LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT - Planning & Development Services Department

Recruitment #2205-2103-001

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Introduction

The City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department seeks a Landscape Architect to join our customer-centric culture providing strategic, timely, quality planning and development services to an engaged public.  Promoting safety, economic vitality and adaptability to a growing community is what drives our department. We are seeking an experienced, motivated, highly qualified, and creative professional whose strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with the public will support the community’s goals.

There is an immediate opening in the Department’s Site Review Section, which includes zoning, landscape, civil engineering, and inspections professionals. The Landscape Architect will work in collaboration with other staff to review and advise on all new site development which occurs in the City of Tucson, totaling approximately 350 projects a year. The Landscape Architect will assist the public, development community, and City staff in devising workable solutions for plans related to landscape, native plants, grading/drainage, and water harvesting on all development projects to ensure environmental protection, community health, sustainability, and good design practices.

This position is eligible for alternative work schedules and remote or hybrid work depending on Department needs.

ABOUT TUCSON

Tucson has a rich cultural heritage and is known for its lively arts scene, unsurpassed natural beauty, and outdoor lifestyle. Tucson's culture centers around a unique blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo-American influences. The city is situated in the Sonoran Desert and is surrounded by five mountain ranges. Blessed with the desert natural beauty and an unsurpassed climate of 360 sunny days a year, Tucsonans embrace a rare lifestyle and are committed to preserving that quality of life.

The city is home to the University of Arizona and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Tucson is the seat of Pima County and has a Council-Manager form of government. The Tucson metropolitan area supports almost a million residents. As metropolitan Tucson continues to grow, the challenge of meeting resident expectations also increases.

The City of Tucson is committed to providing quality municipal services which promote a healthy community, offer opportunities for participation and leisure, and enable citizens to prosper at work and at home.


CITY-WIDE BENEFITS

The City of Tucson offers a wide range of generous benefits for eligible employees. Some of those benefits include:

Health and Wellbeing:

  • Choice of medical, dental and vision insurance plans
  • Life insurance and long-term disability options
  • Employee assistance program to enhance your wellbeing
  • Flexible spending plan for health and dependent care expenses
  • Other voluntary benefits for financial security
Your Security and Future:

  • Generous pension plans that help employees retire more comfortably
  • Optional deferred compensation plans to save towards retirement
  • Training, professional development, and tuition assistance programs
  • Student loan repayment assistance
  • Back-up care options for loved ones

Your Peace of Mind:

  • Six weeks paid parental leave when you welcome a child and other generous leave policies
  • New hires enjoy 37 days of paid time off in the first year, with time increasing steadily thereafter (In year one: 13 accrued days of vacation, 13 accrued days of sick leave, and 11 paid holidays)
  • Generous employee discounts available
  • Connections with the community through paid volunteerism and payroll-deducted charitable giving

For a full description of benefits offered to eligible employees, or to inquire further about the City of Tucson's benefits options, please visit: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/hr/employee-benefit-snapshot

General Description

The Landscape Architect manages the review of private development landscapes through a collaborative approach with the public, development community, and City staff to achieve the best possible results. This position will also supervise inspections staff who will work in the field to inspect landscapes, native plant preservation, and water harvesting design and compliance. This position may also serve as the point of contact for internal and external customers.

Essential Functions

Reviews development plan submittals for compliance with the City’s adopted codes, policies, plans, manuals, and other regulatory documents related to landscape, native plants, grading/drainage, and water harvesting.

Provides and obtains clarifications and detailed information on specific requirements related to development proposals. Interprets guidelines, policies, standards, codes, and specifications.

Provides customer service by responding to information requests, conducting research, providing solutions to problems, and correcting errors.

Performs project management duties which may include but are not limited to assembling of design and bid documentation, tracking budgets, performing quality control and assurance, coordinating with other City departments/contractors. Ensures that all unit work conforms to local, state, and federal governmental regulations, and other applicable rules and requirements.

Provides technical and management advice and serves as subject matter expert on landscape issues to City departments and outside agencies. Conducts neighborhood meetings and workshops, requiring the preparation of staff reports, written materials, and presentations.

Assists in the development of policies and procedures pertaining to the ideal application of landscape regulations in order to further the community’s goals.

