Chief Human Resources Officer

State of Maryland • Baltimore City, MD

23h • Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) provides executive leadership and strategic direction for all human capital functions within the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). Serving as the Department’s senior advisor on workforce strategy, the CHRO develops and implements policies and initiatives that advance operational excellence, employee engagement, and equity across the organization. This position represents the Department on interagency workgroups, labor negotiations, and testifying before the State Legislature on agency initiatives and matters impacting HR policy. This is a Special Appointment position, and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Human Resources, Business Management or Administration, Public Administration, or other related field.
• Ten (10) years of progressive professional HR experience which must be at the managerial level; including 5 years of experience in a senior level role of a public sector entity managing multiple units within a HR office or organization and coordinating the general operations to include; applying personnel rules and regulations, developing recruitment and retention strategies and supporting promotional processes.
• Professional HR management work in the areas of recruitment and selection, classification, salary administration, employee relations, test development and validation or as a generalist may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for up to four years of the required education.
• Paraprofessional personnel work experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for up to four years of the required education. Paraprofessional personnel work is defined as work involving the application of public sector personnel procedures, policies, rules and regulations to specific employment actions. Appropriate paraprofessional personnel experience includes responsibility for activities such as: preparing and maintaining employment records, calculating salaries, applying personnel-related rules and policies, preparing personnel-related reports, conducting employee orientation and counseling employees regarding benefits and obligations and responding to inquiries concerning employment procedures.
• Thirty graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university in the fields of HR/personnel administration, business administration, public administration, statistics, tests and measurements, psychology or a related field may be substituted for up to two years of the required experience.
• Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in human resources management classifications or human resources management specialty codes in the human resources management field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

Nice To Haves

• Professional certification such as SHRM-SCP, HRCI SPHR, or PSHRA SCP
• Experience working for a large organization (5000+ positions)
• Experience working in a collective bargaining environment
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise human resource functions within a correctional agency, law enforcement organization, or other public safety environment.

Responsibilities

• Reviews and creates long range plans, goals and objectives, and provides input into the coordination of human resources with the administrative and operation functions of the Department.
• Establishes policies, procedures, priorities and deadlines governing all human resources areas of responsibilities.
• Establishes standards for the attainment of goals and ensures all human resources operations and programs are effectively coordinated with a customer-focused mindset.
• Demonstrates strong leadership in strategic planning, culture transformation, and employee engagement while effectively managing people and systems.
• Evaluates programs and procedures against organizational goals and resources, taking corrective action or making informed recommendations to ensure alignment with the Division’s mission and objectives.
• Reviews adverse personnel actions to ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations.
• Implements and manages programs in accordance with State statutes, regulations, agency policies, federal court mandates, accepted correctional standards, and memoranda of understanding with employee organizations, requiring the ability to navigate a unionized environment.
• Provides strategic oversight, direction, development and optimization of HR business processes and information technology systems. Innovates and modernizes as appropriate to meet current and anticipated business requirements.
• Exercises independent judgment and decision-making within the framework of government regulations, agency policies, and accepted correctional standards, requiring a deep understanding of equity, labor and employment law, and HR technology, along with exceptional emotional intelligence and communication skills.
• Provides oversight for all people development processes, including succession planning, talent acquisition, performance management, and reporting and analytics on human capital related metrics and trends.
• Directs and oversees all human resources operations and programs, including recruitment, background investigations, classification and compensation, employee relations, strategic support, and five regional HR support across the state.
• Maintains effective lines of communication and fosters collaboration across all levels of the Department to ensure the efficient management of human capital.
• Builds and sustains strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including local, state, and federal agencies, management officials, and employees.
• Communicates clearly and consistently both orally and in writing with staff, leadership, and the public.
• Ensures that correspondence, reports, memoranda, and directives are prepared and disseminated as needed.
• Supports the EEO program by promoting equitable treatment and positive engagement throughout the workforce.
• Manages and develops departmental staff by delegating authority appropriately, administering personnel matters, mentoring staff and identifying training needs to strengthen employee capability and performance.
• Cultivates an inclusive culture that prioritizes collaboration, continuous improvement, and accountability; leading by example to inspire fairness, transparency, and service while guiding change initiatives that enhance employee engagement and improve organizational performance across the Department.
• Ensures the responsible and efficient use of departmental funds, aligning expenditures with strategic priorities and State fiscal policies.
• Reviews and monitors spending on contracts, supplies, training, and operational activities to promote cost-effectiveness and transparency.
• Evaluates staffing and resource needs to optimize the use of contractual employees and other funding sources while maintaining compliance with State directives and budgetary constraints.

Benefits

• medical and dental coverage
• paid time off (i.e. vacation, sick leave)
• State pension
• supplemental retirement options
• Maryland State Employees Credit Union
• health insurance, dental, and vision plans offered at a low cost
• 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

What This Job Offers

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