Public Engagement Program Manager (Administrator V)

Maryland Department of Transportation; Baltimore (MD); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Maryland Department of Transportation is seeking an Executive Service Public Engagement Program Manager to provide strategic direction for comprehensive community engagement programs. You will oversee public meetings and outreach efforts while ensuring accessibility and compliance with laws and standards.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Planning and Development, you will lead efforts to analyze feedback, build stakeholder relationships, and guide senior leadership on engagement best

Qualifications

• Six years of administrative or professional work experience.
• Five years directing a department that leads public events, ensuring inclusivity and engagement.
• Ability to oversee large public engagement programs and plan meetings.

Responsibilities

• Direct all aspects of the public meeting process, including planning, staffing, logistics, comment management/response, application development, administration and reporting.
• Oversee public engagement activities for Toll Public Hearings, NEPA Public Hearings, Project Open House Meetings, Industry Forums, BB-RAG, and other outreach activities.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with community leaders, organizations, stakeholders and the public.
• Oversee the development and creation of public outreach and communication plans.
• Oversee the process of analyzing public comments and generating themes of feedback from the community.

Skills

Public engagement

Stakeholder relations

Public meetings

Strategic direction

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Open Until Filled

EXECUTIVE SERVICE

(This position serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.)

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) owns, operates, and maintains eight major toll facilities comprised of four bridges, two tunnels, and two turnpikes, across the State of Maryland. For over 50 years, the MDTA has provided Maryland's citizens and visitors with safe, secure and convenient transportation facilities. We are committed to quality and excellence in customer service, and we rely on our organization's values, traditions and – most importantly – our employees to achieve these goals. Nature of Work: The Public Engagement Program Manager serves as the discipline manager for MDTA’s Community Engagement and Outreach team. This position provides strategic direction for comprehensive public engagement programs designed to communicate MDTA initiatives, obtain and analyze community feedback, build relationships with stakeholders, and promote meaningful public participation.

The position will oversee public meetings, hearings, forums, workshops, open houses, and other outreach activities and will ensure that engagement efforts are inclusive, accessible, effective, and consistent with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and professional standards.

This position will also provide expert advice to senior leadership regarding public engagement practices, emerging trends, stakeholder concerns, communication strategies, and opportunities to improve the public's experience with MDTA projects. Duties of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Direct all aspects of the public meeting process, including planning, staffing, logistics, comment management/response, application development, administration and reporting;
• Oversee public engagement activities for Toll Public Hearings, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Public Hearings, Project Open House Meetings, Industry Forums, Bay Bridge Reconstruction Advisory Group (BBRAG), and other community outreach and engagement activities;
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with community leaders, organizations, stakeholders and the public;
• Oversee the development and creation of public outreach and communication plans; and
• Oversee the process of analyzing public comments and generating themes of feedback from the community.

This position will report directly to the Deputy Director of Planning and Development. This role requires the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as steel-toed boots, reflective vests, hard hats, and gloves, during field visits to construction sites.

The current vacancy is located in Baltimore, MD. Hybrid telework schedules may be available for this position.

MDTA employees are offered a generous benefits package including a minimum of 11 paid holidays, a minimum of 27 days of leave annually (personal, vacation, and sick), access to the State Pension System, deferred compensation plans, excellent health, dental, and vision plans, and more! *May be prorated based on start date

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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

Experience: Six years of experience in administrative staff or professional work. Five years of this experience must include the direction and oversight of a department that leads public events, forums, workshops, and meetings, ensuring they are inclusive, accessible, and effectively engage the target audience.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• The ability to oversee public engagement/community outreach for large, complex transportation or infrastructure projects.
• The ability to execute comprehensive public engagement strategies, best practices, trends, and opportunities for improvement.

If you have held more than one (1) position at the same employer, please list each position that you held and the length of time that you held each position.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute 30 credit hours from an accredited college or university for each year up to four years of the required experience.

2. Candidates 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.

3. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university and one year of experience in administrative staff or professional work for the required experience.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience involving staff work related to the administration of rules, regulations, policies, 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.

Employees in this classification will be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Applicants are required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland. Applicants must list the license number and date of expiration on the application.

The incumbent in this position is not a member of a covered bargaining unit.

For education obtained outside the U.S., at the time of application, you are required to provide proof of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.wes.org/). This must be submitted as an attachment with the application for the position in which you are applying.

The Maryland Transportation Authority is not sponsoring new employees in the application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B Visa currently due to budgetary constraints. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Federal regulations prohibit H-1B Visa candidates from paying sponsorship fees, all sponsorship fees must be assumed by the potential employer.

WE ARE AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. MDTA does not discriminate based on age, ancestry, color, creed, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religious affiliation, belief or opinion, sex, or sexual orientation.

MDOT has various careers for people of all experiences, backgrounds, and abilities who come together to contribute to one mission - connecting our customers to life’s opportunities. Join us in serving our Maryland residents, visitors, and businesses!

Reasonable Accommodations for persons with disabilities will be provided upon request.

Appropriate auxiliary aids and services for qualified individuals with disabilities will be provided upon request. Please notify in advance. MD Relay Service Number 1-800-735-2258 (TTY Number: 711).

Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

Issue Date: 9/9/2026