Former Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson has been selected as the next executive director of NOVA Parks, the regional park authority announced Friday.
Wilson, who served 14 years on the Alexandria City Council, including two terms as mayor, will assume the role of Executive Director in a full-time capacity beginning Oct. 6, succeeding Paul Gilbert, who announced his retirement in April after 20 years leading the organization. During Gilbert’s tenure, NOVA Parks expanded significantly, adding 15 new parks and acquiring more than 1,800 acres of parkland through 22 acquisition transactions.
The executive director position carries a salary range of $190,000 to $230,000 annually, according to the job posting. The role oversees an organization with a combined operating budget of about $40 million that generates approximately 90% of its revenue from park enterprises rather than taxpayer funding…