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Senior Director, Office of Home Energy Programs

PROGRAM MANAGER IV

Recruitment #24-005479-0024

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Introduction

 

When you join the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS), you join a team of more than 5,000 employees across the state dedicated to positively changing the lives of more than 1 million Marylanders each year. We do this by providing economic support, preventive services, and caring for children and adults. 


We aim to deliver services so that we more quickly meet the needs of the people we serve. At DHS, we grapple with hard questions to find new ways to foster a culture of bold innovation. We do this to ensure that in Maryland, we leave no one behind. 

This is a Management Services position, and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.
This position has been reposted.  Applicants that already applied, do not need to reapply. 

 

GRADE

22

LOCATION OF POSITION

Maryland Department of Human Services 
Family Investment Administration
25 S. Charles St. 
Baltimore, MD 21201

Main Purpose of Job

The Maryland Department of Human Services’ Family Investment Administration (FIA) is responsible for administering statewide public assistance programs to address food insecurity, alleviate poverty, and ensure the wellbeing of low-income income individuals. The main purpose of this position is to oversee various energy assistance programs administered under FIA’s Office of Energy Assistance Programs or OHEP. Under the auspices of FIA, OHEP provides bill assistance to low-income households in the State of Maryland to make their energy costs more affordable and to help with the prevention of loss and the restoration of home energy service. Programs under OHEP oversight include the federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). State-funded programs include Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) and Arrearage Retirement Assistance. Other services include the Utility Service Protection Program (USPP) designed to protect low-income families from utility turn- offs during the heating season; and Weatherization and Energy Efficiency Services designed to lower utility bills and make the home more comfortable for qualifying households. An individual in this position oversees a combined budget of over $160 million, serving as a focus point of contact for federal agencies, senior government officials, legislators, utility companies, advocates, the Public Service Commission, and The People’s Council. He or she is responsible for program policy development and implementation, determining resources needed to effectively administer the program, and developing short and long-range plans for program operations. He or she establishes program goals and performance standards and develops controls to ensure effective program oversight.

POSITION DUTIES

  • Policy Development and Implementation: The incumbent will interpret authorizing statutes and regulations, support a network of over 400 electric, gas, and water utility providers by overseeing the development of program policies, developing and overseeing implementation of technical assistance to ensure that vendors are aware of and meet program requirements. The incumbent will also lead the development and submission of federal State Plans for the LIHEAP program.
  • Contract Management: The Senior Director will manage the contract development process, overseeing contract monitoring and program compliance reviews. He or she will work with the DHS Office of Procurement to ensure that contracts are processed timely. He or she will develop and oversee implementation of a contract oversight plan.  The plan should include a process for determining and addressing technical assistance needs, standard operating procedures for contract monitoring, and policy compliance reviews. The incumbent will also lead the development of Federal Grant Proposals.
  • Budget Development and Oversight: Collaborate with the Division of Budget Management to develop program budgets, negotiate service costs with vendors, develop invoice processing procedures and ensure timely payments to vendors and monitor program spending to prevent over/under spending. 
  • Reporting: Work with the MDTHINK Team to develop or enhance Information Technology systems for eligibility determination, data collection and reports. Develop data collection methodology for each program based on program reporting requirements and other needs. Lead the development of routine and ad hoc reports – this includes federal reports, legislative reports, Freedom of Information Act Requests, and others. The incumbent shall conduct routine data analysis to assess program outcomes and inform program improvement efforts.
  • Public Relations Management: Schedule and lead routine meetings with utility providers, advocates, the Public Service Commission, The People’s Council, and Local Departments of Social Services to share program updates and receive feedback on ways to improve customer experience. Develop and execute outreach plans to ensure that low-income individuals are aware of Maryland’s energy assistance programs.
  • Personnel Management: Assign work to subordinates, create a culture of learning and encourage professional development for direct reports, recruit and train staff, conduct staff performance evaluation, and work with HRDT to address personnel issues before they become major organizational problems.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a Public Policy, Business Administration, Public Administration, or similar closely related major.
Experience: Four years of experience working in a Human Services Organization.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will have demonstrated many or preferably all of the following:

  • Two years of experience managing government funded programs and projects (preferably Governmental Assistance Programs including but not limited to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs, Home Energy Programs/Low Income Home Energy Assistance Programs).
  • Three years’ experience developing and monitoring budgets with state and federal funding and contract monitoring.
  • Three years of experience involving writing comprehensive documents such as policy briefs, executive memos, white papers, operation plans, policy manuals, etc.
  • Knowledge of how to research and analyze government regulations and policies.
  • Strong leadership and management skills, strong communication skills, ability to implement change, motivate staff, and build and maintain relationships with federal, state, and local partners.

    SELECTION PROCESS

    Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. It is important that you report all related education and experience that is relevant to this recruitment qualifications. We will not consider information submitted after this date.  Successful candidates will be placed on the employment (eligible) list. The resulting list may be used for future vacancies with this agency.

    BENEFITS

    As an employee of the State of Maryland, you will have access to outstanding benefits, including: health insurance, dental, and vision plans offered at a low cost. CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR MORE DETAILS: STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS.

    • Personal Leave - new State employees are awarded six (6) personnel days annually (prorated based on start date).
    • Annual Leave - ten (10) days of accumulated annual leave per year.
    • Sick Leave - fifteen (15) days of accumulated sick leave per year.  
    • Parental Leave - up to sixty (60) days of paid parental leave upon the birth or adoption of a child.
    • Holidays - State employees also celebrate at least twelve (12) holidays per year.  
    • Pension - State employees earn credit towards a retirement pension.
    • Positions may be eligible for telework.

    FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

    The online application process is STRONGLY preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may mail a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to, Department of Human Services, Employment Services, Attention: Stacey Nelson, 25 South Charles St, Room 1116-L, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.

    If you have any questions concerning the recruitment process for this position, please email Stacey Nelson at stacey.nelson1@maryland.gov; include the job title and recruitment # in the subject line.

    If you are having difficulty with your user account or have general questions about the online application system, please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment and Examination Division, at 410-767-4850 or Application.Help@maryland.gov.

    TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay.

    As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.



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