Division Chief Park Maintenance

City of Alexandria•Alexandria, VA

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

The City of Alexandria is seeking a Division Chief of Park Maintenance for the Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA) department. This leadership role is critical in shaping the experience of park visitors, ensuring parks are safe, clean, welcoming, and exceptionally maintained. The ideal candidate will be passionate about operational excellence, embrace accountability, and understand that exceptional parks are created through strong leadership, clear standards, proactive maintenance, and a culture of continuous improvement. The department is moving beyond a reactive maintenance model to one built on preventive maintenance, routine inspections, measurable performance standards, and consistent execution, utilizing data, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), asset management practices, and performance metrics. Key priorities for FY27 and FY28 include modernizing park maintenance operations by reviewing and updating SOPs, implementing a comprehensive inspection and quality assurance program, strengthening preventive maintenance practices, and establishing clear standards of care. This position requires a visible, engaged, and collaborative leader who regularly visits parks, supports staff, identifies improvement opportunities, solves operational challenges, and works across divisions to elevate the quality of the park system. The goal is to inspire pride within the maintenance team and foster a culture of excellence, innovation, customer service, and continuous improvement, with an ambitious vision to make Alexandria’s parks among the premier urban park systems in Northern Virginia.

Requirements

Four (4) year college degree in recreations or related field
Four (4) years of related professional experience in the recreational field
Demonstrated supervisory experience
Experience in planning, coordinating, and marketing revenue and/or non-revenue producing programs
Successful completion of a criminal records background check
Successful completion of a drug screening

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in landscape architecture, urban planning, natural resources, or related field
Certified Landscape Architect
Certified Arborist
Certified Project Manager
Certified Grounds Manager
Five (5) years of progressively responsible organizational supervisory and leadership experience in project management, grounds management, urban forestry management, and/or natural lands management activities
Any equivalent combination of experience and professional certifications (CPRP, CPRE, ISA, APWA, or similar) which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities

Responsibilities

Establish clear maintenance standards and daily operational expectations for all park maintenance crews, supervisors, and managers, ensuring consistency, accountability, and high-quality service delivery across the city.
Ensure parks, athletic fields, playgrounds, trails, natural areas, landscaped spaces, and public amenities are maintained to a premier standard that reflects community pride and the Department’s commitment to excellence.
Develop and implement comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all maintenance functions, while routinely evaluating and updating procedures to incorporate industry best practices, innovation, safety, and operational efficiencies.
Implement a proactive inspection and quality assurance program that includes routine park inspections, facility assessments, equipment evaluations, and corrective action tracking to ensure deficiencies are addressed promptly and consistently.
Establish measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and operational dashboards to monitor park conditions, work order completion, inspection compliance, response times, equipment availability, and customer service outcomes.
Oversee the daily operations of maintenance districts, maintenance shops, fleet and equipment, material inventories, and operational support functions to ensure efficient, safe, and reliable service delivery.
Ensure all maintenance facilities, shops, vehicles, heavy equipment, tools, and specialized machinery are properly maintained, inspected, inventoried, and available to support daily operations and emergency response.
Develop preventive maintenance schedules for equipment, fleet, facilities, irrigation systems, athletic field assets, playgrounds, and other critical infrastructure to maximize reliability and extend asset life.
Promote operational readiness by ensuring crews are properly trained, equipped, and prepared to respond to emergencies, severe weather events, special events, and other operational priorities.
Foster a culture where supervisors and employees routinely identify opportunities to improve operations, eliminate inefficiencies, enhance customer service, and elevate the overall appearance and functionality of Alexandria’s parks.
Conduct regular field visits to observe operations firsthand, mentor supervisors, engage employees, verify maintenance quality, and ensure Department standards are consistently achieved.
Collaborate with Recreation Services, Park Planning, Urban Forestry, Natural Resources, Facilities, and other City departments to ensure park operations are coordinated, responsive, and aligned with the Department’s strategic priorities.
Build a culture of ownership where every employee understands that they are stewards of Alexandria’s parks and are responsible for creating public spaces that are safe, clean, beautiful, welcoming, and worthy of community pride.
Develop and implement the Department’s Park Maintenance Standards of Care, establishing measurable service levels and maintenance expectations for parks, athletic fields, playgrounds, trails, landscaped areas, facilities, and public spaces to ensure a consistent, high-quality customer experience throughout the city.
Modernize Park Maintenance Operations by reviewing, updating, and implementing comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that promote operational consistency, employee accountability, safety, efficiency, and industry best practices across all maintenance functions.
Implement a Comprehensive Park Inspection and Quality Assurance Program utilizing routine inspections, digital work management tools, performance dashboards, and corrective action tracking to proactively identify maintenance needs, improve service delivery, and ensure compliance with established standards.
Strengthen the Department’s Asset Management and Preventive Maintenance Program by implementing lifecycle maintenance strategies, scheduled equipment and infrastructure inspections, preventive maintenance programs, and long-term replacement planning for parks, fleet, playgrounds, irrigation systems, athletic fields, and other public assets.
Lead a Citywide Park Beautification Initiative that enhances landscaping, horticulture, tree care, cleanliness, signage, amenities, and overall park aesthetics, creating public spaces that are welcoming, vibrant, and reflective of Alexandria’s commitment to excellence.
Enhance Operational Readiness and Workforce Excellence by investing in employee training, leadership development, succession planning, equipment readiness, maintenance shop operations, and performance management while fostering a culture of ownership, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Advance Data-Driven Decision Making and Performance Management by establishing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), service-level benchmarks, operational reporting, and customer service metrics to evaluate performance, improve resource allocation, and continuously elevate the Department’s standard of care.
Strengthen Cross-Departmental Collaboration and Community Stewardship by working closely with Recreation Services, Park Planning, Natural Resources, Urban Forestry, ACPS, and other City departments to ensure coordinated operations, successful capital project implementation, and exceptional stewardship of Alexandria’s parks and public spaces.