Salary : $88,765.46 - $155,339.60 Annually
Location : LAKE ANNE PROFESSIONAL BLDG, 11484 WASHINGTON PLAZA, WEST, RESTON (EE34), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 26-01115
Department: Neighborhood & Community Svcs
Opening Date: 07/25/2026
Closing Date: 8/7/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S29
Posting Type: Open to General Public

We are seeking a visionary, strategic, and collaborative operations manager to lead the operations of community centers, senior centers, teen centers, and school-age programs within the Culture, Recreation and Community Connections Division in Region 3. Reporting to the assistant division director, this position serves as a key member of the division's leadership structure, providing strategic direction, operational oversight, and leadership for multiple center-based and school-based facilities and programs. Ensures high-quality, community-centered services that are safe, accessible, innovative, and responsive to the evolving needs of residents. This position plays a critical role in advancing the department's mission by building strong internal and external partnerships, engaging stakeholders, and promoting operational excellence across multiple facilities.

The ideal candidate is an experienced and forward-thinking leader with a demonstrated ability to inspire high-performing teams, develop meaningful community partnerships, and successfully manage complex operations across multiple facilities. Embraces a human-centered approach to service delivery, ensuring programs and services are equitable, accessible, and responsive to the diverse needs of the community. Innovative problem-solver who balance strategic vision with hands-on operational leadership, using data-informed decision-making, community input, and cross-functional partnerships to enhance services, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and maximize community impact. Excels in collaborative environments by building strong relationships, fostering trust, and working effectively across multidisciplinary teams to achieve shared goals. Demonstrates exceptional communication, project management, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, navigate competing priorities, build consensus, and deliver results through teamwork and shared accountability. Committed to advancing Fairfax County's One Fairfax policy and Countywide Strategic Plan by expanding equitable access to high-quality community, teen, senior, and school-age programs that promote lifelong learning, health and well-being, safe and connected communities, and effective public service.

This position requires flexibility to meet operational and community needs, including occasional evenings, weekends, and emergency response situations. A flexible work schedule is expected, and compensatory time may be earned in accordance with county policy.
Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)
Manages and implements a variety of prevention and evidence-based programs and services for population groupings (youth, teens, adults, seniors, etc.);
Implements annual service plans and leads the evaluation of outcome achievement;
Plans, organizes, directs and coordinates programs;. Implements and modifies program policy as necessary;
Manages staff and resources for operational management;. Recruits, hires, train, and supervise staff assigned to implement defined agency and human services initiatives at a direct service level;
Researches and analyzes best practices for multiple service populations;
Serves as primary contact for direct program and service issues within the region;
Directs development and implementation of policy and procedures relating to childcare facility standards, program registration, fee schedules, billing, training, and/or eligibility;
Oversees registration process, including eligibility and recruitment strategies to ensure full program enrollment;
Directs planning for children with special needs and program requirements.
Directs preparation of the division budget and monitors division expenditures;
Coordinates within the Office for Children, NCS and with other county agencies and service providers to formulate strategies and long-range plans to provide services for children.
Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all inclusive list.)
Knowledge of the principles and practices of prevention-based and evidence-based programs; principles of community organization, fiscal and budget management, and supervision;
Ability to plan and develop prevention-based programs in community setting;
Ability to manage facility allocations;
Ability to schedule facilities;
Ability to maintain effective relationships with employees and the general public;
Ability to write clear and concise reports;
Ability to conduct needs assessments, policy development, strategic planning and quantitative analysis;
Ability to train and monitor the activities of a large group of childcare professionals;
Extensive knowledge of day care administration and child/family development programs.
Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with a bachelor's degree in social services or human services, or with major course work in a specialty that confers within a community-based service delivery setting (for example, child development and family studies, education, public administration, recreation), or other closely related field; plus four years of professional experience in the social services, human services, or other community-based service delivery service or setting; two years of which included supervising professional staff.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, and a credit check to the satisfaction of the employer.

Additional Work Schedule Requirements: For special assignments/deadlines, alternate/flex schedule or comp time may be an option.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in public administration, business administration, organizational leadership, social work, human service or closely related.
• Professional certifications related to leadership, project management, parks and recreation, youth development, organizational excellence, or public administration.
• Eight (8) or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in work related to providing strategic leadership to multiple centers and programming for all age populations.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop multidisciplinary teams while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and high performance.
• Ability to analyze complex issues, develop strategic recommendations, and implement practical solutions that improve services and organizational effectiveness.
• Knowledge of human-centered, equity-focused, and inclusive approaches to program design and service delivery.
• Experience using data, performance measures, and community feedback to evaluate programs, inform decisions, and drive innovation.
• Experience as a manager conducting and/or overseeing management functions such as: recruitment and hiring, training and development, supervision, coaching, and taking disciplinary action.
• Experience leading organizational change, managing competing priorities, and achieving results in a fast-paced, complex environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Work is generally sedentary in nature. However, incumbent may be required to do some walking, standing, bending, and carrying items up to 25 pounds. Ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Sufficiently mobile to attend meetings at various locations and make presentations to county staff and community. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home () We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:

For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

Please indicate all major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Social services
• Human services
• Child development and family studies
• Education
• Public administration
• Recreation
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• None of the above

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05

How many years of full-time equivalent professional experience in the social services, human services, or other community-based service delivery service or setting do you have?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight or more years

06

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have supervising professional staff in a social services, human services, or other community-based service delivery service or setting?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

07

How many years of experience do you have providing strategic leadership to multiple center locations and programming for all age populations?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight or more years

08

How many years of experience do you have developing community partnerships and leading strategic initiatives that improved programs, services, or organizational operations?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years