Senior Advisor to Secretary

State of Maryland • Carroll, MD

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) is seeking dedicated candidates to fill important roles within our department. DPSCS is one of the largest departments in Maryland with nearly 12,000 employees and a budget of more than $1 billion. The department's mission is to promote safety, increase security at its institutions, and lead the way in innovative restorative justice projects that will help offenders reintegrate into society upon release. As a member of the DPSCS team, you can have a fulfilling career, while also enjoying a wide range of benefits such as medical and dental coverage, paid time off (i.e. vacation, sick leave), becoming vested in the State pension, supplemental retirement options, and even joining the Maryland State Employees Credit Union. This is a contractual position where the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority. The position is located in Carroll County, Maryland, at the Police and Correctional Training Commissions. This position may require frequent travel.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, or Business Administration.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in government, policy-making, or public safety.
• At least 3 years of providing counsel to high-ranking executives, officials, or agency heads.

Nice To Haves

• Five (5) years of supervisory experience in State or Federal Government.
• Master’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, or Business Administration.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, providing expert counsel to the Secretary on department-wide fiscal, operational, and personnel management.
• Establishes and leads a proactive system of high-level audits and strategic analysis focused on personnel operations, organizational structures, and fiscal responsibility.
• Identifies systemic risks, ensures compliance with state and federal regulations, and oversees the development and implementation of comprehensive corrective action plans (CAPs) to address audit findings and modernize agency operations.
• Conducts regular, high-level audits of personnel operations across DPSCS facilities and divisions, with a focus on payroll timeliness, leave management, and organizational structure efficiency.
• Analyzes complex audit findings and identifies significant federal and state compliance risks, particularly regarding labor laws, SPS Human Resource Coordinator role transactions, and manual payroll adjustments.
• Develops, implements, and monitors agency-wide Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) with specific timelines and designated responsibilities to address Office of Legislative Audits (OLA) findings and internal risk assessments.
• Serves as the primary executive liaison between the Secretary's office, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and the Office of Fair Practices and Inclusion (OFPI) to address systemic personnel issues, audit coordination, and EEO-protected activities.
• Produces and presents regular, data-driven reports for the Secretary detailing personnel and operational trends, audit progress, and the long-term effectiveness of implemented corrective measures.

Benefits

• Medical and dental coverage
• Paid time off (vacation, sick leave)
• State pension
• Supplemental retirement options
• Maryland State Employees Credit Union
• Subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents (contractual employees working 30+ hours/week may be eligible for 75% subsidy)
• Option to enroll in dental coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance (full premium paid by employee)
• Leave granted at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year (for contractual employees)

What This Job Offers

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