Operations Assistant (ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER II)

State of Maryland; La Plata, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 38,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework possible

Personal leave

Annual leave

Sick leave

Parental leave

Paid holidays

Pension

Job summary

Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking an Operations Assistant in Charles County to provide critical administrative support within the Local General Administration unit. You will help coordinate fleet, facilities, mail, procurement, HR, IT, and finance functions while ensuring compliance and operating readiness.

The role emphasizes cross-unit collaboration, reporting, and emergency preparedness, including shelter coordination and weather-related communications.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Two years of administrative staff or professional work experience.
• Substitutions: 30 college credit hours for one year of experience; Bachelor's degree for the required experience; military service for required experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide clerical support to the Local General Administration units; manage scanning, copying, file organization, and document assembly tasks.
• Support meeting scheduling, agenda preparation, minutes, and cross-unit communication.
• Coordinate facilities issues, maintenance requests, and safety-related activities; assist with projects and repairs.
• Support emergency preparedness activities and shelter management coordination.

Education

High school diploma or equivalency

Two years of administrative staff or professional work

30 college credit hours substitution for one year of experience

Bachelor's degree substitution for required experience

U.S. Armed Forces staff experience substitution

Job description

Introduction

When you join the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS), you join a team of more than 5,000 employees across the state dedicated to positively changing the lives of more than 1 million Marylanders each year. We do this by providing economic support, preventive services, and caring for children and adults. We aim to deliver services so that we more quickly meet the needs of the people we serve. At DHS, we grapple with hard questions to find new ways to foster a culture of bold innovation. We do this to ensure that in Maryland, we leave no one behind.

THIS RECRUITMENT IS LIMITED TO CHARLES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES EMPLOYEES ONLY

GRADE

STD0014

LOCATION OF POSITION

• Charles County Department of Social Services
• Local General Administration (LGA)
• 200 Kent Avenue
• La Plata, MD 20646

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB

The Operations Assistant serves as a critical operational and administrative support role within the Local General Administration (LGA) unit, ensuring the seamless functioning of essential agency systems that enable Charles County Department of Social Services (CCDSS) to deliver high-quality services to children, families, and vulnerable adults. The primary purpose of this position is to coordinate and sustain the daily operational infrastructure—including fleet management, facility and maintenance support, supply and inventory oversight, mailroom continuity, security coordination, and clerical assistance across Finance, Human Resources, Procurement, and Information Technology. By maintaining reliable processes, monitoring workflow needs, and providing cross-unit administrative support, the Operations Assistant strengthens the agency’s ability to operate efficiently, safely, and in full compliance with State and local standards. This position also plays a vital role in emergency preparedness by supporting the Assistant Director with shelter team coordination, weather-related communication, and liaison responsibilities with the American Red Cross. Through these functions, the Operations Assistant ensures CCDSS remains ready to respond to community needs during crises and maintains continuity of operations under all conditions. By delivering dependable operational support and building redundancy across mission-critical functions, the Operations Assistant enhances service delivery, protects agency resources, and reinforces CCDSS’s commitment to being a responsive, customer-centered, and resilient organization that meets the evolving needs of the community.

POSITION DUTIES

• Provides clerical support to all LGA units during high-volume or critical periods. Manage scanning, copying, file organization (Procurement and Finance), and document assembly tasks. Support meeting scheduling, agenda preparation, and minutes as needed. Assist with cross-unit communication and workflow coordination. Prepares statistical reports, status updates for meetings/presentations, serve as administrative support for multi-unit projects led by the Assistant Director.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for facilities issues and maintenance requests. Communicate daily with building maintenance teams and ensure timely resolution of building concerns. Maintains communications with DAO regarding building matters. Monitor common areas for cleanliness and safety; escalates issues appropriately. Support coordination of facility-related projects or repairs.
• Coordinates agency safety and emergency preparedness activities, including required drills (fire, tornado, earthquake, shelter-in-place) Tracks and maintains records of staff Emergency Operations and shelter management training.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must meet all minimum (and selective) qualifications to be considered, and to appear on the list of people eligible for hire. Please read all requirements before applying.

• Education:Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.
• Experience: Two years of administrative staff or professional work.
• Notes:
• 1. Candidates may substitute 30 credit hours from an accredited college or university for one year of the required experience.
• 2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from a college or university for the required experience.
• 3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer involving staff work that included regular use of independent judgment and analysis in applying and interpreting complex administrative plans, policies, rules or regulations or analysis of operational programs or procedures with recommendations for improvement on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• One year of experience coordinating administrative or operational activities in an office, government, nonprofit, or similar organizational setting.
• One year of experience maintaining administrative records, tracking logs, reports, procedures, or other operational documentation.
• One year of experience coordinating projects or assignments involving multiple departments, work units, vendors, or external partners.

LIMITATIONS ON SELECTION

LIMITED TO CHARLES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES EMPLOYEES ONLY.

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.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The examination will consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience as presented on your application and as they relate to the requirements of the position. The supplemental questionnaire may be used as part of the rating process. For education obtained outside the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service is required prior to hire.

BENEFITS

• Personal Leave- new State employees are awarded six (6) personnel days annually (prorated based on start date).
• Annual Leave – ten (10) days of accumulated annual leave per year.
• Sick Leave – fifteen (15) days of accumulated sick leave per year.
• Parental Leave – up to sixty (60) days of paid parental leave upon the birth or adoption of a child.
• Holidays – State employees also celebrate at least twelve (12) holiday per year.
• Pension – State employees earn credits towards a retirement pension.
• Positions may be eligible for telework.

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.