Assistant Director, Office for Blindness and Vision Services

State of Maryland•Baltimore City, MD

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) supports educational programs and services for Maryland students, educators, and other residents. The Department’s Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) provides services that help students with disabilities prepare for work, assists adults with significant disabilities who seek to enter or reenter the workforce, and adjudicates Social Security disability claims. The Assistant Director directs and coordinates DORS’s statewide Independent Living Older Blind (ILOB) Program and serves as Assistant Director for the Office of Blindness and Vision Services (OBVS). The role establishes performance goals for statewide Independent Living Specialists and manages human resources to support high-quality services and successful independent-living outcomes for eligible individuals with significant disabilities. It manages and maintains accountability for an approximately $1 million ILOB Case Services Funds budget and ensures compliance with applicable federal laws, regulations, guidance, and grant reporting requirements. The position oversees staff training, Services for the Blind operations at the Workforce and Technology Center, program evaluation, consumer inquiries, Deafblind Services, special projects, and regional administrative approvals. It also provides leadership in operational practices and reviews and approves specialized vendors to support effective, compliant, high-quality services. The position is based in Baltimore; a hybrid schedule may be available, with up to three telework days permitted each week.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Five years of professional specialized experience providing rehabilitation counseling or vocational evaluation services to clients with physical or behavioral disabilities, or teaching services to clients with blindness or low vision in Rehabilitation Services.
Two years of the required experience must include direct supervision of professional employees specializing in rehabilitation services for clients with disabilities.
At least two years of professional experience providing rehabilitation counseling or vocational evaluation services to clients with blindness or low vision.
Consent to a State Police investigation, including fingerprinting.
A master’s degree or equivalent 36 credit hours of post-baccalaureate coursework in Educational Administration, Rehabilitation Counseling, Special Education, Counseling and Guidance, Vocational Evaluation, Psychology, or a related social science field may substitute for one year of the required rehabilitation experience.

Responsibilities

Direct and coordinate the statewide Independent Living Older Blind (ILOB) Program.
Establish performance goals for Independent Living Specialists statewide.
Strategically manage human resources to ensure high-quality ILOB services and support successful independent-living outcomes.
Develop, manage, and maintain accountability for the approximately $1 million ILOB Case Services Funds budget.
Ensure compliance with federal laws, regulations, guidance, and reporting requirements associated with the ILOB grant.
Oversee staff training and Services for the Blind operations at the Workforce and Technology Center.
Oversee program evaluation, consumer inquiries, Deafblind Services, special projects, and regional administrative approvals.
Lead operational practices and review and approve specialized vendors.