Assistant Manger - Background Investigations Unit

State of Maryland • Baltimore City, MD

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) is seeking dedicated candidates to fill important roles within our department. We are one of the largest departments in Maryland with nearly 12,000 employees and a budget of more than $1 billion. In order to fulfill our mission of promoting safety, we have increased security at our institutions while leading the way in innovative restorative justice projects that will help offenders reintegrate into society upon release. As a member of the DPSCS team, you can have a fulfilling career, while also enjoying a wide range of benefits such as medical and dental coverage, paid time off (i.e. vacation, sick leave), becoming vested in the State pension, supplemental retirement options, and even joining the Maryland State Employees Credit Union.

This is a Management Service position and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority. The Assistant Manager of the Background Investigations Unit provides operational leadership, supervisory oversight, and regulatory compliance management to ensure completion of high-quality background investigations and timely Application for Certification (AFC) processing in accordance with COMAR, MPCTC standards, DPSCS policy, and applicable federal and state laws. Through supervision of investigators, AFC staff, and administrative personnel, the position ensures that only qualified, competent, and suitable individuals enter positions of public trust, thereby strengthening safety, accountability, and professionalism across the Department.

Requirements

• Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Four(4) years of professional HR experience involving talent acquisition and full cycle recruitment processes.
• At least two (2) years of this experience must have been in a supervisory capacity.
• Professional HR management work in the areas of recruitment and selection, classification, salary administration, test development and validation or as a generalist may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for up to four (4) years of the required education.

Nice To Haves

• Two years’ experience in employment background investigations or security clearances.
• Experience completing record checks using National Criminal Information Center (NCIC), Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), or other criminal history databases.
• Experience supervising in a fast pace multi-location environment.

Responsibilities

• Supervises daily operations of the Background Investigations Unit, including staff oversight, caseload distribution, productivity monitoring, and workflow management.
• Reviews and approves completed background investigations.
• Conducts quality-control checks, corrective coaching, and performance reviews for investigators and administrative personnel.
• Provides technical guidance to staff on complex, sensitive, or escalated background cases.
• Manages the full AFC submission workflow, including quality checks, documentation review, error correction, and communication with MPCTC.
• Ensures accurate verification of citizenship requirements, training prerequisites, medical/psychological/physical standards, and all supporting documentation.
• Monitors AFC submission timelines, rejection rates, and regulatory compliance; develops and implements corrective strategies as needed.
• Develops and updates SOPs, training materials, process maps, and compliance guidelines for both the Background Investigations and AFC programs.
• Assists the Director with strategic planning, forecasting workload needs, evaluating staffing requirements, and monitoring unit performance benchmarks.
• Prepares and delivers presentations, reports, and data summaries for executive leadership, OSU, MPCTC, and other partners.
• Supports Department-wide hiring initiatives, recruitment events, and HR projects as assigned.

Benefits

• health insurance
• dental
• vision plans
• six (6) personnel days annually (prorated based on start date)
• ten (10) days of accumulated annual leave per year
• fifteen (15) days of accumulated sick leave per year
• up to sixty (60) days of paid parental leave upon the birth or adoption of a child
• at least twelve (12) holidays per year
• State pension

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager