Job Description

Posting number: 26-01487

Department: Board of Supervisors

Job classification: ADMIN AIDE

Posting type: Open

Categories: Administration, Professional

Summary

Salary Range: $115,000 - $145,000 depending on experience.

Works within the Office of Fairfax County Braddock District Supervisor Rachna Sizemore Heizer. This position serves as both the manager of the Supervisor’s six-person office and the strategic advisor to the Supervisor on district-wide and county-wide matters. The Chief of Staff is expected to be a highly motivated self-starter with excellent judgment, exceptional organizational skills, and a deep passion for local government and public service.

The Chief of Staff runs daily operations, manages staff, drives the Supervisor’s priorities, and shapes policy positions while fostering a positive, collaborative office culture. The pace is fast, with many initiatives moving at once; the Chief of Staff creates the systems and clarity that allow the office to excel.

Duties include, among others:

• Manage, support, and supervise office staff; set expectations, track work, help troubleshoot and provide guidance, and ensure completion of tasks and initiatives.
• Lead weekly staff meetings and hold regular one-on-one meetings with each staff member.
• Take ownership of priorities: develop long term and short-term plans, set milestones, assign leads, and maintain a priorities tracker for weekly review, and ensure project and task completion.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Supervisor; proactively bring ideas informed by data and research, constituent trends, and conversations across the county to help develop and inform priorities, events, and the work of the office.
• Solve problems proactively and bring forward recommended solutions.
• Ensure the Supervisor is fully prepared through briefing packets including memos, talking points, schedules, recommendations, reminders, and items for decision.
• Provide counsel on vision, implementation, strategy, policy, politics, timing, communications, and risks.
• Build and maintain relationships with County staff, other Board offices, the state delegation, and stakeholders; represent the Supervisor with discretion and professionalism.
• Oversee events, communications, and engagement efforts; ensure each event or initiative has a lead, plan, memo, and clear follow-up.
• Oversee constituent services and casework; identify district-wide trends and opportunities for new initiatives.
• Manage and oversee the office’s operations and budget, Board matters, and county budget and state legislation workstreams.
• Ensure timely and accurate completion of all financial disclosures and FOIA requests.
• In all areas, model the core principles of the office: respect, sound judgment, discretion, responsiveness, thoughtfulness, proactiveness, can-do attitude, empathy, and inclusiveness.
• Ability to work outside normal business hours as required.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Supports evening and weekend events as needed.

TO APPLY:

Please send your resume and cover letter outlining your education, experience, and availability to braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov, and include Your Name and “Chief of Staff – Braddock District Office” in the subject line.

Supplemental information

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: Bachelor’s degree in political science, public administration, public policy, communications, or a related field.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Any combination of education, experience in training equivalent to a master’s degree in political science, public administration, public policy, communications, or related field.
• Experience managing staff and running an office, ideally in government, legislative, or public affairs settings.
• Strong executive functioning and organizational skills with good attention to detail and ability to translate vision into action.
• Demonstrated ability to turn ideas into completed projects and manage multiple initiatives at once.
• Keen analytical skills with strong political and policy judgment; ability to serve as a true thought partner and strategic adviser to a principal.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with experience drafting briefing memos, talking points, and briefing materials.
• Empathetic interpersonal skills; ability to build relationships with county staff, elected officials, constituents, and community partners.
• Experience coordinating work among individuals and teams who may not report directly to you.
• Ability to maintain high standards while fostering a positive, team-oriented culture.
• Familiarity with county government, including budget processes, Board procedures, and legislative matters (or ability to learn quickly).
• Proven discretion, sound judgment, and ability to work independently.
• A genuine passion for local government and improving residents’ lives.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

This position requires the ability to attend events off-site, drive to meetings, and occasionally lift up to 20 pounds. 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 (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

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