HBCU Liaison

State of Maryland•Baltimore City, MD

14d•Onsite

About The Position

The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) is seeking an energetic, highly motivated individual to serve as the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Liaison. This is a Management Service position that serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority. The HBCU Liaison is a dedicated executive role designed to strengthen the capacity of Maryland's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The role focuses on robust stakeholder engagement, convening institutional representatives, providing oversight for state programs, and maintaining broad policy awareness. The primary purpose is to ensure state higher education policies effectively support the unique missions, sustainability, and student success goals of Maryland’s HBCUs. This position reports directly to the Secretary of Higher Education.

Requirements

A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Higher Education Administration, Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, or a related field.
Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education administration, state/federal government, public policy, or government relations.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., or J.D.) in a relevant discipline.
Experience working within a State Higher Education Executive Office (SHEEO) or equivalent coordinating/governing board.
Familiarity with the Maryland General Assembly, state budgeting processes, and Maryland's specific higher education landscape.
Demonstrated professional experience working directly with or advocating on behalf of HBCUs.
Comprehensive understanding of the historical context, unique missions, and current landscape of HBCUs at both the state and national levels.
Proven ability to build consensus and maintain relationships with high-level stakeholders, including university executives and elected officials.
Strong working knowledge of higher education policy, state legislative processes, and executive branch operations.
Experience managing or overseeing grant programs, ensuring compliance, and evaluating program outcomes.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data into clear, actionable legislative reports and executive briefings.

Responsibilities

Facilitates and leads regular, structured convenings with HBCU leadership and campus representatives to ensure direct lines of communication, foster collaboration, and address institutional needs.
Serves as the primary executive-branch point of contact for Maryland's HBCUs, building strategic partnerships with internal state agencies and external entities (e.g., federal agencies, workforce boards, philanthropic organizations) to support campus infrastructure and student success initiatives.
Coordinates cross-agency efforts to streamline communication, share best practices, and improve operational alignment between state government and the HBCUs.
Manages and provides oversight for state-funded grant programs and special appropriations specifically designated for Maryland's HBCUs.
Monitors grant compliance, evaluates program outcomes, and works alongside institutional partners to ensure resources are utilized effectively to support student and institutional success.
Drafts, compiles, and submits legislatively mandated reports regarding HBCU initiatives, funding outcomes, and strategic goals on behalf of MHEC to the Governor's Office and the General Assembly.
Partners with MHEC’s research and data divisions to gather and analyze metrics on HBCU performance, enrollment, and postsecondary attainment to fulfill statutory reporting requirements.
Monitors, analyzes, and briefs the Secretary on state and federal higher education policies, tracking their potential impacts on HBCU operations and student populations.
Serves as a subject matter expert during the legislative session, reviewing proposed bills, preparing informational briefings, and communicating with the General Assembly to provide context on HBCU-related priorities and state initiatives.
Synthesizes national higher education trends and research (such as SHEEO state policy research on supporting HBCUs) to inform Maryland’s higher education policy frameworks, ensuring an awareness of the historical context and unique demographic footprint of HBCUs.
Leads initiatives focused on ways to strengthen the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest quality education and increase their participation in statewide postsecondary programs.
Identifies and works collaboratively to resolve administrative or operational barriers within state processes that may hinder HBCU operations or the efficient utilization of available state and federal resources.
Acts as an internal resource within the Commission to ensure HBCU perspectives are integrated into broader state attainment goals and workforce alignment strategies.
Makes recommendations to the Secretary regarding the implementation, modification, or review of state higher education policies affecting HBCUs.
Recommends frameworks for grant administration, compliance monitoring, and reporting structures for HBCU-specific funds.
Decides on the prioritization of legislative tracking and the structure/agenda of executive convenings with institutional representatives.