FRPA Career Map

At this level, one is overseeing large-scale operations or organizational-wide functions; is accountable for driving strategic execution and operational excellence.  Decision-Making and Impact may include decisions which shape major outcomes and organizational direction; high financial and reputational impact; and executive level relationships.  This is the EXPERIENCE stage of one’s journey – independent application across varied contexts with consistent performance and high-stakes contexts. 

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Communications, Public Relations & Marketing
 Critical Thinking & Decision Making
Data Analysis & Research 
Financial Management
Interpersonal
Leadership
Natural & Cultural Resource Management
Organizational Design
 Planning (Operational)
Planning (Strategic, Master, Comprehensive & Asset Management)
Policy Compliance
Program/Event Management
Project Coordination/Management
Relationship Building
Resource Management 
Risk Management & Safety
 Supervision & Oversight
Technology
Audience – This is the usual group of people with which an individual at the specified responsibility level will interact. The interaction may take many forms; who you communicate with, who you influence, and who you serve.
Focus – What the interaction is about in the moment.  Think of it as what needs to occur if one is to achieve the goal.
Tools – These are resources that an individual at this responsibility level may access or deploy to interact with the specified audience. 
Goal – This is an indicator of what the intended outcome of the audience interaction is.
Development Guide - This section lists examples of where an individual can gain education, knowledge and experience in the skill areas that will aid in mastering a skill and preparing one to move to the next level of skill and/or responsibility level.

COMMUNICATION, PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING 
Skills 

  • Frame business narratives for impact (growth, transformation, risk)
  • Navigate commission-level communications
  • Lead during uncertainty or crisis
  • Direct crisis and issue management at the organizational level
  • Ensuring consistency of messaging across channels
  • Set public relations policies and organizational messaging standards
  • Lead executive communications and media relations
  • Guide brand management and community engagement strategy
  • Set marketing policies and standards
  • Oversee high-level media relations and public communications
  • Manage organizational reputation and brand positioning
  • Direct crisis and issue management communications

Development Guide

  • Executive level media training and public speaking coaching
  • Executive writing and speech training
  • Crisis communication simulations
  • Stakeholder/Board communication templates
  • Set public relations policies and messaging standards organization-wide
  • Lead high-level media relations and executive communications
  • Guide brand management and public engagement strategies, and organizational messaging 
  • Set organization-wide marketing policies and strategies
  • Oversee public relations and media relations

Tools

Executive Reports, Press Briefings, Stakeholder Reports/Updates; Organizational Communication Platforms, Reputation Management Platforms

Audience:  Other Department Heads, Cross-Jurisdictional Leadership, State Media, Policy Makers and Regulators, External Stakeholders and Partners

Focus:  Strategic influence, decision justification, crisis communication; oversee organizational-wide public relations and reputation management; integrate marketing into organizational strategy; guide public relations campaigns

Goal:  Build credibility, steer the organization through complexity, and influence top-level decisions, maintain a strong unified public image, align public relations with system-wide strategic objectives, align marketing with mission and policy

 

SUPERVISION & OVERSIGHT 
Skills 

  • Executive decision-making
  • Governance and policy interpretation
  • Executive risk management
  • Long-term strategic alignment
  • Organizational design
  • Communicate with executive-level stakeholders
  • Negotiation and influence

Development Guide

  • Commission/Board governance training
  • Participant in executive coaching
  • Develop an understanding of advanced analytics tools
  • Scenario and crisis planning sessions

Tools

Executive Dashboards, Financial Forecasting, Strategic Planning Frameworks (OKRs - Objectives and Key Results; SWOT)

Audience: Executive Level Peers, Commission Members, Key External Stakeholders and Partners

Focus: Organizational performance and strategic alignment

Goal:  Maximize partner and stakeholder value, ensure operational excellence, maintain compliance and ethics

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PROGRAM/EVENT MANAGEMENT 
Skills 

  • Align organizational goals with key results 
  • Oversee resource allocation for programs/projects/events across the organization
  • Scale and standardize program/project/event policies and procedures
  • Analyze program/project/event  reporting for future planning

Development Guide

  • Attend training on strategic level reviews
  • Understand defining thresholds
  • Attend training on goal frameworks

Tools

KPI Dashboards, Cross-agency Collaboration Platforms, Funding Models and Grants Dashboards, Public Engagement Platforms

Audience:  Executive  Teams, Commission Members, Regulators, External Stakeholders and Partners

Focus: Lead organization-wide program/events portfolio and governance

Goal:  Achieve organizational strategic objectives, maintain regulatory compliance, build organizational agility 

LEADERSHIP 
Skills 

  • Apply visionary leadership and organizational influence
  • Deploy executive decision-making
  • Understand governance and compliance
  • Stakeholder/Partner engagement 
  • Crisis and risk management

