Deputy Director
The City of Alexandria seeks a talented and accomplished leader to fill an exciting new position to lead development review functions for the Department of Planning & Zoning. The new Deputy Director of Current Planning will lead a team of highly skilled and dedicated public servants who have built a nationally recognized review process that tackles the full range of progressive development-related issues.
In a typical year, Alexandria approves 6-8 million square feet of new development, valued at an average of $550 million. Projects range from multi-building, multi-block projects of over a million square feet to smaller infill projects within established neighborhoods. An annual average of 30-35 development applications have been submitted over the past few years.
For several years in a row, Alexandria has been one of the top 5 cities in the country for office-to-residential conversions, and staff are sought-after experts on this topic and others. Alexandria is a progressive City, continuously looking for ways to strengthen our response to critical issues of equity, climate change, affordable housing, mobility, community engagement and so much more.
The Deputy Director will manage approximately 22 staff within an overall department of 64.5.
The Community
Situated in northern Virginia, just across the Potomac River from the District of Columbia, the City of Alexandria is bordered by Arlington and Fairfax counties. Alexandria has a population of approximately 160,000. The City covers an area of approximately 16 square miles, and approximately one-quarter of the City’s total land area is designated into two historic districts, with thousands of buildings that represent the architectural craftsmanship of the past and are vibrant spaces actively used today for residences, businesses, and museums. Alexandria’s Master Plan allows for more than 50 million square feet of future development, much of which is located in the transit-rich centers of Potomac Yard, Eisenhower East and West, and Landmark, served by Metro and existing and planned bus rapid transit. Alexandria West, Arlandria-Chirilagua, Del Ray, Braddock, and Old Town North are among the unique neighborhoods with varying levels of redevelopment planned.
The City’s racial and ethnic diversity informs every decision about land use and development. Approximately 25 percent of the City’s residents are foreign born. Students at the City’s single public high school come from approximately 90 different countries and speak nearly 70 different languages. Overall, African-Americans comprise approximately 21 percent of the residential population; Hispanics and Latinos constitute approximately 17 percent; Asians and Pacific Islanders constitute almost 6 percent; Native Americans and others constitute approximately 6 percent; those of two or more races constitute 10 percent, and Caucasians constitute 57 percent. Alexandria’s diverse economy has resulted in various income categories for its nearly 80,000 households. That said, Alexandria does have one of the highest per capita incomes and one of the highest higher education attainment levels in the United States. In 2021, the City Council unanimously passed the All Alexandria Resolution with the goal of reducing and eliminating disparities and inequities experienced by City residents.
Within its boundaries, Alexandria has many attractions. It has one of the metropolitan area’s largest concentrations of international restaurants. The Torpedo Factory Art Center, located on the City’s redeveloped waterfront, provides an opportunity for the public to meet more than 200 professional artists. The City’s Farmers Market, at 261 years old, has been meeting continuously at the same site longer than any other in the country at Market Square, immediately outside of City Hall. The City’s Del Ray/Rosemont areas offer beautiful tree-lined streets, eclectic shops, and various annual community events. The City’s West End is filled with vibrant neighborhoods and will be the site of a new Landmark Center, which will serve as a major residential, shopping, and dining.
Alexandria is home to nearly 8,000 businesses, among which approximately 75 percent are small-medium size businesses generating between under $100,000 and $500,000 annually. Major business sectors are represented through institutions (government, education, hospitals), marketing/communications, engineering/architectural, accounting, law, and information technology fields. Given its location near Washington, DC, Alexandria hosts the location of one of the largest concentrations of professional and trade associations and is headquarters for United Way Worldwide, the Salvation Army, U.S. Patent and Trade Organization, and the National Science Foundation. The hospitality sector is also a major employer. Alexandria has repeatedly won awards related to tourism. It was cited in Travel and Leisure’s as a Best Place to Travel in 2023 and among the Best Cities in the U.S. 2023, and was voted third in Condé Nast Traveler’s list of Best Small Cities in the Country. Alexandria estimates it hosted 4.0 million unique visitors from 50 plus miles away in 2023, and consumption tax revenues collected in FY 2023 (sales, meals and transient lodging) peaked at $81 million, a 7% increase over the $76 million collected in FY 2022 and 23% more than the $66 million in FY 2019.
The Organization
Alexandria has had a strong tradition of self-government since its founding in 1749. It is an independent City (Virginia cities have no county affiliation) and derives its governing authority from a Charter granted by the Virginia General Assembly. Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, which means that local governments have only the authority expressly granted to them by the Virginia Constitution or by the Virginia General Assembly in the City Charter or general law.
