Executive Director, Maryland Center for School Safety

State of Maryland•Baltimore County, MD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Executive Director of the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS) provides statewide executive vision, strategic leadership, and operational administration pursuant to Maryland law. Appointed by and reporting directly to the School Safety Subcabinet, the Executive Director directs implementation of statutory mandates under the Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018 and subsequent legislative requirements, including oversight of executive staff and operational divisions. The role oversees public and private school safety grants and statewide programs, including the Safe Schools Maryland 24/7/365 anonymous reporting system, the School Resource Officer and School Security Employee Training Academy, Behavioral Threat Assessment policy, and coordinated emergency preparedness and response. The Executive Director also promotes collaboration among federal, state, and local education, law enforcement, behavioral health, and emergency management organizations. The position provides leadership and operational management to MCSS personnel, units, and regional operations; establishes and monitors agency strategic plans, performance dashboards, procedures, and policies; leads the executive team; and oversees agency budgets, personnel allocations, and school safety grant portfolios. The Executive Director advises and serves as liaison to the School Safety Subcabinet and School Safety Advisory Board, develops partnerships with government agencies and local school systems, and represents MCSS before state leadership, the legislature, commissions, and national school safety workgroups.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Education, Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Risk or Emergency Management, Occupational Safety, Facilities Design, or a related field.
Eight years of progressive administrative and/or management experience in an environment requiring safety threat identification, remediation, and policy development.
At least two years of the required experience must involve supervising professional staff.
Candidates must consent to a State and FBI (CJIS) background check.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of state and national education policy issues regarding school safety.
Demonstrated ability to lead and manage activities focused on improving school safety and safe-to-learn environments.
Ability to represent MCSS to the State Board of Education, legislature, Governor’s Office, state law enforcement agencies, and local education agencies.
Ability to interpret federal and State policies, regulations, laws, and procedures.
A master’s degree or 36 graduate credits in a related field may substitute for two years of non-supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

Provide executive leadership, operational management, and strategic direction to MCSS personnel, units, and regional operations.
Establish, evaluate, and enforce agency-wide strategic plans, performance dashboards, Standard Operating Procedures, and administrative policies to support statutory compliance.
Direct the executive leadership team, promoting accountability, staff development, equitable workload distribution, and cross-functional operational redundancy.
Oversee agency fiscal operations, state budget appropriations, personnel allocations, and the administration and monitoring of school safety grants.
Direct statewide school safety programs, including Safe Schools Maryland, the SRO and SSE Training Academy, Behavioral Threat Assessment policy, and coordinated emergency preparedness and response.
Serve as principal advisor and operational liaison to the School Safety Subcabinet and School Safety Advisory Board; coordinate public hybrid proceedings, provide intelligence and operational updates, and execute policies and recommendations.
Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with federal and state agencies, local education agencies, law enforcement, and local school systems.
Represent MCSS before the Governor, Maryland General Assembly, legislative committees, state commissions, and national school safety workgroups.