Do you thrive on turning community visions into real places people can explore, enjoy, and protect for generations? Kitsap County Parks is looking for a Park Planner to help guide the long-term stewardship, development, and growth of our parks and open space system. This role blends planning, project management, public engagement, and parks development—perfect for someone who wants to make a lasting impact on the natural, recreational, and cultural landscape of our county.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Under general supervision from the Parks Director, the Park Planner performs professional and administrative work in planning, coordinating, and administering park and open space land acquisition, park development, natural resource stewardship planning, and other key planning initiatives. This position conducts analytical work across a broad range of tasks related to parks planning, acquisition, development, and community engagement.

As the Parks Planner 2, you will:

Program Administration 

• Manage and report on the Parks Planning Program.
• Lead land acquisition efforts, including identifying, evaluating, and recommending properties for acquisition, development, or divestment.
• Implement departmental goals and PROS Plan strategies.
• Establish and maintain standards for trails, signage, and park infrastructure.
• Research and pursue grants; prepare applications and support grant administration.
• Review County contracts and permit applications for potential impacts to Parks.

Planning & Project Management

• Develop and update departmental plans, including PROS and long-range system planning.
• Prepare planning studies, land-use analyses, and park master plans.
• Create conceptual and preliminary site designs for park development.
• Conduct site visits to assess acquisition and development feasibility.
• Provide technical review and recommend improvements for park projects.
• Support contract oversight and ensure timely preparation of planning and development documents.

Public Outreach & Communication

• Plan and lead public meetings, workshops, and outreach efforts to gather community input.
• Conduct needs assessments and prepare presentation materials.
• Represent the department to County staff, partner agencies, and community groups.
• Present to the Board of County Commissioners, Parks Advisory Board, and other stakeholders.

What you bring:  (Applicants must meet one of the following)

• Bachelor’s degree in planning, parks and recreation, natural resource management, public administration, landscape architecture, or a related field; and four years of experience in park, land-use, or natural resource planning; OR
• Associate degree in a related field and six years of experience in park, land-use, or natural resource planning; OR
• Eight years of experience in park, land-use, or natural resource planning.

Relevant work experience demonstrating required knowledge, skills, and abilities may substitute for educational requirements. Work experience is essential and cannot be replaced by additional education.

Preferred Experience: 

• Experience forming and managing partnerships with public or private agencies
• Familiarity with resource conservation practices in park design
• Knowledge and use of GIS and ArcGIS software
• Experience working in government, the public sector, or a Parks and Recreation department
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification
• Parks and Recreation System Master Planning Certification