FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2026
City of Charlottesville Appoints Jennifer Hendrick as Chief Strategy Officer
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The City of Charlottesville has appointed Jennifer Hendrick as its new Chief Strategy Officer, bringing more than 20 years of experience leading enterprise strategy, data operations, and organizational transformation in complex, high-performing organizations.
In this role, Hendrick will be responsible for strengthening how the City uses data, planning, and performance management to support effective decision-making, improve internal operations, and better serve the community. Her work will focus on ensuring staff across departments have the information, tools, and analytical support they need to do their jobs successfully, while bringing greater coordination, transparency, and strategic oversight to Citywide initiatives.
“Jennifer brings a combination of strategic leadership, operational rigor, and a deep commitment to transparency,” said City Manager Sam Sanders. “Her experience improving complex systems and helping teams navigate challenging processes will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen how the City plans, measures performance, and delivers services to our community.”
Hendrick most recently served as Head of Data Operations for a global data and analytics firm, where she led large, cross-functional teams and overhauled enterprise data systems to significantly improve efficiency, productivity, and decision-making. Throughout her career, she has partnered closely with executive leadership to align strategy, performance metrics, budgeting, and workforce planning—experience she is now bringing to the public sector.
“As someone who lives in Charlottesville and raises a family here, I’m deeply invested in the success of this community,” said Hendrick. “I’m excited to apply the lessons and successes from my private-sector experience to help the City work more strategically, support staff in their day-to-day work, and strengthen how we use data to serve residents with clarity and accountability.”
In addition to overseeing internal data processes and performance management frameworks, Hendrick will support Citywide strategic planning efforts, help evolve how the City measures progress and outcomes, and serve as administrator for MyCville, with a focus on improving usability, coordination, and public transparency. Her background in process improvement will also support departments as they work through operational challenges and identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve collaboration.
Hendrick holds a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Virginia and a graduate certificate in human resources leadership. She lives in Charlottesville with her husband and two sons and enjoys traveling, hiking national parks, reading, puzzles, and building LEGO projects.
Media Contact
Afton Schneider
Director of Communications and Public Engagement
City of Charlottesville
434-996-0331
media@charlottesville.gov