HR Officer I

Overview

The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) is inviting applications from motivated professionals who want a meaningful state government career with strong benefits, pension coverage, paid leave, room for advancement, and opportunities to grow professionally. DPSCS is among Maryland’s largest departments, employing nearly 12,000 people and operating with a budget of over $1 billion. Its mission includes strengthening safety across institutions and supporting restorative justice efforts that help people successfully return to the community after release.

Employees receive a broad benefits package that includes medical and dental coverage, paid time off, retirement pension participation, supplemental retirement options, and access to the Maryland State Employees Credit Union.

Position Details

Grade: 15

Location: Baltimore City, 6776 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215

This opportunity is restricted to current employees of the Field Recruitment Unit within DPSCS.

What You Will Do

This role represents the full-performance level of professional work in the Recruitment Unit. The selected person should be able to manage the DPSCS recruitment process with only general supervisory direction and act as a support resource for junior HR staff.

• Partner with subject-matter experts and hiring managers to define preferred, selective, and other job qualifications, along with training-and-experience ratings
• Review applications to decide whether candidates are qualified or not, and inform rejected applicants
• Maintain recruitment tracking systems such as Smartsheets and JobAps
• Stay in contact with candidates during each stage of recruiting and selection so they remain informed
• Support DPSCS agencies with guidance on recruitment and selection rules and procedures
• Enter applicant data accurately into the system
• Deliver front-line customer service by phone and in person in a busy office that supports multiple correctional institutions operating around the clock with overlapping shifts
• Assist with a variety of HRSD projects, including correctional officer hiring events, virtual interview panels, travel to off-site locations, promotional and exam support, post-recruitment support, and other assignments directed by executive HRSD leadership

Minimum Experience Needed

Applicants must meet the full minimum qualifications and be eligible to appear on the hire list.

The standard requirement is six years of experience, which includes at least two years of professional HR work in areas such as recruitment and employment services, classification and compensation, employee relations, test development and validation, job analysis, job evaluation, salary administration, HR program evaluation, or HR policy development, plus four additional years of professional HR management experience in recruitment and selection, classification, salary administration, employer relations, test development and validation, or generalist HR work.

Accepted Substitutions

• Up to four years of the required experience may be replaced on a year-for-year basis with paraprofessional personnel work experience involving public sector personnel procedures, policies, rules, and regulations
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university plus two years of qualifying professional HR experience may be used in place of the required experience
• Thirty graduate credit hours from an accredited institution in HR/personnel administration, human resources management, business administration, public administration, statistics, tests and measurements, psychology, or a related field may substitute for the required experience
• U.S. Armed Forces commissioned officer experience in human resources management classifications or specialty codes may be substituted year-for-year for the required experience

Preferred Background

• Experience using Workday in recruitment workflows, including hiring, position research, personnel file updates, and compensation changes
• Experience using JobAps for tasks such as posting announcements, annotating applications, and managing tests
• Experience safeguarding confidential information

Licensing and Certification

• Within six months of appointment, employees must complete certification in State Personnel Management System policies and procedures and Statewide Personnel System functionality through the Office of Personnel Services and Benefits, Maryland Department of Budget and Management
• Employees must renew that certification every six months after the initial certification
• If the role includes driving duties, a valid Maryland motor vehicle operator’s license is required

Special Requirements

The ideal candidate will have strong spoken and written English skills. They should also be able to communicate respectfully and effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, including individuals in confinement or community settings who may have different beliefs, behaviors, and interpersonal styles. Professional fluency in Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, or another language is considered an advantage.

Selection and Assessment

Applicants must provide enough detail in their application to clearly demonstrate that they satisfy the qualifications. All qualifying information must be submitted by the closing date; late materials will not be reviewed. Successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list and ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified, with eligibility lasting for at least one year.

Assessment may involve reviewing education, training, and experience as they relate to the position. Applicants should make sure their submission is complete and accurate, and should list all relevant education and work history.

Benefits

• Low-cost health, dental, and vision coverage
• Six personnel days for new state employees each year, prorated by start date
• Ten days of annual leave per year
• Fifteen days of sick leave per year
• Up to sixty days of paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child
• At least twelve paid holidays each year
• Retirement pension credit through state employment

Application Instructions

Online applications are preferred. If online submission is not possible, the paper application and supplemental questionnaire may be emailed to Brittney.Liles1@maryland.gov. A resume cannot replace the completed online or paper application.

If extra documents are requested, upload them with the application whenever possible. If upload is not available, send the requested material by email to Brittney.Liles1@maryland.gov and include the recruitment number in the subject line. Only documents specifically requested for this recruitment will be accepted, and they must arrive by the closing date and time.

For recruitment questions, contact the DPSCS HRSD-Recruitment Division at 410-585-3999 or Brittney.Liles1@maryland.gov. If you have trouble submitting an online application, contact the DBM Recruitment and Examination Division at Application.Help@maryland.gov or 410-767-4850. TTY users should call through Maryland Relay.

Equal Opportunity and Additional Notes

The State of Maryland thanks veterans for their service. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Maryland is committed to equal opportunity and to recruiting, retaining, and promoting a workforce that reflects the diversity of the state.