Development Guide

  • Lead team meetings and strategic sessions
  • Participate in executive leadership retreats
  • Engage in media and public relations training
  • Facilitate cross-functional leadership forums

Tools

Business Intelligence Platforms, Executive Dashboards

Audience: Commission, Senior Leaders/Managers, External Partners

Focus: Drive organizational strategy and culture

Goal: Drive sustainable growth, shape culture, maintain stakeholder trust

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RELATIONSHIP BUILDING 
Skills 

  • Executive networking
  • Build trust with jurisdictional leadership and key partners
  • Crisis communication and reputation management
  • Lead governance relationships
  • Influence policy and decision-makers

Development Guide

  • Engage in executive-level networking events
  • Participate in crisis communication training
  • Lead commission presentations and stakeholder meetings
  • Develop long-term management strategies

Tools

Executive Communication Platforms, Media Relations Tools

Audience: Commission, Executive Peers, Community Influencers

Focus: Cultivate organizational and external high-level relationships

Goal: Secure organizational credibility, influence decisions, manage reputation



FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 
Skills 

  • Establish organization-wide financial performance metrics and audit frameworks.
  • Lead risk mitigation, policy development, and cross-department compliance strategies
  • Lead procurement strategy, vendor compliance, and agency-wide sourcing efficiency efforts
  • Lead organization-wide cost recovery strategies and pricing policy
  • Oversee agency-wide financial risk management and contingency strategies

Development Guide

  • Complete executive training in financial governance and risk management
  • Lead organization-wide budgeting initiatives and capital allocation decisions
  • Present budget strategies and results to department leadership
  • Facilitate cross-departmental financial collaboration
  • Develop and oversee organization-wide financial policies
  • Manage organizational financial risks and crisis response

Tools

Organizational Financial Management Systems, Business Intelligence Analytics, Risk Management Platforms

Audience:  Division Heads, Commissioners, Senior and Executive Leadership, Jurisdictional Management, External Regulators

Focus: Organization-wide budgeting; financial governance; and decision-making

Goal: Achieve financial health and transparency across the organization; manage financial risks and drive long-term value

 

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TECHNOLOGY  
Skills 

  • Develop IT policies and data governance frameworks
  • Balance technology investments with budgetary constraints
  • Lead cybersecurity and data privacy initiatives
  • Evaluate emerging technologies for organizational benefit

Development Guide

  • Develop IT governance and cybersecurity framework
  • Oversee data privacy and compliance
  • Evaluate emerging technologies for organizational use
  • Balance tech investments with financial constraints

Tools

Organization-wide Management Platforms, Cybersecurity Tools, Strategic Planning Software

Audience: Senior Managers, Executive Leaders, Jurisdictional Management, Commissions, IT Leadership, Technology Vendors

Focus: Oversee technology governance and strategic investments

Goal: Ensure technology supports organizational resilience, compliance, and innovation

 



RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
 Skills 

  • Lead development of capital and operational resource strategies
  • Approve budgets and major resource investments
  • Integrate sustainability and equity into resource decisions
  • Oversee fleet, facility and staffing planning

Development Guide

  • Strategic planning and resource equity workshops
  • Participate in city/county-side resource allocation meetings
  • Identify shifts in community-wide perceptions relative to resource allocations
  • Lead organization-wide sustainability initiatives

Tools

Strategic Planning Tools, GIS Based Resource Maps, Performance Dashboards

Audience: Commissions, Cross-Jurisdictional Leaders, Department Heads

Focus: Oversee organization-wide resource allocation and sustainability

Goal: Ensure long-term visibility, meet service equity goals, support strategic growth

 

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NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT   
Skills 

  • Develop and oversee Cross-Jurisdictional-wide conservation frameworks
  • Advocate for sustainable capital investments
  • Represent the organization in high-level partnerships with tribal governments and/or preservation boards
  • Strategically align environmental land acquisition and protection goals with organization-wide goals
  • Oversee legal compliance (NHPA, NAGPRA, CEQA, etc.)
  • Lead risk mitigation strategies for sensitive sites
  • Integrate equity and access in land stewardship
  • Advocate for cultural resource management funding and staffing in strategic plans

Development Guide

  • Serve on regional climate-sustainability committees
  • Partner with non-governmental organizations and universities for research and training
  • Establish measurable environmental key performance indicators
  • Ensure natural resource management goals are integrated into the organization's strategic and master plans
  • Develop negotiation skills for high-level partnership agreements around cultural resources
  • Stay current on cultural resource management law, ethics, and emerging issues
  • Mentor mid-level cultural leaders on succession and long-term strategy
  • Serve on state or national heritage advisory boards

