Deputy County Executive - Safety and Security

About the role

Under general direction of the County Executive, the Deputy County Executive serves at the pleasure of the County Executive per Virginia Code and is appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The incumbent acts for or on behalf of the County Executive and, in the Executive's absence, directs the operations of the government, overseeing the county’s public safety and security portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Advises the Board of Supervisors and County Executive on strategic initiatives and operational matters.
• Implements the policies established by the Board of Supervisors across assigned departments.
• Provides executive oversight of the operations and administration of assigned departments.
• Reports to the County Executive on the performance, administration, and emerging issues affecting assigned departments.
• Leads budget development and oversight by reviewing departmental budget requests and amendments, evaluating fiscal impacts, and providing recommendations to the County Executive and Board of Supervisors.
• Directs the recruitment and selection of department heads, recommends appointments to the County Executive and Board of Supervisors; and fosters professional and executive leadership development through training and attendance at professional meetings and conferences.
• Champions the County's Strategic Plan and One Fairfax initiative, promoting organizational alignment, collaboration, and accountability across departments.
• Represents the County before the Board of Supervisors, public safety partners, community organizations, and the public on policies and issues, as well as ongoing initiatives.
• Participates on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees; serves as the county’s representative to committees and community organizations concerned with improvements in public safety and departmental public relations.
• Attends work groups, public meetings, hearings, conferences, committee meetings, and Board of Supervisor meetings.
• Maintains strategic relationships with public safety organizations and professional groups, and represents the County on local, state, and national public safety task forces and initiatives.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, or a closely related field; plus eight years of progressively responsible managerial experience in a local, state, or federal government, or in the non-profit or private sectors, to include at least five years of experience at the senior or department director level.

Preferred qualifications: Education equivalent to completion of a master's degree program with major course work in public administration, business administration or related field; extensive public administration experience in an administrative or operational capacity, specifically a broad background in managing complex organizations as well as extensive, in-depth senior or executive-level experience directing county, city or public safety operations; demonstrated ability to direct a large organization and its staff with integrity in the face of pressure and adversity; demonstrated political sensitivity in dealing with elected officials, community, staff, and media; ability to create and maintain a work environment that is respectful and accepting of diverse opinions and recognizes leadership from every chair; experience with strategic leadership and working in a large, integrated, multi-agency and multi-disciplinary services system; leadership characterized by unwavering integrity in the execution of strategic plans that impact diverse programs, services, and public policy in an often-challenging political environment; experience with managing multiple and complex funding streams, budgets, and agreements in the public sector; excellent personnel management and interpersonal skills with the ability to build and lead effective teams.

The county encourages candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply.

Requirements

Necessary special requirements: Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check, credit check, and social media/Internet check; willingness to work extended hours to cover evening and weekend committees and events; on-call for emergencies after hours, weekends, and holidays as needed; classified as emergency services personnel, required to report to work during times of inclement weather or other emergencies.

Physical requirements: Primarily sedentary; visual acuity to work on electronic equipment such as a computer monitor, typing on a keyboard, and carrying/lifting up to 15 pounds are essential. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Selection procedure: Panel interview; may include a practical exercise.