Supervises and coordinates the work of at least two fulltime employees and all assigned work in a unit ensuring timely and quality activities to respond to the needs of the city, community, department, and unit.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education Level & Type: Bachelor's Degree

Minimum Experience Qualifications: At least 3 years of experience in reviewing, designing, or managing landscape architecture designs or construction projects

Valid Arizona Drivers License

Registered as a Landscape Architect in the State or Arizona.  (the certification may be in progress but must be obtained within one year of hire date)

Special Job Requirements

Supplemental materials are required to be submitted with your application.  Without the materials listed below, your application will be considered incomplete, and you will not continue in this recruitment process.  Please provide:
A chronological resume reflecting relevant work experience and education/training ALONG WITH  a cover letter reflecting your background, experience, and interests as it relates to this position
A copy of your professional registration as a Landscape Architect in the State of Arizona

**The City of Tucson values the safety of our employees, our residents, our community, and our visitors. In support of these values, if you are selected for this job, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates your sincerely held religious beliefs. If you are invited to join our team, you must submit proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to your initial HR representative, or you must request an exemption from your representative. New employees must either provide proof of vaccination or be granted a medical or religious exemption before working with the City of Tucson. **

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the minimum qualifications stated above, the ideal candidate will possess the following:

  • Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture or closely related field
  • Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture or closely related field
  • At least 2 years in a lead or supervisory role
  • At least 5 years directly relevant professional experience
  • Strong interpersonal communication skills
  • A proven track record of successfully completed projects

Selection Plan

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be evaluated on the education and work experience in their employment profile and the responses to their supplemental questions. The highest scoring applicants will then be invited to participate in the next phase of the recruitment process. Instructions will be sent at a later date for a writing sample which will be due before panel interviews are conducted.

******* Recruitment close date has been extended to JULY 3, 2022 ***************

Date(s) for the Virtual Oral Boards will be determined and communicated as soon as possible.
*It is important to note that the City of Tucson uses Microsoft Teams for its virtual interviews. Please ensure that you have access to this software application.

Upon completion of all examination processes, the highest scoring applicants will be placed on the Civil Service Employment List. An applicant's ranking on the Civil Service list will be based on their final score which will be calculated as:

  • 20% of your rating for education and work experience
  • 60% of your oral board interviews
  • 20% of resume, cover letter and writing sample

This recruitment will establish a civil service list that will be utilized to fill vacancies occurring within the next 6 months.

Veterans, Native American, or Disability preference points will be added to the final score for those that are placed on the Civil Service Employment List. If you qualify for preference points as outlined in the Employment Profile, you must email them to Pilar.Jauregui@tucsonaz.gov upon being invited to the interview process. The DD 214 must be a copy that indicates characterization of service.

If you are in need of Americans with Disabilities Act-related accommodation during the testing process, please email Pilar.Jauregui@tucsonaz.gov at least 48 hours prior to the evaluation.

Conclusion

Communications throughout this process will be sent via email exclusively so please ensure your browser accepts emails from jobs@tucsonaz.gov and check your email account regularly; this may include your junk box/spam filter. Failure to respond or follow instructions will result in disqualification.

Pre-employment Medical Testing Requirements

None

**The City of Tucson values the safety of our employees, our residents, our community, and our visitors. In support of these values, if you are selected for this job, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates your sincerely held religious beliefs. If you are invited to join our team, you must submit proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to your initial HR representative, or you must request an exemption from your representative. New employees must either provide proof of vaccination or be granted a medical or religious exemption before working with the City of Tucson. **

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To ensure accurate payroll information for tax purposes, the successful candidate will need to provide their original Social Security Card or original letter from the Social Security Administration with their social security number prior to beginning work with the City of Tucson.

The City of Tucson hires lawful workers only - US citizens or nationals and non-citizens with valid work authorization - without discrimination. Federal immigration laws require all employers to verify both the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. In its efforts to meet the law's requirements, the City of Tucson participates in the E-Verify program established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to aid employers in verifying the eligibility of workers.

Retired City of Tucson employees receiving benefits from the Tucson Supplemental Retirement System who are considering reemployment with the City should be aware that pursuant to Section 22-37(g) of the Tucson City Code, retirement benefits shall be suspended during the period of reemployment with the City of Tucson unless you have been separated at least twelve consecutive months before returning to work AND you return to a non-permanent employment classification. Creditable service does not accrue during any reemployment period.