Tools

Capital Improvement Plans, Policy and Performance Dashboards, Urban Forest, Trail and Open Space Master Plans, Risk Management and Emergency Response Plans for Cultural Resource Management, Compliance/Legal Review Systems, Interagency MOUs and Co-Management Agreements

Audience:  Jurisdictional Leaders, Funders, Stakeholders and Partners, Legislators, Funding Partners, Tribal Leaders and Heritage Councils, Legal/Compliance Departments; Media and Advocacy Organizations

Focus:   Guide large-scale resource policy, funding and public accountability; system-wide cultural strategy and risk management

Goal: Support sustainable land management at scale, protect biodiversity and mitigate environmental risks, ensure equitable distribution of green resources, ensure all operations comply with cultural preservation laws, integrate cultural resource values into capital projects and public initiatives, represent the organization in cultural matters publicly and politically

 

RISK MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY 
Skills 

  • Establish risk appetite and governance policies by building compliance systems for safety
  • Align risk strategy with organizational goals, and integrate safety into budget, capital planning and contracts
  • Oversee risk reporting to jurisdictional leaders and stakeholders, legal exposure and risk strategies
  • Lead crisis management and business continuity
  • Allocate resources for training and prevention
  • Manage reputational and legal risks by building compliance systems

Development Guide

  • Participate in executive risk governance training
  • Lead organizational crisis management drills
  • Develop risk communication strategies
  • Legal and ethical compliance training relative to safety and risk
  • Ensure equity in safety access
  • Media training for safety-related crises

Tools

Organizational Inspection Reporting Platforms, Regional Emergency Plans, Corrective Action Planning Tools, Insurance/Risk Partner Data Systems, Risk Management Systems, Analytics Platforms, Emergency Response Tools

Audience: Executive Teams, Jurisdictional Management, Risk Managers, Cross-Jurisdictional Partners, Auditors, Regulators

Focus: Design and monitor safety systems organization-wide; drive organization-wide risk management strategy and governance

Goal: Ensure comprehensive risk oversight, institutionalize a proactive safety culture, reduce liability and insurance premiums, align safety with strategic planning and public trust

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POLICY COMPLIANCE 
Skills 

  • Design and oversee compliance systems and governance frameworks
  • Lead policy communication
  • Integrate compliance into budgeting, staffing, and strategic planning
  • Champion equity, legal compliance, and sustainability

Development Guide

  • Attend executive level seminars (equity in policy, accessibility, etc.)
  • Understand and apply legal briefings on new legislation and regulations
  • Lead legal and ethics advisory teams
  • Crisis simulation exercises relative to policy implementation
  • Implement public accountability dashboards

Tools

Organizational Management Systems, Compliance Audits, Legal Counsel

Audience:  Executive Teams, Commissions, Cross-Jurisdictional Partners

Focus:  Organizational alignment and policy oversight

Goal:  Embed compliance into organizational operations, minimize liability exposure, ensure equitable and ethical service delivery

 

 



PLANNING (OPERATIONAL) 
Skills 

  • Integrate policy and planning across divisions
  • Approve large-scale project and investment plans
  • Guide staff in scenario-based and adaptive planning
  • Establish measurable objectives

Development Guide

  • Lead performance measurement and reporting
  • Align budgeting with strategic priorities
  • Analyze scenario data and adjust plans accordingly
  • Facilitate cross-divisional planning
  • Integrate departmental policies/goals/strategies into system-wide planning

Tools

Dashboards, Budget Forecasting Software, Community Equity and Performance Metrics

Audience: Division Heads, Executive Leaders, Jurisdictional Management, Funders

Focus: Lead long-term operational planning, budgeting and system-wide service integration

Goal: Ensure planning supports mission, values and goals; build accountability through key performance indicators; position the organization for sustainable growth

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PLANNING (STRATEGIC, MASTER, COMPREHENSIVE AND ASSET MANAGEMENT) 
Skills 

  • Guide organizational strategic planning and goal setting
  • Oversee long-term asset management policies and capital programs
  • Identify funding needs for park system development
  • Manage risk and sustainability considerations at scale
  • Ensure organization-wide coordination and performance measurement
  • Make decisions about park land acquisition efforts
  • Integrate operational priorities into capital programs in support of Operations functions

Development Guide

  • Oversee system-wide strategic planning and asset management policies
  • Manage organizational risk and resilience planning when plans are not followed
  • Ensure the implementation of open space and recreation element of comprehensive plan
  • Create alternative scenarios when plan amendments are necessary
  • Align cross-departmental efforts and measure performance
  • Apply national benchmarking and accreditation  standards
  • Oversee developments of plans and equity frameworks
  • Lead long-term strategic sessions and understand legal requirements for comprehensive plans
  • Drive strategic adjustments to plans

Tools

Strategic Planning Dashboards, Organizational Asset Management Systems, Financial Forecasting and Risk Analysis Tools, Capital improvement program software

