Program Manager (Natural Resources and Open Spaces

Program Manager (Natural Resources and Open Spaces)

With supervisor approval, incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work; however, they must physically reside within the Sacramento region or have the ability to regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice. The Program Manager (Natural Resources and Open Spaces) provides leadership and coordination for the City's natural resource areas and open spaces managed by YPCE and other City departments.

This position serves as the City's subject-matter expert by providing policy guidance, regulatory support, and strategic direction for natural resource management and environmental compliance. The position develops and implements conservation and stewardship initiatives, establishes standards for preservation and habitat management, and coordinates with departments to support consistent management practices and project delivery. It also provides technical expertise and recommendations to support executive leadership and Citywide decision-making.

The ideal candidate will be a seasoned natural resource professional with extensive experience leading complex, multi-departmental programs in a municipal or public-sector environment. They will bring deep knowledge of environmental regulations, land conservation, habitat management, and long-term stewardship practices, along with a strong ability to navigate CEQA/NEPA processes and regulatory agency coordination. The ideal candidate will excel at strategic planning, interdepartmental collaboration, and building partnerships that support Citywide sustainability, climate resilience, and open space management goals.

They are an effective communicator, a thoughtful problem-solver, and a proactive leader who can guide policy implementation, secure funding, and ensure consistent stewardship of the City's natural areas and open spaces.

Under limited direction, a Program Manager organizes and manages major programs or projects with a high degree of visibility and substantial citywide impact; supervises professional, technical, and clerical staff; coordinates administrative functions; and develops procedures, programs and methodologies.

This management level classification may be populated with multiple incumbents who exercise a broad range of authority over complex programs critical to a department's mission. Responsibilities require work beyond typical program or project management work. Incumbents must exercise substantial innovation and leadership in developing and managing programs or projects. The Program Manager is distinguished from the lower classification of Program Specialist in that the Program Manager is responsible for administration and management of major complex programs and projects with high visibility and substantial citywide impact.

This class is distinguished from that of Support Services Manager in that the latter class manages all internal support functions for a department and supports a board or commission.

Limited direction is provided by a department head or division manager. Supervision, on a regular basis, of three or more assigned staff positions is required to hold this classification.

• Organizes, coordinates, and manages one or more major programs or projects with high visibility and citywide impact; coordinates administrative functions including budget preparation, financial management, contract administration, and personnel administration for the program.
• Develops procedures and methodologies within compliance requirements; interprets and applies existing policies to actual situations; coordinates development of work plans, selects and supervises staff; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems, assigns work activities, and evaluates work products.
• Serves as principal contact for the program/project; confers with department heads, division chiefs, members of professional staff, and other officials concerning programs, regulations, procedures, policies, etc.; represents the department in a variety of meetings involving program coordination or regulatory requirements; may serve on commissions or…