Policy Specialist

State of Maryland•Baltimore City, MD

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) is seeking passionate individuals for the role of Policy Specialist (Administrator IV) to join their team and make a meaningful impact on youth and the community. The Policy Specialist leads the Department’s policy development and coordination efforts, ensuring agency-wide policies are clear, practical, and aligned with legal requirements and operational needs. This role is central to shaping how policy advances the Department’s mission, with a focus on Support Services and cross-functional alignment, offering opportunities for both independent, focused work and collaborative engagement. Serving as a trusted advisor, this position partners with subject matter experts, program leadership, and the Policy Unit to drive complex policy initiatives from concept through implementation. The role emphasizes structured collaboration, sound judgment, and clear communication to ensure consistency, accountability, and forward momentum across the organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in policy development, public administration, program analysis, regulatory compliance, or a closely related field, including demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional projects and facilitating collaboration among diverse stakeholders.
Candidates may substitute additional years of relevant professional experience in policy development, public administration, program analysis, regulatory compliance, or a closely related field on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in public administration, political science, public policy, law, or other closely related field.
Experience leading the development, revision, or implementation of formal policies, regulations, or procedural guidance within a public sector or large organizational setting.
Experience managing multiple concurrent projects or initiatives involving cross-functional coordination, competing priorities, and executive-level stakeholders.
Experience facilitating structured stakeholder engagement processes, including workgroups or meetings that require consensus-building among diverse subject matter experts and leadership.
Experience interpreting statutory, regulatory, or legal requirements and translating them into clear, actionable policy or operational guidance.
Knowledge of and/or experience with juvenile justice and/or criminal justice systems, policies, and best practices.
Knowledge of and/or experience in any of the child-serving systems (e.g., education, health and behavioral health, child welfare).

Responsibilities

Leading and managing the Department’s policy development process across assigned Support Services subject areas.
Coordinating with subject matter experts, executive leadership, and program staff to ensure policies reflect operational realities.
Facilitating structured discussions and workgroups that support collaborative, well-informed policy development.
Establishing timelines, monitoring progress, and ensuring the timely completion of policy initiatives.
Managing multiple policy projects simultaneously while maintaining alignment across divisions and program areas.
Conducting independent research to inform policy development, incorporating best practices and insights from other agencies and jurisdictions.
Ensuring all policies are written in clear, concise, and plain language accessible to staff and stakeholders.
Editing and revising policy documents with strong attention to detail, maintaining consistency in format, tone, and structure.
Translating complex statutory, legal, and regulatory requirements into practical, user-friendly guidance.
Promoting readability, clarity, and usability to support consistent understanding and application.
Coordinating policy review, clearance, and approval processes across the Department and with external partners.
Ensuring policies are complete, accurate, non-duplicative, and aligned across program areas.
Identifying and resolving conflicts, gaps, and ambiguities in policy language and application.
Maintaining quality control over final policy products and ensuring adherence to Department standards and templates.
Ensuring policy materials are organized, accessible, and maintained for both the Policy Unit and Executive leadership.
Tracking interdependent policies to ensure consistency and alignment as updates occur.
Facilitating meetings and workgroups with subject matter experts, program staff, and leadership.
Guiding discussions, navigating differing viewpoints, and building consensus among stakeholders.
Ensuring policy decisions reflect both legal requirements and operational needs.
Providing clear guidance and clarification on policy development processes and expectations.