Audience: Executive Leaders, Jurisdictional Management, Community Stakeholders, Funders, Consultants, Cross-Jurisdictional Leaders

Focus: Oversee system-wide strategic and comprehensive planning; integrate asset management into organizational priorities

Goal: Ensure plans and asset strategies support mission, fiscal sustainability, and service excellence

 

DATA ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH 
Skills 

  • Set data strategy and policies
  • Communicate complex analytics to boards and stakeholders
  • Guide cross-functional analytics integration
  • Oversee data privacy and compliance
  • Use data to inform risk and opportunity management

Development Guide

  • Attend civic data and smart city conferences
  • Host interdepartmental and cross-jurisdictional data roundtables
  • Champion performance dashboards and public reporting tools
  • Establish data strategy and transparency standards
  • Ensure compliance with open data, equity, and privacy laws

Tools

Organizational Data Platforms, Data Governance and Compliance Tools, Executive Dashboards

Audience: Commission, Executive Leaders, Jurisdictional Management, Regulators, Funders

Focus: Lead organization-wide data and research initiatives

Goal: Drive organizational innovation, ensure compliance, support informed governance

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PROJECT COORDINATION / MANAGEMENT (Projects/Grants/Contracts) 
Skills 

  • Set policies for project/grant/contract management
  • Ensure organizational compliance with legal and regulatory standards
  • Lead risk management and audit response efforts
  • Guide crisis management related to project/grant/contract issues
  • Foster culture of accountability and transparency
  • Recommend project/grant/contract renewals and amendments

Development Guide

  • Lead development of organizational policies for grants and contracts
  • Implement organizational risk management related to  projects/grants/contracts
  • Lead organizational risk management related to contracts
  • Develop crisis management plans for project-related issues
  • Promote culture of accountability and transparency
  • Develop and enforce contract management policies
  • Develop and implement  project/grant/contract management policies
  • Lead compliance monitoring and risk mitigation
  • Oversee audit and regulatory responses

Tools

Organizational Compliance Systems, Risk Management Platforms

Audience:  Executive Team, Jurisdictional Management, Regulatory Agencies, Consultants

Focus: Provide executive oversight of project/grant/contract coordination and compliance

Goal: Safeguard organizational reputation and integrity, and ensure strategic alignment of projects/grants/contracts

 

CRITICAL THINKING AND DECISION MAKING 
Skills 

  • Evaluate long-term implications and systemic risks
  • Lead crisis and ethical decision-making
  • Delegate authority while ensuring accountability
  • Balance diverse stakeholder interests
  • Decisions shape major outcomes and organizational direction
  • High financial and reputational impact

Development Guide

  • Evaluate long-term organizational risks and opportunities
  • Review ethical decision making policies
  • Attend trainings relative to ethics and crises
  • Delegate decision authority while maintaining accountability
  • Manage stakeholder engagement in decision processes
  • Facilitate gathering stakeholder input 
  • Develop prioritization framework

Tools

Organizational Decision Support Systems, Scenario Simulation, Governance Frameworks

Audience: Executive Team, Jurisdictional Management, External Partners

Focus: Oversee high-impact decisions affecting organization-wide operations and reputation

Goal: Ensure sustainability, ethical integrity, and organizational resilience

 

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INTERPERSONAL 
Skills 

  • Develop executive presence and public speaking
  • Conflict negotiation at senior and high-stake levels
  • Lead jurisdictional and stakeholder communications
  • Cultivate trust and credibility organization-wide
  • Navigate political and cultural dynamics

Development Guide

  • Participate in executive coaching
  • Participate in media training
  • Lead meetings and strategic discussions
  • Facility cross-departmental leadership forums

Tools

Executive Coaching, Media Training, Advanced Communication Platforms

Audience:  Executive Leaders, Jurisdictional Management, Community Leaders, Cross-Jurisdictional Leaders

Focus: Influence organizational culture and lead at the organizational level

Goal: Shape organizational culture, strengthen relationships, lead high-stake negotiations

 

ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN
Skills 

  • Lead organizational design and workforce planning
  • Align organizational design with strategic objectives
  • Manage complex change initiatives
  • Oversee talent management strategies
  • Assess workforce capacity to align with identified trends and changing expectations

Development Guide

  • Lead organizational workforce planning and design initiatives
  • Oversee complex organizational change projects
  • Implement talent management and succession planning strategies

Tools

Organization Resource Planning Tools, HR Analytics, Trend Analysis for Industry, Workforce Planning Platforms, Process Mapping Platforms, Employee Engagement Surveys, Benchmarking Tools

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Audience:  Executive Leadership, Jurisdictional Management, HR Partners, All Employees

Focus: Establish organization-wide frameworks and governance

Goal:  Foster organizational adaptability, strategic alignment

 

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