Deputy County Executive - Safety and Security

Deputy County Executive - Safety and Security

Salary

$191,083.36 - $363,058.38 Annually

Location

FX. CTY. GOVERNMENT CENTER, 12000 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY., FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA

Job Type

FT Salary W BN

Job Number

26-01484

Department

County Executive

Opening Date

09/26/2026

Closing Date

10/23/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Posting Type

Open to General Public

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Announcement

Under general direction of the County Executive, the incumbent of this class serves at the pleasure of the County Executive in accordance with the Virginia Code Ann. §15.2-807, 15.2-808, and 15.2-809, and is subject to appointment by the County Board of Supervisors pursuant to Fairfax County Code 3-1-12(1)(a). The incumbent of this class is empowered to act for or on behalf of the County Executive and in the absence of the County Executive is responsible for directing the operations of the government.

The Deputy County Executive (DCE) is an executive-level position appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS), to oversee the administration of the county's public safety and security portfolio. The DCE provides executive oversight of the Police Department, Fire and Rescue Department, Department of Emergency Management and Security, Department of Public Safety Communications, Department of Animal Services and the McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center. The DCE also serves as the liaison to the Office of the Sheriff, courts and Health Department on emergency management matters. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Advises the Board of Supervisors and County Executive on strategic initiatives and operational matters.
• Implements the policies established by the Board of Supervisors across assigned departments.
• Provides executive oversight of the operations and administration of assigned departments.
• Reports to the County Executive on the performance, administration, and emerging issues affecting assigned departments.
• Leads budget development and oversight by reviewing departmental budget requests and amendments, evaluating fiscal impacts, and providing recommendations to the County Executive and Board of Supervisors.
• Directs the recruitment and selection of department heads, recommends appointments to the County Executive and Board of Supervisors; and fosters professional and executive leadership development through training and attendance at professional meetings and conferences.
• Champions the Countys Strategic Plan and One Fairfax initiative, promoting organizational alignment, collaboration, and accountability across departments.
• Represents the County before the Board of Supervisors, public safety partners, community organizations, and the public on policies and issues, as well as ongoing initiatives.
• Participates on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees; serves as the county's representative to committees and community organizations concerned with improvements in public safety and departmental public relations.
• Attends work groups, public meetings, hearings, conferences, committee meetings, and Board of Supervisor meetings.
• Maintains strategic relationships with public safety organizations and professional groups, and represents the County on local, state, and national public safety task forces and initiatives.

For a more detailed description of this position, please click here to view the position profile.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelors degree in public administration, business administration, or a closely related field; plus eight years of progressively responsible managerial experience in a local, state, or federal government, or in the non-profit or the private sectors, to include at least five years of experience at the senior or department director level.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

Not applicable.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate has knowledge, experience and demonstrable success in the following:

• Education equivalent to completion of a masters degree program with major course work in public administration, business administration or related field.
• Extensive public administration experience in an administrative or operational capacity, specifically a broad background in managing complex organizations as well as extensive, in-depth senior or executive-level experience directing county, city or public safety operations.
• Demonstrated ability to direct a large organization and its staff with integrity in the face of pressure and adversity.
• Demonstrated political sensitivity in dealing with elected officials, community, staff, and media.
• Ability to create and maintain a work environment that is respectful and accepting of diverse opinions and recognizes leadership from every chair.
• Experience with strategic leadership and working in a large, integrated, multi-agency and multi-disciplinary services system.
• Leadership characterized by unwavering integrity in the execution of strategic plans that impact diverse programs, services, and public policy in an often-challenging political environment.
• Experience with managing multiple and complex funding streams, budgets, and agreements in the public sector.
• Excellent personnel management and interpersonal skills with the ability to build and lead effective teams.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The appointee to the position must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check, credit check, and social media/Internet check.
• Willingness to work extended hours to cover evening and weekend committees and events. On-call for emergencies after hours, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• This position is classified as emergency services personnel. The appointee is required to report to work during times of inclement weather or other emergencies.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

This position is primarily sedentary in nature; however, visual acuity to work on electronic equipment such as a computer monitor, typing on a keyboard and carrying/lifting up to 15 pounds are essential to this position. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Panel interview; may include a practical 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. Contact TTY DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

#LI-NW1

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
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click here 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: Public Service Loan Forgiveness | Federal Student Aid

For additional details please visit the Countys benefits webpage.

Non-Merit Positions

• 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

• 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
• Associates degree
• Bachelors degree
• Masters degree
• Doctorate degree

02

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

• Public administration
• Business administration
• Criminal justice
• Emergency management
• Law
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

03

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".

04

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

05

How many years of full-time equivalent progressively responsible managerial experience do you have in a local, state, or federal government, or in the non-profit or private sectors?

• 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 to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten to less than eleven years
• Eleven to less than twelve years
• Twelve or more years

06

As a follow on to question #5, within that experience, how many years of full-time equivalent professional experience were working at the senior or department director level?

• 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 to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten to less than eleven years
• Eleven to less than twelve years
• Twelve or more years

07

Do you have experience directing any of the following types of operations at the senior or executive level? Check all that apply.

• City
• County
• Federal
• Non-profit
• Private sector
• Public safety
• State
• None of the above

08

How many years of full-time equivalent senior or executive level experience do you have directing county, city or public safety operations?

• 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 to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten to less than eleven years
• Eleven to less than twelve years
• Twelve or more years

09

Do you have at least five years of full-time equivalent professional-level experience directing the administration or operation of any of the following functional areas? Check all that apply.

• Court systems
• Emergency management
• Fire and Rescue
• Law enforcement
• Public safety communications
• Other (related functional area)
• Other (non-related functional area)
• None of the above

10

If you answered "Other (related functional area)" or "Other (non-related functional area)" in the previous question, list the functional area(s) in which you possess experience directing the administration or operation. If this does not apply to you, enter "Not applicable."

11

What is the largest number of direct staff you have managed?

• None
• Less than five direct staff
• Five to less than 10 direct staff
• 10 to less than 15 direct staff
• 15 o less than 20 direct staff
• 20 or more direct staff

12

Please indicate the size of the largest department or organization you managed.

• None
• Less than 100 employees
• 100 to less than 500 employees
• 500 to less than 1,000 employees
• 1,000 to less than 1,500 employees
• 1,500 to less than 2,000 employees
• 2,000 to less than 2,5 00 employees
• 2,500 or more employees

13

How many years of full-time equivalent professional-level experience do you have leading and working in an integrated, multi-agency and multi-disciplinary system?

• 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 to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten to less than eleven years
• Eleven to less than twelve years
• Twelve or more years

14

Do you have experience collaborating and building effective business relationships with any of the following types of stakeholders? Check all that apply.

• Officials and/or representatives of federal, state, or local government agencies
• Advisory boards
• Board of Supervisors
• Executive staff
• Community organizations
• Service providers
• Public citizens
• None of the above

15

How many years of full-time equivalent professional experience do you have presenting and communicating ideas and policies and/or administrative subjects to large audiences?

• 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 to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten to less than eleven years
• Eleven to less than twelve years
• Twelve or more years

16

What is the largest budget you have been responsible for? Please specify the U.S. dollar ($) amount in the space below. If this question does not pertain to you, enter "Not applicable".

Required Question

Employer Fairfax County

Address 12000 Government Center Pkwy. Suite 270

Fairfax, Virginia, 22035

Phone 703-324-3311

Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/fairfaxcounty/default.cfm