Security Specialist (DOT Executive Asst II)

Maryland Department of Transportation; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Boots provided and replacement covered

Continued training and development

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Maryland Port Administration is seeking a security professional to protect personnel, facilities, and operations at the Port of Baltimore. The role includes acting as an alternate Facility Security Officer, overseeing guard operations, coordinating drills, audits, and incident inquiries, and managing federal security grants.

This position requires strong collaboration with federal, state, and local partners, plus the ability to translate complex requirements into practical security solutions in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field.
• 4 years of relevant security/Law Enforcement experience; at least 2 years in security program work.

Responsibilities

• Ensure maritime security compliance as alternate Facility Security Officer.
• Coordinate inspections, drills, and readiness activities for port security.
• Oversee contracted guard operations, staffing, and post assignments.
• Evaluate contractor performance and enforce corrective actions.
• Plan incident and emergency response for security events and threats.
• Build partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies and labor.
• Manage Port Security Grant Program projects from application through closeout.
• Develop security training, policies, and instruction on active-threat response.

Skills

Security compliance

Emergency response

Grant management

Contractor oversight

Interagency liaison

Education

Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice / emergency management / homeland security / security management / public or business administration

Job description

Career Service

Open to All Qualified Candidates

This is a position specific recruitment. The resulting list of eligible candidates will be used to fill this Maryland Port Administration (MPA) position/function only. All interested persons will need to re-apply for any future recruitment conducted for this classification.

The Maryland Port Administration (MPA) is a 203-employee transportation business unit within the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and is the public face of the Port of Baltimore. MPA was created by the Maryland General Assembly to increase waterborne commerce through the ports in the state. The Port of Baltimore plays an integral role as an economic generator and job creator, in addition to maintaining our nation’s supply chain and moving vital goods to industries and consumers. As one of the nation's top ports for total cargo tonnage and overall dollar value of cargo, the Port of Baltimore is also one of the most diverse ports in the United States with over 140,000 jobs in Maryland linked to port activity.

For information on MPA, please go to: MPA (maryland.gov)

General Role Description

Help safeguard one of Maryland’s most vital gateways to global commerce.

The Maryland Port Administration is seeking a knowledgeable, action-oriented Security Specialist to help protect its people, facilities, and operations. Serving as an alternate Facility Security Officer, this role supports maritime-security compliance, oversees contracted guard and law-enforcement operations, coordinates drills, audits, inspections, incident inquiries, and emergency responses, and builds strong partnerships with federal, state, local, labor, and industry stakeholders. The position also manages federal port-security grant projects from application through closeout, develops practical policies and training, and turns complex requirements into effective solutions. This is an opportunity for a skilled security professional to make a visible impact in a fast-paced port environment where sound judgment, collaboration, and readiness matter every day.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Some of the essential duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Ensure maritime security compliance by serving as an alternate Facility Security Officer and supporting adherence to the Maritime Transportation Security Act, the SAFE Port Act, 33 CFR, applicable State regulations, and the Facility Security Plan.
• Affirm the execution of the Facility Security Plan by assessing security needs, preparing amendments, updating procedures, and recommending corrective actions when deficiencies are identified.
• Coordinate inspections, audits, drills, and exercises, including preparation for the annual U.S. Coast Guard security inspection and completion of required security audits and readiness activities.
• Oversee daily security and law-enforcement operations at port facilities, including contracted guard staffing, deployment, post assignments, certifications, equipment, vehicles, and compliance with post orders and contract requirements.
• Evaluate contractor performance and expenditures by conducting operational inspections, reviewing reports and performance data, verifying staffing and billed services, and directing corrective measures.
• Plan and coordinate incident and emergency response for security events, special operations, heightened threat conditions, and other situations affecting port facilities and continuity of operations.
• Conduct and support security inquiries involving incidents, suspicious activity, policy violations, or criminal matters, and prepare findings, recommendations, and after-action assessments.
• Build and maintain operational partnerships with federal, State, and local law-enforcement agencies, regulatory authorities, terminal tenants, labor organizations, contractors, and maritime-industry stakeholders.
• Manage federal Port Security Grant Program projects from project research and application development through investment justifications, budgets, reporting, audits, and grant closeout.
• Develop guidance and deliver security training by preparing policies, procedures, briefings, reports, and instruction on active-threat response, anti-terrorism, vehicle-borne explosive devices, theft prevention, access control, and related security requirements.

The current vacancy exists at the Dundalk Marine Terminal. This position reports directly to the Director of Security.

MDOToffersagenerousandcompetitivebenefitspackage You can learn about our amazing benefits here: MDOT Benefits-MDOT (maryland.gov)

• A selection of high-quality boots are provided with no out-of-pocket cost from the employee and continue to be covered for replacement once per year (the employee may choose to pay for boots outside the covered options).
• Continued training and development is provided by the MPA.
• Tuition reimbursement and a No Cost No Debt eductional program is available per MPA procedures and TSHRS policy.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, emergency management, homeland security, security management, public or business administration, or a related field.

Note: Additional work experience performing security or law enforcement work as defined in the experience requirement below may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Experience: Four (4) years of relevant security and/or Law Enforcement experience, including at least two (2) years of specialized security-program, compliance, contractor-oversight, emergency-response, investigative, or grant-management experience.

Note: Full‑time service in the U.S. Armed Forces may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required experience when the duties are directly related to physical or maritime security, force protection, law enforcement, emergency management, antiterrorism, installation protection, security compliance, investigations, or security operations.

Your placement on an eligible list may be based solely on the contents of your application; therefore, it is essential that you provide complete and accurate information. Please include all relevant experience on your application. This includes, but is not limited to, full or part time, volunteer, military, acting capacity, or any other experience that is relevant to the position you are applying for.

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.

1. This position is assigned duties that require the operation of motor vehicles. Employees in this position are required to possess and maintain a Class C motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland. All applicants must list their license number and expiration date on the application.
2. During the probationary period, employees will be required to obtain and maintain a Transportation Workers Identification Card (TWIC) to gain unescorted access to Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration facilities.
3. Within 90 days of hire employees are required to obtain a Facility Security Officer certification.

Additional Notes

1. Employees must be willing and available for duty at such hours, day or night, as may be required to maintain continuous operation of a facility and are subject to call-in.
2. Employees are required to maintain a reliable communication link for emergency call back requirements.
3. Employees in this classification are considered \"Essential Employees\" and must sign and agree to all policies and procedures relating to \"Essential Employee\" status.

Please be advised that the State of Maryland is dedicated to a drug-free workplace, and as a result, employees are subject to the State's Substance Abuse Policy to include possible drug testing. Selected candidate(s) may be subject to background and reference checks.

The incumbent in this position is not covered by a collective 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 of the position in which you are applying.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. MPA 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