| Location | Sacramento, CA |
| Salary | $99,969.76–$140,667.50 Per Year |
Program Manager (Natural Resources and Open Spaces)
Salary
$99,969.76 - $140,667.50 Annually
Location
Sacramento, CA
Job Type
Full-Time Career
Job Number
001798-26-YPCE
Department
Youth, Parks & Community Enrichment
Division
Fiscal and Management Services
Opening Date
08/15/2026
Closing Date
9/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
THE POSITION
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 Citys natural resource areas and open spaces managed by YPCE and other City departments. This position serves as the Citys 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.
IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT
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.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
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.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
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.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Organizes, coordinates, and manages one or more major programs or projects with high visability 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 non-profit boards as part of program service delivery.
Develops and maintains informational and statistical reports regarding program performance, goal attainment, and service levels; conducts customer service audits and delivers customer service training.
Works with vendors and suppliers; writes RFP/RFQs, contracts, and grant applications; negotiates terms, conditions and performance standards.
Provides exceptional customer service to those contacted in the course of work.
Other related duties may also be perfomed; not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual holding this classification.
QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:
Principles and practices of public administration, including governmental finance, budgeting, personnel administration, procurement methods.
Methods and practices of modern office management.
Advanced principles and practices of research, analysis, and technical report writing.
Functions and missions of publicly appointed Boards or Commissions.
Principles and practices of supervision.
Advanced principles and practices of project/program development, management and administration.
Principles and practices of supervision and training.
Skill in:
Collecting and analyzing large volumes of data and reaching a conclusion supported by the research.
Building a consensus among parties with competing or conflicting interests.
Supervising and motivating employees and generating department-wide cooperation in support of strategic goals and plans.
Use of computers, computer applications, and software.
Ability to:
Prepare technical or analytical reports.
Interpret and apply regulatory practices, rules, and policies to actual situations.
Present ideas effectively, orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of diverse backgrounds.
Meet deadlines in a highly political environment.
Effectively plan, develop, and implement a comprehensive program with a broad scope and high degree of complexity.
Manage highly complex subject matter.
Make program or project changes based on analysis of results, new legislation, or departmental changes.
Exercise administrative supervision and direction over professional, technical, and clerical staff.
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Experience:
Six years of professional level administrative and analytical experience including two years of which must be in the program area.
Education:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business or public administration or a closely related field.
Note: It is highly desirable the required years of professional-level experience be attained in a governmental jurisdiction.
Substitution:
A post-graduate degree may substitute for one year of the required professional level governmental administrative and analytical experience.
PROOF OF EDUCATION
Proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment. Unofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable.
An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credentials evaluation service .Evaluation of education records will be due at time of appointment.
THE SELECTION PROCEDURE
Please note, the City of Sacramentos preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e-mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox.
Employment applications must be submitted online; paper applications will not be accepted.
Employment applications will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified:
If applicants do not list current and past job-related experience in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week).
If "see resume" is noted in the "Work Experience" section; a resume will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section.
Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position.
Proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted online with your application. Proof of education will be required at time of appointment.
Screening Committee: (Pass/Fail) - All applications received by the final filing deadline will be forwarded to the hiring department for review. The hiring department will select the most competitive applications for further consideration. Human Resources will only evaluate employment applications for the minimum qualifications, as stated on the job announcement, for applications selected by the hiring department.
Interview Process: Human Resources will forward applications to the hiring department. Those determined to be the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in an interview process.
Conditional Hire: Upon receipt of a conditional offer, the selected candidate must complete and pass Live Scan/fingerprinting. If applicable, candidates may also need to pass a pre-employment medical exam, controlled substance and/or alcohol test, and possess any required licensure or certification prior to receiving a start date from the Department. Failure to meet these prerequisites will be grounds for withdrawal of your conditional offer of employment.
QUESTIONS:
For questions concerning this job announcement and the application process:
Bilingual Pay
Did you know that the City offers bilingual pay? Thats right, most labor agreements offer the option of providing employees with bilingual pay if the department deems it to be operationally necessary.
Pension Reform Act
The City of Sacramento is covered by the California Public Employees Retirement System, and as such, must adhere to the California Public Employees Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) of 2013. Please note that the provisions within this act may affect or impact an applicants eligibility and/or selection for open vacancies at the City of Sacramento.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Sacramento is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
Additional Information
Civil Service Rules: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/hr/documentlibrary/CivilServiceBoardRules62012.pdf
Union Contracts: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/labor-agreements.html
Salary Schedule: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/hr/documentlibrary/SalarySchedule.pdf
01
APPLICATION: I understand my application must meet the minimum qualifications for consideration of employment with the City of Sacramento. The experience I list in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section of the employment application will be used to determine if I meet the minimum qualifications as stated on the job announcement. A resume, responses to the supplemental questions requiring a narrative response, employment history listed elsewhere in the application or attachments will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section of the employment application. Position/job titles will not be considered in determining eligibility for meeting the minimum qualifications for this position. Note: Qualifying experience is based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Qualifying experience is calculated to the full-time equivalent (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week). Please refer to the City of Sacramentos Applicant Resources Page for Screening Instructions: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/employment
02
PROOF OF EDUCATION: I understand proof of education, such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with my application and will be required at the time of appointment. Please refer to the City of Sacramentos Proof of Education Requirements (https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/HR/employment) for information on accepted documentation.
03
EDUCATION CONFIRMATION: I attest I possess or will possess the following level of education in business or public administration or a closely related field by time of appointment if I am selected for this position
04
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE: The answers to the questions below will be reviewed by the hiring department along with the information provided in your employment application. Therefore, your answers must be consistent with your employment application information (especially in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections), must be unambiguous, and must contain sufficient but concise detail and organization. A resume will not be accepted in lieu of completing this Supplemental Questionnaire. Lack of clarity, incomplete or inconsistent information, and/or disorganized presentation may negatively affect the hiring departments review of your Supplemental Questionnaire. I understand and agree to the above instructions.
05
Describe a time when you led a complex, multi-department or organizational initiative involving natural resource or open space management. What challenges did you face in aligning priorities across groups, and how did you ensure consistent policy implementation?
06
Given the City's need for long-term sustainability and stewardship of natural areas, how have you previously developed or implemented a funding strategy, such as grants, partnerships, or conservation agreements, that supported habitat restoration or open space preservation at scale?
Required Question
Employer City of Sacramento
Address 915 I Street
Historic City Hall
Sacramento, California, 95814-2604
Phone (916) 808-5726