The City adopted the Council-Manager form of government in 1922. The City's governing body is the City Council, which formulates policies for the administration of the City. The City Council is composed of a Mayor and six Council Members elected at-large on a partisan basis for a three-year term (not staggered). The Mayor is chosen on a separate ballot and presides over sessions of the Council. Legislative sessions of the City Council are held on Tuesday evenings twice per month except in August. Public Hearings, which focus largely on land use and development decisions, are held on one Saturday per month when Council is in session, allowing residents an opportunity to speak on matters that concern them, especially relating to land use. In addition, there are approximately 70 City Boards, Commissions and Committees with Council-appointed resident representation. These bodies compose a formal system through which residents can advise City Council on major issues. They are responsible to City Council, and the City Council makes appointments at their regular legislative meetings.
The City Council appoints the City Manager, who serves as the City’s Chief Executive Officer. The City Manager has appointment and removal authority over most City personnel of the various departments and offices as reflected in the City’s Organizational Chart. The City Manager is responsible for implementing the policies established by the City Council. The City provides a comprehensive range of municipal services, including land use planning and maintenance of the City’s Master Plan, education, health, welfare, housing, and human services programs; public safety and administration of justice; community development, recreation, library, consumer assistance, cultural and historic activities, and transportation and environmental services. The City budget provides for approximately 2,865 full-time employees, excluding school employees. The City of Alexandria’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 approved All Funds Operating Budget is $911.3 million. The FY2025- FY2034 approved Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is $2.33 billion.
The Department
The Department of Planning & Zoning (P&Z) is led by Director Karl Moritz, with 64.5 full-time employees across five divisions. It currently has one Deputy Director and one Assistant Director. Pursuant to P&Z’s vision, the department works closely with communities to carry out the City Council's priorities, fostering amenity-rich, service-oriented and equity-balanced neighborhoods; protecting historic and cultural resources; and supporting diverse and creative businesses. In developing neighborhood plans, reviewing development proposals, and promoting economic vitality, P&Z continues its commitment to collaborate with all stakeholder groups to honor the character of each neighborhood and to strengthen and sustain them, and Alexandria as a whole, for now and in the future. In support of these objectives, P&Z analyzes demographic and economic data, provides urban design assistance for City and private development projects and expertise to the public related to zoning and development requirements, future trends, and development and market activity. P&Z is also responsible for developing and administering the City's Master Plan, the Zoning Ordinance and coordinates with other City agencies to develop the Long Range Planning Interdepartmental Work Program. P&Z undertakes its work guided by a set of Values which speak to strong planning principles, community engagement and our internal culture.
The Five P&Z divisions include: (1) Leadership and Management Services Division; (2) Land Use and Regulatory Services Division; (3) Neighborhood Planning & Community Development Division; (4) Development Division and (5) Development Engineering Division. The Deputy Director for Current Planning is newly created to oversee the Development Division and Development Engineering Division. Both are headed by a Division Chief and have Principal Planners who oversee the assigned staff, which have several new staff members transferred from other departments with the intent of consolidating development related expertise within P&Z. These divisions are responsible for review of major land use applications, working with applicants and the community to develop recommendations for consideration by the City’s Planning Commission and, as appropriate, the City Council.
The Planning Commission consists of 7 members and holds a Public Hearing once a month in the evening, generally on the first Tuesday of the month; most land use cases that are reviewed by the Planning Commission are then forwarded onto the City Council for a second Public Hearing. In most cases, the Planning Commission’s recommendations are advisory, and the City Council acts on the recommendations forwarded to them. A copy of the Planning Commission’s FY 2023 Annual Report outlines the number of land use applications processed with examples described during the period of FY 2023 (July 2022 through June 2023).
The Position
The Deputy Director of Current Planning, within P&Z, provides responsible administrative and technical assistance to the P&Z Director by coordinating and executing the daily operations of the department and, in particular, the two divisions responsible for development review in the City. The Deputy Director is also responsible for process/policy improvements and for tracking and reporting on work program elements related to development.
Illustrative Examples of Work
- In coordination with the Director develops P&Z’s short- and long-range work program, determines resource allocation (budget, staff time), and tracks and measures performance;
- Oversees the development review functions in coordination with two Division Chiefs, including organizational and policy development and implementation;
- Promotes professional development of staff and reviews performance evaluations;
- Represents the Director in negotiating contracts, plan recommendations, and development conditions;
- Represents P&Z on current planning matters before interdepartmental groups, the City Council, commissions, committees, the community and regional entities;
- Leads development and/or modification of City policies and plans related to land use, development, and related matters;
- Prepares draft legislation and policy documents in coordination with P&Z and City senior staff;
- Speaks as an expert on a range of land use, development and zoning matters;
- Manages contracts and other expenditures; and
- Performs related work as required.
Minimum & Additional Requirements
Master's Degree; at least 8 years’ experience at the division chief or comparable managerial level, either in a supervisory or project management role or both and at least 5 years in supervisory role; has been the lead on complex projects involving multiple staff, agencies, and interests; considerable experience writing about, analyzing, presenting on planning issues.
Preferred Qualifications
Master's Degree; at least 10 years’ experience, including 5 years’ supervisory. High level of expertise in one or more planning-related fields; e.g., land use planning and development, design, housing, and/or economic development; membership/participation and/or accreditation in planning a professional organization such as the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP); or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
