Division Chief of Administrative Services

Division Chief of Administrative Services GS/25

Senior Management Group

Join our Great City

The City of Alexandria is in Northern Virginia bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington, and Fairfax counties. Once within the original boundary stones that demarked the area of the Nation’s Capital, Alexandria is a part of the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. 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 because of a high market demand for urban living in a quality environment. About one-quarter of the City’s 15.47 square miles has been designated as a national or local historic district.

The City of Alexandria is an independent City with no county affiliation and derives its governing authority from a Charter granted by the Virginia General Assembly. Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, allowing local governments only the authority granted to them by the Virginia Constitution or by the Virginia General Assembly in the City Charter or in general law. City Council is the governing body, which formulates policies for the administration of the City. The mayor is chosen on a separate ballot and presides over sessions of the Council.

If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our DIVISION CHIEF/ ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICESposition for the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA).

A Message from the Director

Welcome to the City of Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities. I am excited that you are considering joining our team. Every day, we have the privilege of serving a city that values connection, creativity, and community. Our parks, programs, and cultural spaces reflect Alexandria’s diversity and spirit, and our people are the heart of it all.

As you explore opportunities within RPCA, know that you are stepping into a department where teamwork, curiosity, and service guide everything we do. We take pride in our work, we find purpose in our impact, and we celebrate the difference each team member makes. Together, we are building something meaningful for the people of Alexandria, and I am grateful for your interest in being part of it.

Hashim T. Taylor, Director

Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities

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.

From Old Town’s Waterfront Park to Ben Brenman Park, Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility, Patrick Henry Recreation Center, and the Torpedo Factory Art Center, our facilities and programs reflect the City’s commitment to inclusion, creativity, and service. RPCA’s employees help ensure that every experience, whether a community event, park visit, or recreation program, is safe, welcoming, and enriching for all.

Overview:

TheDivision Chief of Administrative Services supports the Director and Deputy Directors in the day-to-day leadership and management of internal operations for the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities. This role serves as the department’s enterprise integrator, strengthening internal systems, breaking down organizational silos, advancing management improvement initiatives, and ensuring operational alignment across finance, technology, and administrative services.

The role is responsible for leading the department’s development and implementation of policy positions and operational strategies that span multiple divisions or require enterprise coordination and cannot be easily assigned to a single operational unit.

As a member of the department’s Senior leadership team, theDivision Chief contributes to organizational strategy, operational excellence, fiscal stewardship and service delivery across Recreation Services, Park Services, and Cultural Activities. This position provides leadership over internal service delivery functions, including finance and budget, and information technology, ensuring consistent standards, accountability, and continuous improvement. This position directly supervises approximately 5 staff and provides indirect leadership across multiple functional teams and service areas.

Division Chiefof Administrative Services Position description

Performs highly responsible management functions supervising and directing the activities of the Division of Administrative Services which includes fiscal operations (operating, capital, and special revenue), and ITS functions;

• Exercises executive decision-making authority over the daily administrative and internal service operations of RPCA, including directing the preparation, planning, execution, and monitoring of the operating budget, capital improvement program, grants, special revenue funds, and enterprise funds. Maintains fiscal oversight of expenditures, revenue collection, cost recovery, internal controls, compliance, and financial reporting. Escalates issues requiring higher level authority to the Director.

• Aligns financial and operational data with communications and marketing strategies. Ensures transparency, consistent messaging, and accurate public information. Provides data-driven storytelling related to budget investments, service outcomes, equity impacts, and community value. Responds to and resolves complex interdepartmental operational and financial issues, exercising sound judgment and ensuring compliance with City policy and legal requirements.

• Oversee the review and consolidation of division budget proposals, validates assumptions, recommends funding priorities, ensures alignment with City budget policies, and maintains financial discipline throughout the fiscal year. Directs short term and long-range financial planning for operating, capital, grant funded, and special revenue programs.

• Provides executive oversight of all departmental financial systems and transactions, including accounts payable and receivable, purchasing and procurement, payroll administration, leave tracking, timekeeping compliance, tax reporting coordination, travel reimbursements, contract payments, grant billing, revenue reconciliation, and audit readiness.

• Directs enterprise data strategy, reporting frameworks, and analytics capabilities to improve forecasting, operational visibility, decision support, performance management, equity analysis, and transparency.

• Directs, manages, and supervises the Division's employees and ensures that program objectives and outcomes are achieved;

• Assesses the department's administrative needs and problems, and reallocates or secures resources to meet those needs;

• Prepares executive correspondence and responds to high level inquiries related to finance, personnel, grants, audits, compliance, and operational performance.

• Leads departmental grant strategy and compliance, including grant identification, application coordination, award administration, financial reporting, monitoring, reimbursement, and closeout in partnership with program leadership and City finance staff.

• Responds to and resolves complex interdepartmental operational, financial, exercising sound judgment and ensuring compliance with City policy, and legal requirements.

• Collaborate with other Administrative Services staff, Department Heads, and executive leadership to ensure adherence to City policies, coordinated execution of enterprise initiatives, and successful delivery of cross-departmental projects.

• Advises the Director on opportunities to enhance operational effectiveness, strengthen internal controls, improve service delivery models, modernize administrative systems, and advance organizational performance.

• Conducts executive level research and analysis on personnel, financial, operational, and policy issues. Prepare briefings, reports, business cases, and recommendations to support executive decision making.

• Oversee operational analytics, performance measurement, audits, management studies, and continuous improvement initiatives to assess effectiveness, identify risks, improve workflows, strengthen controls, reduce costs, and ensure compliance with professional standards and regulatory requirements.

• Provides executive leadership for large scale technology, data governance, business systems modernization, cybersecurity coordination, and analytics initiatives, including oversight of technology budgets, vendor partnerships, system integration, and operational sustainability.

• Performs related work as required.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration; thorough knowledge of general administrative practices, office procedures, and records systems; good knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning and resource allocations; good knowledge of public personnel administration; good knowledge of the principles and procedures of fiscal management; good knowledge of standards of service and administration in the program areas served; ability to develop and monitor a departmental budget; ability to review and revise management methods and procedures; ability to formulate, revise, and implement administrative policies and procedures; ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing; ability to provide supervision, direction and guidance to subordinate staff; ability to develop, implement, and manage fiscal and management information systems; ability to interpret regulations, and to explain objectives and procedures; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other departmental staff, City officials, and citizens; skill in operating a personal computer and utilizing software applications used in developing word documents.
A Bachelor's degree in Management, Business Administration, Finance, or related field.

Six (6) years of experience in support function such as human resources, purchasing, accounting, budgeting, policy development, etc.

Two (2) years of experience in a lead or supervisory capacity.

Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.





This candidate is required to successfully pass a drug screening and background check.