[Archived] Alexandria City Council Launches Nationwide Search to Hire City Manager

­­For Immediate Release: July 14, 2021

The Alexandria City Council has announced that it is conducting a national search for a new City Manager for the City of Alexandria. City Manager Mark Jinks, who announced his impending retirement in June, will remain in his position throughout the search and will retire with the hiring of his replacement. City Council anticipates announcing the selection of the new City Manager by the end of 2021.

City Council, to which the City Manager reports, is coordinating and conducting the process for choosing a successor. City Council has contracted with talent acquisition firm POLIHIRE to conduct a nationwide recruiting search. During an executive session prior to their July 6 meeting, City Council approved initial recruitment materials, including a recruitment brochure with a candidate profile and timeline for the process. 

“We look forward to working with the community, as well as City employees, to look beyond a simple job description, to clearly understand and articulate our shared vision and priorities for the City’s next chief administrator,” said Mayor Justin Wilson. “The hiring timeline for this critical position will allow for a thorough nationwide search, as well as community and employee engagement, as we work to recruit and hire an inclusive, transparent and inspiring leader and public servant for our community.”

Community engagement includes an online survey, which is open to residents, business owners, civic leaders, and those who frequent Alexandria for work, school, recreation or worship. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Arabic and Amharic, and is open for responses through August 31. Once the survey closes, the results will be posted on the City’s website for community review. City Council will also hold a town hall meeting in early fall to further the conversation with the community about what they want to see in the next City Manager. More information will be available later this summer.

Additionally, City Council will engage City government employees to identify their vision of—and priorities for—the next City Manager. An employee survey will be available in both English and Spanish and open through August 31. City Council will also hold a town hall for City employees, which will take place in early fall. 

General recruitment timeline: 

• July 2021: Community and employee surveys open; job description posted; begin accepting applications
•  August 2021: Community engagement and employee surveys close August 31
• Mid-September 2021: Community and employee town hall meetings with City Council;

job application closes

• October 2021: Interview process begins
• Late October/Early November 2021: Interview process concludes; City Council announces selection of new City Manager
• December 2021/January 2022: Start date for new City Manager

Visit alexandriava.gov/CityCouncil for more information and all materials related to the search for the next City Manager.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.