Division Chief of Administrative Services

Division Chief of Administrative Services
The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a vibrant waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. About one-quarter of the City’s square miles have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for the Division Chief for Administrative Services position.

An Overview

The City of Alexandria’s Finance Department is looking for an innovative, collaborative, and detail-oriented Division Chief for Administrative Services to join our team. The Division Chief for Administrative Services manages all administrative and support functions in the Finance Department and supervises the Administration Division.  The incumbent is responsible for the department’s budget development and monitoring, accounts payable, purchasing, property and facility management, information technology, human resources, and communications.  The Division Chief will lead the department in fostering a culture of respect, continuous improvement, teamwork, integrity, and employee engagement.   The Division Chief for Administrative Services works under the general supervision of the Deputy Finance Director.

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate is a people and process-focused leader who possesses some background in local government fiscal or human resources management, budget development, and/or business process improvement.  Additional knowledge, skills, and abilities include:

• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration; 
• Thorough knowledge of general administrative practices, office procedures, and record systems;
• Thorough knowledge of local government fiscal management;
• Knowledge of public personnel administration;
• Ability to develop and monitor a departmental budget; 
• Ability to formulate, revise, and implement administrative policies and procedures; 
• Ability to provide supervision, direction, and guidance to subordinate staff;
• Ability to interpret regulations and to explain objectives and procedures;
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing; and
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other departmental staff, City officials, and residents.

The Opportunity – Examples of Work

• Directs, manages, and supervises Admin division staff, establishing priorities and ensuring strategic goals, program objectives, and operational outcomes are achieved; 
• Oversees the department's fiscal administration, including budget development and monitoring, accounts payable, contract administration, procurement coordination, and financial reporting to ensure sound fiscal stewardship and compliance with City policies; 
• Leads and coordinates the department's human resources management functions, including recruitment, onboarding and offboarding, employee relations, personnel actions, timekeeping, performance management, and learning and development (performing some of these duties directly and supervising staff in the performance of others); 
• Conducts research on personnel and organizational issues, prepares reports, formulates policy recommendations, and identifies training opportunities that support employee development, succession planning, and career advancement; 
• Coordinates initiatives that enhance employee engagement, organizational culture, and professional development while ensuring departmental values are reflected in daily operations; 
• Provides strategic leadership for the department's internal and external communications, including oversight of the department's public-facing website, City intranet content, and digital communication strategies to ensure information is accurate, accessible, and timely; 
• Leads the department's technology modernization efforts, including implementation and governance of Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and other collaboration platforms to improve business processes, document management, knowledge sharing, and operational efficiency; 
• Leads the development and implementation of city-wide training and policy guidance for fiscal managers on fundamental financial management principles and practices; 
• Partners with the department's Risk Management and Safety staff to advance workplace safety initiatives, support regulatory compliance, implement risk mitigation strategies, and promote a culture of safety throughout the department;
• Provides analytical and strategic support to the Deputy Finance Director and Finance Director in preparing reports, presentations, and recommendations for the City Manager and City Council regarding the City's financial management, departmental initiatives, and supplemental budget appropriation ordinances; 
• Represents the department on cross-functional teams, committees, and special projects, advancing organizational priorities and improving service delivery;
• Performs related work as required.

About the Department

The City of Alexandria's Finance Department is a fast-paced, diverse, and customer service focused operation that is responsible for the assessment, collection, and enforcement of all City taxes, the management of cash flow and investments, accounting for and reporting the City’s financial position, processing payroll, executing a fair and competitive procurement environment, assessing all real and personal property in the City, managing the City’s risk and safety programs, and managing the City’s pension plans. The Finance Department has seven divisions and in fiscal year 2027 is operating with a total budget of $16.6 million and 107 FTE positions. 

The Finance Department is committed to providing equitable, customer-focused service that treats all employees, residents, and business owners with professionalism, fairness, compassion, and respect, while fostering trust through inclusive, accessible, and transparent financial practices.

Bachelor's degree in management, business administration, finance, or a related field; six (6) years of experience in support functions such as human resources, purchasing, accounting, budgeting, or 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.

Master’s degree in public administration, business administration, organizational development, education, or a related field; at least five (5) years of combined experience in the development, monitoring, and management of local government budgets and fiscal operations, human resources management, communications, and/or business process analysis and development.

This position requires successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to a criminal background check.  The selection process for this position may include a phone or virtual interview, in-person interview, and/or written examination.

The starting salary range for this position is $86,142.42 to $120,760.12, based on qualifications and experience.