Deputy City Manager

Deputy City Manager

The City is racially and ethnically diverse, with approximately one-quarter of the City’s residents foreign-born, primarily from Latin America, Africa (notably Ethiopia), and Asia. One-third of residents speak a language other than English at home, including Spanish, Amharic, and Arabic. Alexandria Public Schools serve students from 118 countries, speaking 127 languages. This dynamic environment offers a unique and enriching opportunity for anyone seeking to make a difference in the community.

In 2020 City Council unanimously passed the All Alexandria referendum with the goal of reducing and eliminating disparities and inequities experienced by City residents. The City’s Old and Historic District is the third oldest historic preservation district in the U.S. Historic landmarks include the recently opened Freedom House, which honors the lives and experiences of the enslaved and free Black people, Christ Church, where famous Virginians worshiped;

and Gadsby’s Tavern, a meeting place visited by Lafayette and George Washington. In addition to its historic sites, Alexandria includes a variety of attractions. One of the metropolitan area’s largest concentrations of international restaurants can be found in Old Town. The Torpedo Factory Art Center, located on the City’s waterfront, provides an opportunity for the public to meet more than 200 professional artists.

The City’s Farmers Market, at 261 years old, is the nation’s oldest farmers market that has been meeting continuously at the same site, Market Square. 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 attraction.

Alexandria is home to over 12,000 thriving businesses and organizations, which includes a significant representation of technology companies, the fourth-largest concentration of professional and trade associations in the country, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and a tourism industry that hosts nearly 3.3 million visitors and brings in over $700 million in visitor spending each year. A new headquarters for the National Science Foundation and its 2,100 employees opened in 2017, and Virginia Tech opened its innovation campus in Alexandria in 2024 near National Landing, the site of Amazon’s second headquarters.

Although the City is part of a larger metropolitan area that includes the Nation’s Capital, it has retained its historic character. About one-quarter of the City’s 15 square miles has been designated a national or local historic district. Thousands of buildings in these districts are monuments to the past while being actively used by citizens for homes, businesses, and museums.

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. The City adopted the Council-Manager form of government in 1922.

The City’s governing body is comprised of a Mayor and six Council Members who formulate policies for the administration of the City. The City Council appoints the City Manager, who serves as the City’s CEO. City Manager Jim Parajon has appointment and removal authority over most City personnel and is responsible for implementing the policies established by the City Council.

The City provides a comprehensive range of municipal services, including land use planning, 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.

• Plan, direct, coordinate, and facilitate the success of major areas of service to include assistance in prioritizing and assigning work, performance development, and talent management of direct reports and various teams;
• Provide oversight…