Early Detection and Prevention Program Manager (Program Manager-I), Grade 23

Montgomery County • 100 Maryland Ave Rockville MD 20850 USA, MD

17h • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is ONLY open to current Montgomery County Government employees, employees affected by a reduction-in-force with priority rights, active local fire and rescue department volunteers with at least 50 points under the length of service award program (LOSAP), or active Project SEARCH Interns or former Montgomery County Government Customized Employment Public Interns, or Project SEARCH Interns within 24 months of completion of internship. The salary range represents the position's earning potential, with an anticipated hiring range of $78,929.00 to $118,072.00 based on qualifications and experience. We are seeking an analytical, resourceful, and mission-driven Program Manager I, Grade 23, to manage and advance the Office of Consumer Protection’s Early Detection and Prevention Program. This role is responsible for identifying emerging consumer protection risks, developing practical prevention and compliance strategies, and helping the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) intervene before violations result in widespread consumer harm. The ideal candidate will have professional experience in regulated programs or operational environments requiring consistent application of laws, policies, procedures, and documentation. Candidates should be able to independently analyze complex or incomplete information, recognize patterns and potential risks, evaluate possible responses, and develop well-supported recommendations. Experience in developing a program, process, or compliance initiative from scratch or improving an existing one, including creating procedures, tracking methods, performance measures, and reports, is particularly desired. The successful candidate will be comfortable coordinating with government agencies, regulated businesses, community organizations, the public, and internal staff. They must be able to clearly explain regulatory or program requirements, prepare professional reports and presentations, and manage issues from research and analysis through recommendation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Key qualities sought include program development and management, regulatory and compliance experience, analytical judgment, process development and improvement, emerging-issue response, data and management reporting, stakeholder coordination, communication and training, independent judgment and accountability, and a commitment to public service.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree.
• Three (3) years of professional experience in a program or specialization area related to compliance, regulatory programs, consumer protection, or similar program management work involving early detection, prevention, education, or data-informed program support.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
• Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant's state of residence when required for job-related duties.
• Ability to drive a county vehicle to perform job-related duties.
• Completion of a pre-employment Medical History Form.
• Filing a Financial Disclosure Statement.
• Ability to independently analyze complex or incomplete information, recognize patterns and potential risks, evaluate possible responses, and develop well-supported recommendations for management.
• Ability to develop a program, process, or compliance initiative when no established approach existed or when one needed improvement, including creating procedures, tracking methods, performance measures, reports, and other tools.
• Comfort in coordinating with government agencies, regulated businesses, community organizations, members of the public, and internal staff.
• Ability to explain regulatory or program requirements clearly, prepare professional reports and presentations, and move an issue from initial research and analysis through recommendation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Ability to manage assignments with limited direction, maintain accurate records, address routine issues independently, recognize matters requiring escalation, and keep management informed of program accomplishments, risks, and sensitive concerns.
• Commitment to protecting the public, promoting regulatory fairness, improving government programs, and preventing harm through early identification, education, compliance, and coordinated intervention.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in independently planning, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating programs, compliance initiatives, or significant operational projects.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, and procedural requirements in a regulated government, compliance, licensing, enforcement, public-safety, or comparable environment.
• Experience in analyzing considerable and sometimes incomplete information, identifying trends or risk indicators, evaluating alternatives, and developing practical recommendations for management.
• Demonstrated ability to create or improve procedures, workflows, tracking systems, compliance controls, and performance measures to address program needs.
• Ability to research unfamiliar or developing issues, determine their potential program impact, and design an organized response when existing practices do not fully address the situation.
• Experience collecting, organizing, and analyzing program information and presenting findings through written reports, data summaries, visualizations, briefings, or recommendations.
• Skill in working cooperatively with internal staff, other government agencies, community partners, regulated entities, and members of the public to advance shared program objectives and resolve operational issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex requirements, prepare professional correspondence and reports, deliver presentations or training, and support public education activities.
• Experience in regulatory or compliance interpretation and application in a government or similarly regulated environment.
• Experience analyzing complex or incomplete information, identifying trends or emerging risks, evaluating alternatives, and preparing findings or recommendations for management.
• Experience developing or enhancing procedures, workflows, tracking systems, compliance controls, performance measures, or other tools used to implement and evaluate a program.
• Experience collaborating with government agencies, regulated businesses, community organizations, internal teams, or the public, and communicating program requirements, findings, or recommendations through reports, presentations, training, or outreach.
• Experience using tools such as Microsoft Excel, Power BI, SharePoint, or comparable systems to organize program information, identify trends, monitor performance, or prepare management reports and visual presentations.

Responsibilities

• Independently plan, implement, manage, and evaluate initiatives to identify emerging consumer protection risks and address potential violations before they cause widespread consumer harm.
• Oversee proactive compliance efforts involving regulated businesses, licensing and registration requirements, the development of marketplace practices, and trends identified through complaints, community reports, regulatory information, and program data.
• Guide issues from initial identification and research through program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Regularly analyze substantial, sometimes incomplete, information, assess alternative approaches, and present findings and recommended actions to management.
• Develop and implement processes to track identified businesses, potential violations, corrective actions, referrals, program outcomes, and other measures of program effectiveness.
• Use data-analysis and reporting tools (such as Power BI and Excel) to identify trends, measure results, and communicate program findings.
• Prepare analytical reports, data summaries, presentations, briefing materials, and recommendations for management and other decision-makers.
• Draft compliance correspondence, notices, conditional registration terms, program guidance, procedures, and other documents necessary to implement program decisions.
• Communicate with regulated businesses to explain requirements, identify needed corrective actions, promote voluntary compliance, and document outcomes.
• Collaborate with investigators and other staff to determine when concerns require further research, compliance action, investigation, enforcement, or public education.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with County departments, State and federal agencies, community organizations, regulated industries, and other partners.
• Coordinate multi-agency or stakeholder initiatives to collect information, assess compliance, address emerging risks, and develop consistent responses to consumer protection concerns.
• Support community forums, educational presentations, business outreach, and other public-facing activities related to identified consumer risks and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor program performance to determine whether prevention and compliance strategies are achieving measurable results and recommend adjustments when needed.
• Advise management of program accomplishments, challenges, significant compliance concerns, sensitive matters, and issues with broader operational, policy, or community implications.
• Perform related program management duties and special projects in support of OCP’s consumer protection mission.

Benefits

• Limited hybrid telework, up to two days per week, after the initial training and probation period.
• Occasional evening and weekend hours based on program needs.

What This Job Offers

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