Assistant Director of Planning & Capital Projects

Prince William County Government•Prince William County, VA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Make your mark as the Assistant Director for Planning and Capital Projects for one of metro-DC’s largest, most diverse park systems! The Prince William County, Virginia Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) is seeking a proven leader to oversee park planning and capital project functions for a 5,400-acre park system that serves nearly half a million residents and is poised for significant growth over the next 15 years. If you are looking to apply your full leadership potential to heighten the quality of life for a burgeoning community located just 25 miles outside of the Nation’s Capital, rooted in cultural diversity and natural beauty, then apply today! In addition to working for a top-50 employer in Virginia, the position comes with unparalleled benefits including health and dental coverage, enrollment in the Virginia Retirement System, a defined contributions plan with County match, 11 paid holidays, 4 personal leave days, and generous training and professional development support. About This Role: The Assistant Director for Planning and Capital Projects oversees long-term planning for parks, facilities, and trails. The position also directs Capital Improvement Program in close coordination with the Department of Transportation and Capital Construction—a new centralized project delivery model that scales resources and standardizes process across all county agencies. DPR manages most deferred maintenance and small expansionary projects in-house. Specifically, the position assigns and prioritizes projects and assignments, assures deadlines are met, monitors budgets, prepares reports, mentors and develops staff, coordinates with internal agencies, upholds communication standards, determines appropriate actions related to project schedule and/or budget deviations, facilitates meetings, presents to advisory and elected bodies, conducts business planning, ensures work is in alignment with organizational strategic objectives, reviews projects and programs for effectiveness in meeting their objectives, and coordinates program work with external agencies to increase program effectiveness. This career-defining position requires a team player with excellent communication skills who thrives in fast-paced environments and is passionate about customer service and achieving the highest standards of park design and planning. The successful candidate will be a natural problem solver, politically astute, deadline-driven, detail-oriented, adaptable, and driven by excellence. The Assistant Director serves as a member of the Department’s Executive Team, which establishes strategic direction for the Department, engages the workforce, and drives home the County’s leadership-at-all-levels philosophy. The position reports to the Director of Parks & Recreation. About the Division: The Planning and Capital Project Division is responsible for effectuating the systemwide Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Comprehensive Plan goals through the following functions: long-range planning, park, facility, and trail master planning and schematic design, engineering and construction management for small-scale projects (mainly deferred maintenance improvements), asset tracking, mapping, rezoning reviews, and entitlement negotiations. The Division has a $3.5 million operating budget and 14 full-time employees, many with professional licenses. The Division works closely with the newly formed Department of Transportation Capital Construction, which has responsibility for the engineering and construction of large-scale park, facility, and trail projects. The Division has 2 branches: short and long-range planning and capital projects. The Division liaises with the Parks and Recreation Commission and Trails and Blueways Council advisory bodies appointed by the Board of County Supervisors. About the Department DPR is an accredited agency with a mission to create recreational and cultural experiences for a more vibrant community and envisions itself as a lead collaborator in delivering holistic solutions for community transformation. The Department has an operating budget of $63 million, plus a $60 million capital improvement project budget and 460 full-time equivalent employees. DPR is part of the Health, Wellbeing, and Environmental Sustainability quadrant within the larger Prince William County organization with a collective goal to make government easier to navigate, more responsive, and more resident-focused. Minimum Requirements: High School Diploma or G.E.D. and 8 years of progressively responsible management experience in local government planning and/or capital project management. Preferences: 10 years of progressively responsible management experience in local government planning and/or capital project management, including 6 years in a supervisory role. Experience with direct oversight of a $50 million+ Capital Improvement Program budget Experience leading systemwide master plans and comprehensive plans Experience leading park and trail master plans Demonstrated political acumen Experience facilitating public meetings, presenting to elected bodies, and liaising with advisory bodies Strong financial management and accountability of multiple funding sources, such as capital funds, cyclical maintenance funds, revenue generated funds, federal or state grants, donations, and gifts in kind Experience negotiating with land acquisitions (easements and fee simple) and the settlement process Experience writing and administering state and federal grants Experience with public procurement process, including oversight of Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Invitations for Bids (IFBs), contracts, and claim resolutions in partnership with other departments Knowledge of land use principles Experience working for an accredited agency Experience reviewing rezoning applications and entitlement negotiations Licensed design professional Certified Project Management Professional Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) or Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) Special Requirements: The Department of Parks & Recreation conducts DMV record checks on all licensed employees and criminal background checks on all hires 18 years and older. Fingerprinting may be required. A valid driver’s license is required. Work Schedule: 37.5 HPW; some evening and weekend work is required Hiring Salary Range : $121,071.97 - $142,437.61 We also offer great benefits including: Retirement from the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) 401a and 457 retirement savings and investment plans Paid Annual Leave Paid Personal Leave Paid Sick Leave Paid Holidays Optional Group Medical and Dental Health Plans Optional Group Life Insurance An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Career Development Opportunities Full time positions with Prince William County Government qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Click here PSLF for additional information. NOTE: The above position description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department. To view the class description in its entirety, click here for the class description. Prince William County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. SEE YOURSELF HERE!

Requirements

High School Diploma or G.E.D.
8 years of progressively responsible management experience in local government planning and/or capital project management.
A valid driver’s license is required.

Nice To Haves

10 years of progressively responsible management experience in local government planning and/or capital project management, including 6 years in a supervisory role.
Experience with direct oversight of a $50 million+ Capital Improvement Program budget
Experience leading systemwide master plans and comprehensive plans
Experience leading park and trail master plans
Demonstrated political acumen
Experience facilitating public meetings, presenting to elected bodies, and liaising with advisory bodies
Strong financial management and accountability of multiple funding sources, such as capital funds, cyclical maintenance funds, revenue generated funds, federal or state grants, donations, and gifts in kind
Experience negotiating with land acquisitions (easements and fee simple) and the settlement process
Experience writing and administering state and federal grants
Experience with public procurement process, including oversight of Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Invitations for Bids (IFBs), contracts, and claim resolutions in partnership with other departments
Knowledge of land use principles
Experience working for an accredited agency
Experience reviewing rezoning applications and entitlement negotiations
Licensed design professional
Certified Project Management Professional
Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) or Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE)

Responsibilities

Assigns and prioritizes projects and assignments.
Assures deadlines are met.
Monitors budgets.
Prepares reports.
Mentors and develops staff.
Coordinates with internal agencies.
Upholds communication standards.
Determines appropriate actions related to project schedule and/or budget deviations.
Facilitates meetings.
Presents to advisory and elected bodies.
Conducts business planning.
Ensures work is in alignment with organizational strategic objectives.
Reviews projects and programs for effectiveness in meeting their objectives.
Coordinates program work with external agencies to increase program effectiveness.
Oversees long-term planning for parks, facilities, and trails.
Directs Capital Improvement Program in close coordination with the Department of Transportation and Capital Construction.
Manages deferred maintenance and small expansionary projects in-house.

Benefits

health and dental coverage
enrollment in the Virginia Retirement System
a defined contributions plan with County match
11 paid holidays
4 personal leave days
generous training and professional development support
Retirement from the Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
401a and 457 retirement savings and investment plans
Paid Annual Leave
Paid Personal Leave
Paid Sick Leave
Paid Holidays
Optional Group Medical and Dental Health Plans
Optional Group Life Insurance
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Career Development Opportunities
Full time positions with Prince William County Government qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.