SPECIAL ASSISTANT (Administrative Officer III)

Maryland AG; Maryland; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility (DoSEM) seeks a Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff to serve as the analytical engine for the department. You will transform complex policy, data, and operational questions into decision-ready briefs and ensure follow-through on priority initiatives, including DBE/ACDBE program reevaluations and modernization efforts.

You will work directly with the Chief of Staff and Secretary, drafting briefing materials, maintaining executive tools, and

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Three years of administrative staff or professional work experience.
• Substitution options available: 30 college credits per year of experience; Bachelor's degree may substitute for experience.

Responsibilities

• Policy research and executive briefings: synthesize data into concise briefs and policy recommendations for leadership.
• Strategic initiative oversight: track priorities with dashboards and reports for leadership and stakeholders.
• Executive coordination and communications: draft executive communications and liaise with leadership, internal divisions, Governor’s Office, and external partners.
• Performance management and dashboards: maintain executive logs, metrics, and weekly briefs on risks and performance.
• Special projects and meeting management: lead modernization projects and manage meetings and post-meeting deliverables.

Skills

Policy research

Executive briefings

Analytical writing

Integrity and judgment

Data-driven decision making

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Data visualization tools

Job description

Introduction

This is a contractual position, and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority. Agency Mission To advance social and economic mobility for all Marylanders by removing barriers, investing in inclusive opportunities, and aligning state resources to support historically underserved communities and businesses. The Department of Social and Economic Mobility (DoSEM) offers a supportive public-service work environment with competitive state government benefits, including flexible work schedules, telework/hybrid work options, and opportunities for career growth, training, and advancement. As a Maryland state employer, we also provide comprehensive health and retirement benefits, generous leave (including parental leave), and access to additional employee programs, along with ample free parking at our Crownsville, MD office. These benefits help support your professional development and work-life balance while serving our community.

GRADE

STD0015

LOCATION OF POSITION

100 Community Place Crownsville, MD 21032

Main Purpose of Job

The Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff is a high-impact role at the center of a new cabinet department. Working directly with the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Secretary (OSEC), the Special Assistant turns complex policy, data, and operational questions into clear analysis and decisions, and makes sure those decisions are carried through across the Department of Social and Economic Mobility. The position is the Chief of Staff's research and analytical engine and a trusted driver of the Department's top priorities. It conducts policy and quantitative research; prepares decision-ready briefings for the Chief of Staff and Secretary; maintains the executive tools that keep the Department accountable; and leads special projects from idea to execution. Current priorities include workstream oversight of Maryland's federally mandated reevaluation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession DBE (ACDBE) certifications under the U.S. Department of Transportation Final Rule, along with agency modernization and cross-agency initiatives. The work directly advances the Department's mission of expanding economic mobility and opportunity for Marylanders.

Position Duties

Why this role

This is a rare chance to help build a brand-new cabinet department from the ground up. The Special Assistant works side by side with the Chief of Staff on the issues that matter most to the Secretary and the Governor, sees how the State government really works from the inside, and gets real responsibility from day one. The work is fast-paced, varied, and consequential, and the person in this role will leave a visible mark on how the Department runs and what it achieves for Marylanders.

Who we are looking for

• A self-starter who sees what needs to be done and does it without waiting to be asked.
• A sharp researcher and analyst who can dig into a complex policy, legal, or data question and come back with a clear answer and a recommendation.
• An innovative thinker who questions how things have always been done and brings fresh ideas and new tools to the table
• A strong, clear writer who can distill complexity into a one-page memo.
• A person of integrity and sound judgment who handles sensitive matters with discretion.

Day-to-day duties (will include but will not be limited to)

• Policy Research & Executive Briefings: Conduct in-depth legislative, regulatory, and operational research to synthesize complex data into concise executive summaries, briefing materials, and policy recommendations for the Chief of Staff and Secretary.
• Strategic Initiative Oversight & Tracking: Monitor key departmental priorities—including DBE/ACDBE program reevaluations—by maintaining executive dashboards, tracking milestones, analyzing program outcomes, and preparing reports for leadership and external stakeholders.
• Executive Coordination & Communications: Triage incoming high-priority requests, draft executive communications, and serve as a liaison between executive leadership, internal agency divisions, the Governor’s Office, and external partners.
• Performance Management & Dashboard Tools: Maintain executive decision logs and action trackers, partner with IT and performance teams to manage key agency metrics, and produce weekly briefs highlighting project risks and operational performance.
• Special Projects & Meeting Management: Lead cross-functional modernization projects and administrative redesigns while managing executive leadership meetings, including drafting outcome-focused agendas and tracking post-meeting deliverables.

Minimum Qualifications

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

Experience: Three years of administrative staff or professional work.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute 30 college credit hours from an accredited college or university for each year up to twoyears of the required experience.
2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degreefrom a college or universityfor the required experience.
3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer involving staff work that included the 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 requiredexperience.

Desired or Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to applicants who possess the following preferred qualification(s). Include clear and specific information on your application regarding your qualifications.

• At least two (2) years of experience conducting policy, statutory, or quantitative research and summarizing your findings into decision memos, policy options, or briefing materials for executive leadership.
• At least two (2) years of experience building and maintaining project trackers, decision logs, or performance dashboards (using tools like Microsoft Suite, Google Suite, Gemini and data visualization software) to monitor organizational milestones and hold teams accountable.
• At least one (1) year of experience working with government procurement, small/minority/disadvantaged business enterprise programs (MBE/DBE/ACDBE), or related economic mobility policies.

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

Contractual employees who work for an agency covered under the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program, have a current employment contract and work 30 or more hours a week (or on average 130 hours per month) may be eligible for subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents. As a contractual employee, you will be responsible for paying 25% of the premiums for your medical and prescription coverage, including any eligible dependents you have enrolled. The State of Maryland will subsidize the remaining 75% of the cost for these benefits. You can also elect to enroll in dental coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance, but will be responsible to pay the full premium for these benefits.

Leave may be granted to a contractual employee at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year.

Sponsorship Notice: The Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility (DoSEM) does not provide H-1B Visa sponsorship at this time. In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, all applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Selected candidates will be required to provide documentation of identity and eligibility to work in the U.S. upon hire.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply for all recruitments.

TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay

DoSEM values the experience gained by Veterans while serving our country and welcomes them to apply.

DoSEM is an Equal Opportunity Employer