Dda External Affairs Director

State of Maryland•Baltimore City, MD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of External Affairs provides executive leadership and strategic direction for the Developmental Disabilities Administration's external engagement functions, including legislative affairs, constituent services, communications, and stakeholder relations. This position serves as the principal advisor to the Chief of Staff on external affairs strategy, ensuring consistent messaging, proactive and responsive constituent engagement, key stakeholders, and effective communication of the Administration's policies, initiatives, and priorities. The Director fosters collaboration with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families, providers, advocacy organizations, state and local government partners, and the public to advance DDA's mission, strengthen public trust, and support informed policy development and implementation.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Six years of health or human services administrative or professional experience.
Three years of supervisory or managerial level experience.
Experience in communications, public relations, public affairs, public policy, journalism, business administration, or marketing is preferred.
A Master's degree from an accredited college or university will substitute for one year of general experience.
A Doctorate will substitute for two years of general experience.
Additional experience will substitute on a year-for-year basis for the college degree.
Exceptional written, verbal, and executive communication skills.
Strong political and strategic judgment.
Demonstrated ability to translate complex policies and initiatives into clear, accessible messages.
Experience navigating state legislative and governmental processes.
Proven record of building trusted relationships.
Proven record of fostering consensus among diverse stakeholders.
Proven record of strengthening constituent responsiveness.
Proven record of advancing public trust.

Nice To Haves

Seasoned executive leader with significant experience in media relations, external affairs, legislative and government relations, strategic communications, public policy, constituent services, and stakeholder engagement.
Knowledge of disabilities policy, human services, health care, or other complex public-sector environments is strongly preferred.
Experience with Maryland State government, the Governor's Office, Maryland General Assembly, advocacy organizations, or comparable government and community partners would be particularly valuable.
Strategic, collaborative, politically astute, and highly credible leader.

Responsibilities

Provides executive leadership and strategic direction for external engagement functions.
Serves as the principal advisor to the Chief of Staff on external affairs strategy.
Ensures consistent messaging, proactive and responsive constituent engagement, and effective communication of policies, initiatives, and priorities.
Fosters collaboration with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families, providers, advocacy organizations, state and local government partners, and the public.
Advances DDA's mission, strengthens public trust, and supports informed policy development and implementation.
Develops and executes organization-wide external affairs strategies.
Represents the Administration with legislators, government partners, advocacy organizations, providers, families, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the media and public.
Manages sensitive or high-profile issues.
Coordinates timely and consistent responses to emerging concerns.
Builds trusted relationships.
Fosters consensus among diverse stakeholders.
Strengthens constituent responsiveness.
Advances public trust.
Anticipates external risks and opportunities.
Provides sound counsel to executive leadership.
Ensures DDA's communications, legislative engagement, constituent services, and stakeholder relationships are aligned with its mission, strategic priorities, and policies.