This Management Service position serves at the Appointing Authority's pleasure.
A resume must accompany your completed application.
22
PTEU- Charles H. Hickey Jr. School West Campus
9700 Old Harford Road
Join Us in Making a Difference at DJS!
The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) is dedicated to transforming young lives, creating safer communities, and fostering equitable systems. We are seeking passionate individuals for the role of the Administrative Program Manager IV, so come join our team and make a meaningful impact on our youth and the staff community at DJS!
The Director of Professional Development & Training serves as the chief architect of the Department’s learning ecosystem, rooted in the belief that well-supported staff are the key to transformative youth outcomes. The main purpose of this executive-level role is to oversee the strategic design, implementation, and evaluation of all entry-level and continuous education programs, ensuring that every member of the DJS team – from residential facilities to community operations as well as support staff– is not just trained, but truly equipped to thrive.
Empowering Our Workforce
You will lead a high-stakes unit dedicated to the professional growth and personal wellbeing of our staff. By providing robust, high-quality training, you ensure that DJS staff possess the skills needed to perform their roles with confidence and safety. This role recognizes that comprehensive training reduces workplace stress, fosters professional resilience, and creates a culture of care that extends from our staff to the youth we serve.
Strategic Leadership & Scope
The Director works in close partnership with Executive Leadership to coordinate specialized professional development for staff across agency units - focusing on direct care staff, leaders and managers. For units operating outside the strict mandates of the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions (MPCTC), you will design learning paths that ensure these operations receive an equivalent level of support and resource allocation.
Compliance & Clinical Excellence
The Director ensures seamless compliance with MPCTC standards while championing a holistic approach to juvenile justice. You will integrate advanced behavioral health frameworks—specifically DBT and CBT—into the core curriculum. By bridging the gap between operational security and therapeutic support, you help create a stable, informed environment where both staff and youth can achieve their best possible outcomes.
Some key responsibilities of this position may include, but not be limited, to the following:
- Direct the Entry-Level Training (ELT) academies for all required residential and community supervision roles.
- Oversee rigorous audits of training records to guarantee 100% compliance for annual re-certifications, protecting the professional standard of every staff member.
- Develop specialized onboarding and professional tracks that empower staff across all agency units, ensuring every employee has a clear path for growth.
- Lead and mentor a diverse team of Training Coordinators, Curriculum Developers, and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), fostering a unit culture of innovation and empathy.
- Drive the long-term vision of a 'Learning Organization' that prioritizes career longevity, recognizing that invested, well-trained staff are the department’s greatest asset.
- Promote staff confidence in implementing rehabilitative evidence-based skills through training offerings that connect clinical theory and daily practice organically.
- Primary Coordinator between Human Resources and Information Technology to facilitate a user-friendly digital learning experience and automated training tracking.
- Serve as the agency’s subject matter expert on Adult Learning Principles, ensuring that training across all units is not just 'delivered,' but is engaging, relevant, and designed for maximum retention and practical application.
Education: Master's Degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Social Work, Education, or another comparable advanced degree in a related behavioral science or leadership field.
Experience: Eight years of progressive leadership in a large-scale training environment (Public Safety or Human Services preferred).
Certifications: MPCTC Instructor Certification (or ability to obtain).
Knowledge: Expert level understanding of the Maryland Juvenile system and foundations of professional/leadership development.
The preferred candidate for this position may possess any of the following qualifications:
- Proficiency in DBT/CBT
- Proficiency in leadership development frameworks
Please ensure that your completed application includes sufficient information to demonstrate that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All documentation related to your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date; information received after this date will not be considered. Candidates who meet the qualifications will remain on the certified eligible list for a period of one (1) year. This list may also be used to fill similar positions within this classification in the future.
The assessment will involve a rating of your application based on your education, training, and/or experience as it relates to the position's requirements. Therefore, it is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Please report all relevant experience and education. For education obtained outside the U.S., you will be required to provide proof of equivalent American education, as determined by a Foreign Credential Evaluation Service, at the time of hire. Please complete the supplemental questionnaire, if applicable. They will be used when rating applications. Please note that your answers on the supplemental questionnaire must correspond to the information provided on your completed application to receive credit. Missing or incomplete supplemental questionnaires may impact the overall rating of your completed application.
If you are a Veteran applying for this position, please submit your DD 214 Long Form with your completed application to receive proper credit.
STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS
The online application process is
STRONGLY recommended. However, if you are unable to apply online, you may submit a completed paper application and supplemental questionnaire responses via email or fax to the addresses provided below. If using fax or regular mail, ensure each page includes your First and Last Name, the Recruitment Number (located at the top of the posting), and the last four digits of your SS#. Paper application materials
must be received by 5:00 PM on the closing date for the recruitment. Applications received after this time, or those with incorrect forms, will not be accepted. Postmarks will not be considered.
Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
OHR-Recruitment & Examination Unit
217 E. Redwood Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Attn: Nicole Jones, Recruitment # 26-005475-0003
Fax number 410-333-4188
TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay
If you are having difficulty with your user account or have general questions about the online application system, please contact the Maryland Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment and Examination Division at 410-767-4850 or
[email protected]. Should additional information regarding this recruitment be required, please contact the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, Recruitment and Examination Unit at
[email protected]. Include the Recruitment Title/Number that is located at the top of the bulletin.
As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.
DJS values the experience gained by Veterans while serving our country.
Veterans are welcome to apply for all current recruitments.
Bilingual applicants and people with disabilities are welcome to apply for all recruitments.
Candidates with lived experience relating to the criminal/juvenile legal system are encouraged to apply.
We welcome experienced professionals transitioning from federal service to explore rewarding career opportunities.
