Executive Director, Maryland Center for School Safety (Program Manager Sr. III)

Introduction The Maryland State Department of Education is dedicated to supporting a world-class educational system that prepares all students for college and career success in the 21st century. With excellent stewardship from our divisions, we oversee State and federal programs that support the needs of a diverse population – students, teachers, principals, and other educators throughout Maryland. This is a Management Service position and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority. GRADE STD0025$120,722.00 - $172,428 with progression to $190,376.00/year State Salary Guidelines may applyLOCATION OF POSITION Maryland Center for School Safety7125 Ambassador Road, Suite 130 Baltimore, MD 21244POSITION DUTIES This executive leadership position serves as the Executive Director of the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS) pursuant to Md. Ann. Code, Education Article 7-1502 (d). Appointed by and reporting directly to the School Safety Subcabinet (governed by the State Superintendent of Schools, Attorney General, Superintendent of State Police, Secretary of Health, Secretary of Disabilities, and Executive Director of the Interagency Commission on Public School Construction), the Executive Director provides statewide executive vision, strategic leadership, and operational administration for MCSS. The Executive Director directs the implementation of all statutory mandates established under the Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018 and subsequent legislative requirements. This includes the administrative oversight of the agency’s executive staff and operational divisions. The position oversees the administration of public and private school safety grants, drives statewide programs, including the Safe Schools Maryland (SSMD) 24/7/365 anonymous reporting system, the School Resource Officer (SRO) and School Security Employee (SSE) Training Academy, Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) policy, and multi-agency coordinated emergency preparedness and response. Additionally, the Executive Director fosters critical interagency collaboration across federal, state, and local educational, law enforcement, behavioral health, and emergency management entities. Provides overarching executive leadership, operational management, and strategic direction to MCSS personnel, units, and regional operations in alignment with the agency’s mission, vision, and core values. Establishes, evaluates, and enforces agency-wide strategic plans, performance dashboards, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and administrative policies to ensure rigorous statutory compliance with the Safe to Learn Act and related laws and regulations. Directs the executive leadership team fostering high accountability, staff development, equitable workload distribution, and cross-functional operational redundancy. Oversees agency fiscal operations, state budget appropriations, personnel allocations, and the administration and monitoring of the multi-million-dollar school safety grant portfolio (e.g., Safe Schools Fund Grant, SRO Adequate Coverage Grant, Hate Crimes Grant). Reporting and Audit Management Serves as principal advisor and operational liaison to the School Safety Subcabinet and School Safety Advisory Board, coordinating public hybrid proceedings, providing intelligence and operational updates, and executing Subcabinet policies and recommendations. Fosters trusted, strategic partnerships with high-ranking officials across state and federal agencies (including MSDE, MSP, MDEM, MDH, MDOD, IAC, and MCAC), local education agencies (LEAs), law enforcement command staff, and local school systems. Represents MCSS before the Governor, Maryland General Assembly, legislative committees, state commissions, and national school safety workgroups.