Director of Operations (Program Manager IV)

JobAps; Bowie, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 99,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Maryland Center for School Safety seeks a Director of Operations to lead executive-level program administration and operational strategy for core divisions. Reporting to the Executive Director, the role drives budgets, dashboards, and policy compliance across the agency.

The position oversees readiness cycles, emergency planning, and incident response, coordinating with local school systems and state partners to meet statutory mandates and ensure safe and secure schools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Six (6) years of professional administrative, operational, or program management experience.
• Three (3) years of supervisory experience with direct supervision of professionals or complex programs.

Responsibilities

• Direct day-to-day operations, budgets, and cross-functional teams across MCSS units.
• Establish and drive program goals, dashboards, metrics, policies and SOPs for statutory compliance.
• Coordinate emergency readiness, incident response, and post-incident recovery for local school systems.
• Serve as agency technical lead on juvenile and education law and present policy testimony to committees.

Skills

Program management

Operational oversight

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Introduction

The Maryland State Department of Education is dedicated to supporting a world‑class educational system that prepares all students for college and career success in the 21st century. With excellent stewardship from our divisions, we oversee State and federal programs that support the needs of a diverse population – students, teachers, principals, and other educators throughout Maryland.

This is a Management Service position, and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.

GRADE

STD0022

Salary Range: $99,442 - $142,037 with progression to $156,822

*State Salary Guidelines may apply for current State employees.

LOCATION OF POSITION

Maryland Center for School Safety

Bowie State Office

14000 Jericho Park Road; Proctor 240

Bowie, MD 20715-9465

Main Purpose of Job

The Director of Operations (Program Manager IV) serves on the Executive Team at the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS), reporting directly to the Executive Director. This executive management position provides strategic direction, operational oversight, and program administration for core agency divisions—including the Training and Certification Unit, Prevention and Intervention Unit, Safe Schools Maryland tipline, and regional preparedness initiatives. The position ensures MCSS and local school systems across Maryland meet all statutory and regulatory school safety mandates while leading emergency readiness, incident response, and stakeholder alignment.

POSITION DUTIES

• Directing day-to-day operations, budgets, fleet resources, and cross-functional teams across MCSS operational units, including Training and Certification, Prevention and Intervention, Safe Schools Maryland, and agency preparedness functions.
• Establishing and driving short- and long-term program goals, visual dashboards, performance metrics, policies, and SOPs to ensure full statutory compliance across Maryland school systems.
• Ensuring immediate notification and situational reporting of high-priority school incidents and coordinates agency response and recovery efforts.
• Overseeing agency readiness cycles, emergency/continuity planning, active assailant exercises, school safety assessments, and post-incident recovery support for local school systems.
• Serving as the agency technical lead on juvenile and education law regarding violent threats, delivering high-stakes presentations and policy testimony to legislative committees, elected officials, and federal/state partners.
• Fostering trusted partnerships with local, state, and national school safety stakeholders, public safety agencies, and local School Safety Coordinators.
• Responding to emergency calls outside regular business hours and work extended shifts or weekend events during active incidents or exercises.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Experience: Six (6) years of professional administrative, operational, or program management experience.
• Supervisory Experience: Three (3) years of the required experience must include direct supervision of professional employees or management of complex, multi-faceted operational programs.
• Notes: Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to the position option for one year of the required experience.

SELECTIVE QUALIFICATIONS

• Two (2) years of professional experience in operational command, program leadership, or policy administration within a public safety, school system, emergency management, law enforcement, or criminal/juvenile justice organization.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Three (3) or more years of command-level leadership experience within a law enforcement, emergency management, or public safety agency.
• Three (3) or more years of experience creating, reviewing, testing, or executing Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs), behavioral threat assessments, or school safety/crisis response protocols.
• Two (2) or more years of experience analyzing legislation and translating statutory mandates into actionable agency policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and strategic performance metrics.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Candidates must consent to State and FBI (CJIS) background check as a routine procedure for all employees.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.