Designated Administrative Manager Senior I (055415) Director, Office of Policy Development

Designated Administrative Manager Senior I (055415)

Director, Office of Policy Development

Recruitment # 26-005223-0001 Filing Deadline – 2/18/2026 11:59:00 PM

Salary - $104,519 - $138,943/year (Grade 23 with promotional growth to $162,800)

This is a Political Special Appointment position with full Maryland State Benefits 

Work that Matters.  The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is a nationally-recognized thought leader in bold and transformative approaches to housing development and community revitalization.  Within DHCD, the Division of Policy, Strategy, & Research (DPSR) works to develop innovative housing policies using data, empirical research, and best practices from the fields of housing and community development.  DPSR also supports strategic planning and special initiatives for the agency, including especially efforts to address Maryland's housing affordability crisis.

DHCD is looking to immediately hire a qualified Director, Office of Policy Development  within the Division of Policy, Strategy, and Research.  The Director of the Office of Policy Development (OPD) leads the unit at the agency that is responsible for researching, recommending, and drafting state legislation. 

DHCD offers a flexible work schedule, telework and job sharing options, training, advancement and career path opportunities, casual business dress on Fridays, and a competitive salary. There is ample parking and our offices are located in walking distance to the New Carrollton MARC Train Station.  

GRADE

23

This position offers a salary range of $104,519 - $138,943/year, with potential for advancement up to $162,800 based on qualifications, equity, and hiring guidelines.  Initial salary offers are determined by qualifications, experience, and available budget, and typically do not exceed $138,943/year. 

LOCATION OF POSITION

7800 Harkins Road Lanham 20706

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Headquarters is located in Prince George’s County across from the New Carrollton Metro Stop.

POSITION DUTIES

As part of the policy development process, OPD additionally supports DHCD’s Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) in advocating on behalf of DHCD’s legislative proposals in the Maryland General Assembly, and the OPD similarly supports OLA in advocating for or against legislative or non-legislative policy proposals that are relevant to DHCD’s mission and objectives.  The Director of OPD also tracks and evaluates best practices and emergent situations in Maryland and across the country, including staying abreast of local, state, and federal legislation, policies, and regulations.

The Director of OPD is responsible for supervising one full-time staff position: the Senior Policy Advisor. The Director may at times also be responsible for supervising one or more interns or contract staff, especially in relation to a special program or funding award, such as the HUD PRO Housing Grant (the implementation of which is led by OPD).

The Director will also typically represent DHCD on any number of internal and external committees, work groups, task forces, or collaboratives. The Director is considered among DHCD’s Senior Staff Team, and therefore the Director has frequent interactions with the Executive Team (including the Secretary), and the Director is frequently responsible for making recommendations to the Secretary and, where appropriate, the Governor’s Legislative Office, regarding policy matters of relevance to DHCD.

MINIMIUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in Public Policy, Urban Planning, Political Science, Public Administration, or a closely related field.

Experience: Five years of professional experience working in one or more government agencies, advocacy organizations, think tanks, or the offices of elected officials, including two years of supervisory experience.

DESIRED OR PREFERREDQUALIFICATIONS

• Management experience (ex: Experience managing / supervising interns or research assistants, experience overseeing deliverables from subcontractors or vendors).
• Policy Development experience (ex: drafting legislation at local and/or state levels, ideally in Maryland, preparing policy briefs or analysis, recommending or evaluating amendments to legislative proposals, making recommendations to the Principal of an organization or government leader, Familiarity with Maryland statute / COMAR).
• Policy Advocacy experience (ex: Experience preparing testimony in support of / in opposition to local, state, or federal legislation, preparing policy briefs on specific legislation or policy topics, working with or advocating to elected officials, interacting with staff at local, state, or federal agencies, familiarity with practices and processes common to the Maryland General Assembly).
• Housing and Community development experience (ex: Formal academic or on-the-job training and/or certifications related to the field, advanced knowledge of the field of housing development and programs, including housing finance, federal funding streams/programs, housing supply chains, homelessness / housing insecurity, etc., presenting complex housing topics to audiences with diverse knowledge backgrounds.

TTY Users: Call via Maryland Relay

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country and encourage them to apply.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.

For more information and to apply:

Job Announcement: Designated Administrative Manager Senior I (055415) - State of Maryland