Deputy Director, Planning & Development

Company: Fairfax County Government
Location: Fairfax
Posted on: June 2, 2025

Job Description:

Job Announcement
Join the Park Authority and our nationally recognized team of professionals! Fairfax County is a dynamic community with 1.15 million residents, an award-winning park system, a top-notch school system, safe neighborhoods, and a highly diverse population. The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is seeking a Deputy Director of Planning and Development for our CAPRA accredited, 4-time NRPA Gold Medal award winning agency with a $100M operating budget, a $180M 6-year CIP, and more than 24,000 acres of parkland, nine Recenters, eight golf courses, three lakefront parks, and so much more.
We are seeking an experienced visionary, collaborative and strategic leader who is a champion for equity, sustainability and our commitment to industry-leading public spaces and services. This position plays a critical role in the Agency and will oversee three key divisions and the Fairfax County Park Foundation:

• Marketing and Communications: Oversees brand positioning, marketing, strategic communications, and public engagement.
• Park Development Division: Leads Park design, capital projects and construction/project management.
• Stewardship and Planning Division: Guides natural resource/environmental stewardship, archaeology and museum collections, heritage preservation, and long-range park planning.
• Park Foundation: Oversees the management of the Fairfax County Park Foundation which supports the agency by raising funds, obtaining grants, and creating partnerships that supplement agency funding for parks, facilities programs, and services.The deputy director reports directly to the executive director and will help shape the vision, priorities, and culture of the agency. Major responsibilities include:
  
• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the divisions and foundation it supports.
• Works with the executive director to implement Board policy and fulfill the agency mission and vision. Serves as the key liaison with the Park Authority Board and the Park Foundation Board in consultation with the executive director's team.
• Responsible for overall management of the development of the park system; including the CIP, construction planning and management, design, stewardship, strategy, and public outreach.
• Builds partnerships with stakeholders, community organizations and other agencies and serves as a liaison with county taskforces, committees, councils, and boards.
• Ensures and champions sustainability, viability, and relevance of the Park Authority as a component of the Fairfax County Government.
• Makes decisions with far-reaching impacts and troubleshoots complex problems.
• Guides equitable and inclusive community engagement strategies.
• Leads an innovative park planning and stewardship team (natural resources, archaeology/cultural resources, heritage preservation), fostering collaboration between agency divisions.
• Facilitates development and implementation of effective communication within and outside the agency.To learn more about Fairfax County and this position, please review the links below.Learn More About the Position:An invitation to apply for Deputy Director, Planning and DevelopmentJobs at the Park Authority Learn More About the Park Authority:
  Joint Meeting of the FCPA Board and the Board of Supervisors
  
  Illustrative Duties
  (The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)
  

• Develops and implements agency policy;
• Develops management plans and strategies for long- and short-range agency objectives and recommends management priorities;
• Ensures the sustainability, viability, and relevance of the Park Authority as a component unit of Fairfax County Government;
• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in budget and financial operations;
• Analyzes financial data and performance measures in relation to agency objectives and informs the Board on issues and recommends plans and priorities for agency operations;
• Develops, recommends, and implements alternative funding and revenue strategies by building relationships with organizations such as corporations, non-profits, and stakeholder interest groups;
• Meets with the Park Authority Board and its committees to analyze park and recreation management trends;
• Provides general direction to the work efforts of assigned divisions and branches;
• Participates in the development of annual plans for each functional group;
• In conjunction with the Director, provides leadership and direction for the agency on county planning issues, resources to meet objectives and as spokesperson on land acquisition, proffers, easements, and other land issues;
• Plans, develops, and implements the five-year capital improvement plan (CIP) for the agency in coordination with the Planning and Development Division Director;
• Represents the Director and the agency at meetings with County staff, various boards, commissions, and citizen groups.
  Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
  (The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
  • Extensive knowledge of principles, procedures, and practices of park administration; Extensive knowledge of public administrative principles, management methods and practices;
  • Knowledge of best practices in finance and budget, human resource management and procurement or park and recreation operations;
  • Demonstrated skill in strategic planning;
  • Skill in solving problems and resolving conflict;
  • Skill in managing, supervising and guiding agency's fiscal and human resources;
  • Ability to plan, organize and direct the work of staff and implement organizational and program changes;
  • Ability to direct and coordinate the activities of a large organization with many diverse functions and programs;
  • Ability to analyze and draw sound conclusions;
  • Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
  • Ability to discuss complex technical and administrative issues, develop feasible alternatives and explain options to the Board, associates, and the general public.
  • Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with members of Boards and Commissions, subordinates, coworkers, county officials, public and private sector organizations, community stakeholders and the public.For Deputy Director/Chief, Business and Development
    • Experience with and knowledge of the practices of governmental budgeting, grants, contracts and financial management;
    • Demonstrated ability to solicit donations, grants, and other sources of revenue;
    • Demonstrated ability to develop innovative and new alternative revenue sources;
    • Experience with strategic planning and project management;
      Employment Standards
      MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
      Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
      (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")Graduation from a four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in recreation, park management, public administration, business administration, finance, or other closely related field; PLUS, six years of progressive leadership experience in the administration and management of strategic planning, project management, budget and financial operations, communications and organizational change and development.PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
      • Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, engineering, planning, architecture, natural or cultural resources, environmental, parks, tourism, and recreation management
      • Masters in Business Administration (MBA) or Public Administration (MPA)
      • Minimum of 10 years' experience in a leadership role working with boards and elected officials, capital development programs, providing strategic direction and providing oversight of cross-system strategic planning; planning, implementing, developing, and organizing budgets; leading a complex organization.
      • Certification: Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE; Project Management Professional (PMP); or Certified Business Analysis Professional (CPAB).
        NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, credit check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer
        CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED: Driver's license (required)PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing. Ability to use keyboard driven equipment. Sufficiently mobile to attend meetings at various locations and make presentations to county staff and community. All duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations. SELECTION PROCEDURE: Panel interview and may include exercise.
        The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity. Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
        
        Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314.DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.#LI-SP1
        
        
        
        
        
        

Keywords: Fairfax County Government, Sterling , Deputy Director, Planning & Development, Accounting, Auditing , Fairfax, Virginia