Assistant Director of Planning & Capital Projects

Posting number: 202610598

Department: PARKS & RECREATION

Division: Planning & Project Management

Job classification: Assistant Director of Recreation /D62

Posting type: Open

Categories: Parks and Recreation, Project Management

Summary

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 organizat