Alexandria City Manager Mark Jinks To Retire By End Of 2021

ALEXANDRIA, VA — At City Council's Tuesday meeting, City Manager Mark Jinks announced his intent to retire by the end of 2021. Jinks has been city manager since 2015 and has served in city government since 1999.

“I want to thank the current and former Mayors and Members of City Council," said Jinks in a statement. "It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the Alexandria community in addressing its challenges and creating a better community for all Alexandria residents and businesses. However, I will be 70 in 2022 and it is time to have fresh eyes on the City government organization to help it continue to achieve and improve."

Jinks joined the city in 1999 as chief financial officer before becoming deputy city manager, then city manager in 2015. The city manager is Alexandria's chief administrative officer who oversees policy directives of the City Council, manages daily operations of city government and prepares annual operating and capital budgets as well as other reports.

Jinks is credited for his role accomplishments such as managing the city during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding city and school capital investments, planning and funding for the Potomac Yard Metro, upgrading the city's information technology systems and capabilities, hiring the first race and social equity officer and more.

The city manager transition will happen as a City Council with at least some new faces will be sworn in during January 2022.

"A new City Council will be seated in January that will be developing a new long-range strategic plan in 2022, so this is a good time for a transition," said City Manager Mark Jinks. “I intend to use what I have learned in my 45-year state and local government career to teach, write, consult and mentor the next generation of public administrators. In addition, I will now have time to address personal and travel interests that have been on the back burner for too long.”

The process for choosing a new city manager will be done by City Council.

"City Council plans to use an executive search firm to conduct a nationwide search to identify the best candidates for this position and execute a process that will include civic engagement and community outreach," said Mayor Justin Wilson in a statement. "This process and timeline will be defined and announced in the next several weeks."