ADMINISTRATOR IV (Senior Researcher/ Policy Strategist)

JobAps; Baltimore, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State benefits

Job summary

Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) seeks a Senior Researcher & Policy Strategist to bridge raw operational data with high‑level policy decisions. You will craft a unified data narrative influencing budget requests, legislative testimony, and public reporting across Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions.

This role requires translating complex datasets into executive briefings, partnering with leadership, IT, and external stakeholders to advance client-centered equity through empirical analysis.

Qualifications

• Six years of administrative staff or professional work.
• Ability to translate data into actionable policy narratives.
• Experience with policy-relevant research and data analysis.
• Experience in government or public sector policy analysis.

Responsibilities

• Build and operationalize a unified data strategy across OPD statewide.
• Lead development of the OPD Annual Report and MFR reporting.
• Analyze caseload trends, staffing models, and system pressures to support funding requests.
• Provide rapid‑response research for legislative strategy and testimony.
• Translate complex findings for executive leadership.

Skills

Data analysis

Statistical analysis

Dashboard development

Policy communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in social science

Tools

R

Python

SQL

STATA

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

Introduction

The Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) is an independent state agency charged with providing superior, client-centered representation to indigent individuals at all stages of the legal process. MOPD's vision is Justice, Fairness, and Dignity for All. Operating across 24 jurisdictions, our dedicated team of over 1,000 attorneys, investigators, social workers, and administrative professionals works collaboratively to protect fundamental constitutional rights, preserve liberty, and advocate for systemic justice reform across Maryland. MOPD promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of its work and welcomes candidates with lived experience in the criminal legal system. We are seeking a bold, mission-driven quantitative thinker who excels at turning complex legal and operational data into powerful policy narratives. The ideal candidate thrives under high-stakes pressure, possesses exceptional technical and analytical precision, and can seamlessly translate 'raw data' into actionable executive briefings and persuasive legislative arguments. The position requires a collaborative strategist who can build strong bridges across agency leadership, local trial offices, IT teams, and external stakeholders. We are seeking a candidate with a deep, unwavering commitment to client-centered representation and systemic equity using empirical evidence to uphold OPD's truth-telling function and ensure resources directly serve the needs of our clients. All applicants must be able to communicate with clients and visitors and possess the ability to complete tasks in a fast-paced work environment.

MOPD is further committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs and activities by modifying or adjusting the job application process or the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known applicant or employee to enable the applicant or employee considered for the position they desire; to perform the essential functions of the position in question; or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation imposes an undue hardship. Applicants must be able to operate a computer and other office equipment. Applicants must have access to a motor vehicle or be able to navigate public transportation. If a reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact Tawanda Jackson, Human Resources Supervisor, 410-767-8503, [e-mail].

Grade

STD0019

Location of Position

6 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Main Purpose of Job

The Senior Researcher & Policy Strategist serves as the lead architect of OPD's data-driven narrative, bridging the gap between raw operational data and high-stakes policy decisions. This position transforms complex datasets into a unified agency-wide strategy, ensuring that OPD's budget requests, legislative testimony, and public reporting reflect the ground-level realities of public defense.

Position Duties

• Agency-Wide Data Strategy: Build and operationalize a unified data strategy across OPD's statewide system; design data collection frameworks reflecting public defense operations; ensure data integrity across divisions.
• High-Stakes Reporting & Narrative Development: Lead the development of the OPD Annual Report; drive Managing for Results (MFR) reporting; produce executive-level briefings connecting data to tradeoffs and outcomes.
• Budget & Resource Advocacy: Serve as a core architect of the OPD budget data compilation and graphics; analyze caseload trends, staffing models, and system pressures to support funding requests and justify resource allocation.
• Strategic Planning & System Analysis: Help design and track OPD's strategic plan with client-centered metrics; identify systemic trends, disparities, and policy failures to elevate to executive leadership.
• Legislative & Policy Integration: Provide rapid-response research for legislative strategy and testimony; partner with communications and policy teams to ensure statistically sound public messaging.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Six years of administrative staff or professional work.

Notes

• Candidate may substitute 30 credit hours from an accredited college or university for each year up to four years of the required experience.
• Candidate may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and two years of experience in administrative staff or professional work for the required experience.
• Candidate may substitute the possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university for five years of the required experience.
• Candidate may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer involving staff work related to the administration of rules, regulations, policy, procedures and processes, or overseeing or coordinating unit operations or functioning as a staff assistant to a higher ranking commissioned officer on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Selective Qualifications

• Five (5) years of administrative or professional experience conducting policy-relevant research, data analysis, program evaluation, or strategic planning.

Desired or Preferred Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in a relevant social science field (political science, sociology, economics, public policy, etc.).
• Advanced proficiency in quantitative and statistical analysis tools (e.g., R, Python, SQL, STATA).
• Hands-on experience developing interactive data dashboards using visualization software (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
• Proven track record of translating complex fiscal, operational, or legal datasets into high-level policy narratives and executive briefings.
• Experience in criminal legal system research, indigent defense, health, immigration or public sector policy analysis.
• Ability to translate complex findings for non-technical/policymaker audiences; strong writing and presentation skills.
• Experience working with government agencies, nonprofits or community organizations

Licenses, Registrations and Certifications

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

Benefits

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS