Deputy Director

Deputy Director – Park Services The City of Alexandria is in Northern Virginia bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington, and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 157,600, Alexandria is the sixth largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unique and historic, Alexandria is a place that is experiencing substantial redevelopment appeal and business growth opportunities due to high market demand for urban living in a quality environment. We invite qualified candidates to apply for the Deputy Director Park Services for Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA). A Message from the Director Thank you for your interest in the City of Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities. This Deputy Director position represents more than a career opportunity—it is an opportunity to shape the future of one of the region’s premier parks and recreation systems. As Deputy Director of Parks Services, you will serve as a key member of our Executive Leadership Team, providing strategic leadership and executive oversight for five core divisions: Park Maintenance, Natural Resources, Urban Forestry, Athletic Field Maintenance, and Planning, Design & Construction. In this role, you will lead the stewardship, planning, development, maintenance, and enhancement of Alexandria’s parks, natural resources, public landscapes, athletic facilities, and capital projects. Through strategic leadership, innovation, and collaboration, you will help shape the future of the City’s park system while delivering exceptional services and experiences for residents and visitors. Your leadership will influence organizational strategy, operational excellence, environmental sustainability, and the quality of life experienced by our residents and visitors every day. About Us The City of Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RPCA) plays a vital role in shaping the quality of life, health, and character of our community. With more than 900 acres of parkland, 100 parks and open spaces, and over 30 recreation, nature, and cultural facilities, RPCA delivers programs and services that connect people to each other and to the world around them. RPCA’s employees help ensure that every experience, whether a community event, park visit, or recreation program, is safe, welcoming, and enriching for all. The Department is organized into four core operating divisions: Recreation Services, Park Operations, Cultural Activities, and Leadership & Management. Mission - We create meaningful experiences that inspire community, foster creativity, and enhance quality of life for everyone. Vision – The Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities envisions Alexandria as a vibrant, connected, and thriving community where every resident feels a sense of belonging. Through safe, inclusive and innovative programs and spaces, we strengthen well-being, celebrate diversity, and create opportunities for joy and discovery. Guided by equity and excellence, we are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all who live, work and play in our city. The Deputy Director Provide executive leadership for the City’s Park Maintenance, Natural Resources, Urban Forestry, Athletic Field Management, and Landscape Management operations. Lead and develop Division Chiefs and senior managers responsible for maintaining more than 900 acres of parks, athletic facilities, natural areas, and public landscapes. Serve as a key member of the Department’s Executive Leadership Team, helping shape strategic priorities, organizational performance, and operational excellence. Translate departmental vision into measurable results through data‑driven decision‑making, innovation, and continuous improvement. Oversee multimillion‑dollar operating budgets, resource allocation, procurement, contracts, and fiscal stewardship. Champion exceptional customer service while ensuring parks, athletic fields, trails, and public spaces are safe, welcoming, and well maintained. Lead the City’s Urban Forestry Program, including tree canopy preservation and expansion, risk management, and long‑term forest sustainability. Direct Natural Resources programs focused on ecological restoration, invasive species management, environmental stewardship, and climate resilience. Provide executive oversight of athletic field operations, ensuring high‑quality, safe, and sustainable facilities for community use. Implement enterprise asset management and preventative maintenance strategies to maximize the life cycle of public assets. Lead emergency operations, severe weather response, and continuity of operations for Parks Services. Build collaborative partnerships with City departments, elected officials, regional agencies, community organizations, and residents. Represent the Department before City Council, Boards and Commissions, executive leadership, and community stakeholders. Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, employee engagement, leadership development, and operational excellence. The Deputy Director Key Work Projects FY27–FY28 Lead the development and implementation of the Urban Forestry Master Plan, establishing a long‑term vision for preserving and expanding Alexandria’s urban tree canopy. Lead the development and implementation of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan, establishing strategic priorities for parks, facilities, open space, recreation amenities, and future investment. Advance the Natural Resources Management Plan and Implementation Strategy, focusing on ecological restoration, environmental stewardship, climate resilience, invasive species management, and habitat conservation. Oversee a comprehensive Community Needs Assessment to evaluate current and future recreation, park, athletic field, natural resource, and public space needs while identifying opportunities to improve services and expand access. Strengthen partnerships with Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) to coordinate the planning, development, maintenance, scheduling, and shared use of parks, athletic fields, open spaces, and recreational facilities that support community and school programming. Modernize the Department’s Asset Management and Capital Planning Program by developing lifecycle replacement strategies, maintenance standards, performance measures, and long‑range investment priorities for parks, athletic fields, public facilities, fleet, and infrastructure. Complete all seasonal park maintenance, athletic field maintenance, urban forestry, natural resources, waterfront, and facility maintenance cycles through a combination of department staff and contracted services while meeting established service levels. Collaborate with City departments and regional partners to deliver park development projects, open space initiatives, waterfront improvements, facility renovations, and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects that enhance Alexandria’s public realm. Evaluate and implement operational efficiencies, technology solutions, and performance management systems that improve service delivery, enhance customer experience, and strengthen organizational accountability. Develop a comprehensive workforce development and succession planning strategy that builds leadership capacity, supports employee growth, and prepares the next generation of Parks Services leaders. What You Should Bring We are looking for a collaborative, visionary leader who is passionate about public service and committed to building high‑performing organizations. The successful candidate will bring executive‑level experience leading complex park and recreation, public works, or municipal operations, with demonstrated ability to develop people, foster a culture of accountability, and drive organizational excellence. You should have a proven track record of leading through change, building strong relationships across departments and with community partners, and making strategic, data‑informed decisions that improve operations and service delivery. The ideal candidate is an innovative problem solver who can balance long‑term planning with operational execution while inspiring teams to achieve exceptional results. Most importantly, you believe that public service matters. You lead with integrity, value collaboration, embrace continuous improvement, and are committed to enhancing the quality of life for residents through outstanding stewardship of public spaces and exceptional customer service. Your leadership will help shape the future of Alexandria’s parks, natural resources, public facilities, and community assets while leaving a lasting impact on the organization and the community we serve. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in recreation and parks or a related field; seven (7) years of related experience, of which three (3) years must be at the supervisory or managerial level, in planning, coordinating, and conducting park maintenance, forestry, land management, park design, community planning, and park construction operations or equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Master’s degree, executive municipal leadership experience, presentations to elected officials, organizational transformation, and professional certifications (CPRP, CPRE, ISA, APWA, or similar). This position requires successful completion of a criminal records background check and drug screening prior to employment. Working location: 2900 Business Center Dr, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA #J-18808-Ljbffr