines project coordination, technical review, community collaboration, and field-based work to help advance Parks & Recreation priorities. You will support capital projects, strategic initiatives, long-range planning, and work identified in adopted strategic and system plans.

At the beginning, much of the work will be completed in a support capacity while you learn the department, division, City processes, and partner relationships. As you build knowledge and experience, you will take greater ownership of smaller projects and complete assignments with less day-to-day support or oversight.

The role balances detailed technical and administrative work with regular communication and problem-solving. On any given project, you may review plans and maps, coordinate consultant deliverables, prepare grant documentation, organize community input, maintain project records, or visit a park, trail, or construction site.

In this position, you will:

• Support and coordinate the Parks & Recreation Department's review of land use applications and development proposals, including reviewing design documents and evaluating potential impacts on parks, trails, easements, partnerships, and community connections.
• Support capital projects, strategic initiatives, long-range planning, and adopted system-plan priorities that help move department work forward.
• Support larger projects led by Project Managers and progressively coordinate smaller assigned projects, including schedules, milestones, consultant activities, documentation, communication, and deliverables.
• Support the planning, design, and construction of parks, trails, and recreation amenities by reviewing project materials, visiting sites, and documenting construction progress through notes and photographs.
• Research and evaluate potential trail easements, property connections, and partnership opportunities that support the planned trail network.
• Prepare grant applications and administer awarded funding in coordination with City staff and external partners, including tracking requirements, completing reports, and preparing reimbursement requests.
• Assist with consultant selection, contract administration, budget tracking, and review of project deliverables.
• Coordinate inclusive community and partner engagement activities, including presentations, public meetings, stakeholder communication, materials, and logistics.
• Prepare maps, presentations, reports, summaries, and other project materials for community members, advisory groups, City departments, partners, and management.
• Maintain accurate project records, reference materials, easement information, technical documentation, and supporting data while keeping communication open with supervisors, coworkers, and project partners.

During your first year, you will build a strong understanding of the department, division, and City partnerships; learn how the team's work overlaps with other service areas; develop reliable working relationships; and begin completing assignments with greater independence. As you grow in the role, you will help improve processes and operating systems, develop goals based on adopted strategic and system plans, identify priorities that are important to the department, and take greater ownership of smaller projects.

The strongest candidates will bring a combination of the following:

• The ability to read and interpret plans, maps, specifications, design documents, and other technical materials.
• Experience coordinating projects or assignments with…