Chief Strategist (Management Analyst IV)

Join the Park Authority and our nationally recognized team of professionals! Fairfax County is a dynamic community with 1.1 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 Chief Strategist to be a part of one of the most highly regarded park systems in the country. With more than 24,000 acres of parkland, nine Rec Centers, eight golf courses, three lakefront parks, and more, FCPA is an exciting organization to be a part of and there are many opportunities for staff to make a difference at every level.

We are seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking professional to drive strategic agency-wide initiatives and shape our future direction. We are looking for an individual who has a passion for strategic analysis, leadership and innovation and experience in business strategy, cross-functional leadership, strong understanding of business operations and procedures and sound project management. This position will be responsible for managing the implementation of the agency’s strategic plan and working collaboratively with leadership, staff throughout the agency, the Park Authority Board and the county’s leadership to ensure alignment and effective implementation of all associated plans.
Major responsibilities include:

• Leads agency strategic planning teams, cross-divisional teams and as needed, community collaboratives to ensure agency programs and services are meeting the desired goals and outcomes.
• Takes lead in convening interagency/intra agency workgroups aimed at achieving agency and county goals.
• Prepares analytical reports with recommendations that are used to guide decision making.
• Works collaboratively with agency leadership to identify and define strategic initiatives, and performance measures.
• Oversees and supports implementation and deployment teams to ensure strategies, tactics and requirements are implemented.
• Liaison with stakeholders, county leadership and elected officials.
• Manages the ongoing compliance of the Commission on Accreditation of Recreation and Parks Agencies (CAPRA) standards. Leads the agencywide accreditation team.
• Oversees the day-to-day operations of the director’s office support staff.
• Works with the executive director, deputy directors, division directors, and other key staff to facilitate cross-functional projects, identify and execute FCPA goals that originate or tie back into strategic plans and initiatives.

Schedule Notice: Position may require participation/attendance of meetings/events on nights and/or weekends.

Note: The assigned functional areas of this position are Strategic Planning, Policy Development, Compliance, Parks and Recreation Leadership, Projects management and Capital Improvement.  

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 description.)

• Directs and manages long-term, large-scale, high-priority, sensitive programs/projects that are multi-disciplinary and involve multiple agencies;
• Manages a group of professionals engaged in diverse administrative and management support activities;
• Establishes and implements program policies, develop and manages the budget for designated programs;
• Ensures County programs reach the intended  populations and targeted benefactors;
• Directs research and evaluation of trends in applicable areas of responsibility;
• Develops long- and short-term goals, objectives and solutions for division;
• Interfaces with central County staff departments (such as DMB, DHR, Finance, Purchasing and Supply Management) for seamless collaboration;
• Provides consultation on strategic planning, organizational development and redesign projects;
• Prepares for and presents to County Board of Supervisors (or Committee) regarding areas of expertise and responsibility.

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 the mission, goals, objectives, funding sources, organizational structure, workload, and staffing of the organizational unit or program to which incumbent is assigned;
• Extensive knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques relating to the functional area of business operation;
• Extensive knowledge of statutory and regulatory requirements governing application of program funding, execution of program activities, and achievement of program outcomes;
• Knowledge of the legislative and executive decision making processes;
• Knowledge of the project management life cycle and its supporting phases;
• Ability to identify organizational problems, evaluate possible solutions, and select and implement the most advantageous course of action;
• Ability to identify and determine appropriate methods for gathering data;
• Ability to make oral presentations to department management, other departments, or the public;
• Ability to write detailed, accurate reports, grants, or solicitations for pertinent areas of administration;
• Ability to manage professional and paraprofessional employees including coaching, counseling, training, and evaluation.

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 an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in fields related to the assigned functional areas; PLUS, Five years of professional work experience within more than one of the assigned functional areas.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• 5-10 years of experience leading accreditation projects
• 5-10 years of experience with strategic planning
• Certified Park and Recreation Professional or Executive (CPRP or CPRE)
• 10+ years' experience working in Park and Recreation
• 5-10 years of experience managing project teams

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:  
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check to the satisfaction of the employer.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
None.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing. Ability to operate keyboard driven equipment. Work is generally sedentary. However, employees may be required to do some bending, walking, and carrying of items less than 5 lbs. in weight.  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. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. [email protected]. EEO/AA/TTY.