Human Resources Officer II

Overview

The Maryland State Retirement and Pension System manages retirement and pension benefits for more than 397,000 members, including active staff, retirees, and vested participants across 12 systems. The organization is centered on supporting the long-term financial well-being of Maryland public service workers.

This role is based in Baltimore’s Central Business District and is part of a workplace designed for stability, purpose, and employee support. The office features city and harbor views, upgraded common areas, modern elevators, and an on-site café.

Employees receive a broad state benefits package that includes medical, dental, and prescription coverage, paid leave, membership in the state pension system, and access to additional retirement savings plans such as 401(k) and 457(b). Other workplace amenities include a fitness center with showers and lockers, 24/7 security, and convenient access to transit, restaurants, shops, and major highways.

Position Details

Grade: 16

Salary: State salary guidelines apply.

Work Location: 120 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

Role Summary

The Human Resources Officer II is an experienced HR generalist who works within the Human Resources Services Unit. The position provides professional, technical, advisory, and administrative HR support that helps the agency recruit, hire, classify, compensate, develop, and retain staff in line with Maryland personnel rules, state laws, and internal policies.

A major part of the job is independently handling recruitment and hiring support for assigned vacancies. This includes intake of openings, planning recruitment activity, drafting job announcements, screening applicants, supporting selection decisions, preparing hiring paperwork, and completing onboarding transactions.

The role also includes significant classification and compensation work, such as reviewing position descriptions, handling classification and reclassification requests, processing salary actions, supporting acting capacity requests, updating positions, and completing related Workday transactions.

In addition, the position acts as a backup contact for leave and benefits administration to maintain continuity of employee support. Duties in this area include answering leave questions, handling benefits inquiries, assisting with open enrollment, coordinating FMLA-related matters, making retirement referrals, and managing confidential benefits documents.

Limited assistance is also provided in employee relations, policy interpretation, performance support, and timekeeping backup. The role requires a strong ability to work independently, exercise discretion, keep information confidential, and apply sound judgment when advising managers, employees, candidates, and HR colleagues.

Key Duties

The selected candidate will be responsible for the following areas:

• Managing recruitment and employment activities for assigned vacancies, including eligibility guidance, recruitment timelines, and selection documentation.
• Performing classification and compensation support for positions and personnel actions, with attention to salary rules, classification standards, and position documentation.
• Serving as backup support for leave and benefits operations to help ensure uninterrupted employee service.
• Providing general HR administration support so transactions are completed accurately, on time, and in compliance with requirements.
• Assisting HR leadership with limited employee relations matters through research, documentation, and policy interpretation.
• Acting as a backup timekeeper to support payroll continuity.
• Handling additional HR assignments and special projects as needed.

Minimum Experience Requirement

Applicants must have a total of six years and six months of experience, including two years and six months 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, employee relations, test development and validation, or generalist work.

Substitution Options

• Paraprofessional personnel experience may replace up to four years of the required experience on a year-for-year basis. This includes work involving public sector personnel procedures, policies, rules, and regulations applied to employment actions such as recordkeeping, salary calculations, policy application, reporting, orientation, benefits counseling, and responding to employment procedure questions.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, plus two years and six months of professional HR experience in the areas listed above, may substitute for 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 up to six years of the required experience.
• Commissioned officer military service in HR management classifications or specialty codes may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Preferred Background

• Professional certification in HR, such as SHRM, HRCI, or PSHRA.
• At least one year of experience working as an HR generalist.
• At least one year of recruitment and employment services experience with a Maryland state agency.

Selection Limitations

This recruitment is restricted to current state employees.

Licenses and Certifications

• Within six months of appointment, employees in this classification must earn certification in State Personnel Management System policies and procedures and in the use of the Statewide Personnel System through the Office of Personnel Services and Benefits, Maryland Department of Budget and Management. Recertification is required every six months thereafter.
• If assigned duties that involve driving, the employee must hold a valid Maryland motor vehicle operator’s license.

Selection Process

Candidates must ensure that their application fully demonstrates how they meet the minimum qualifications, since only information submitted by the closing date will be considered. Applicants will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on an eligible list for at least one year, which will be used by the hiring agency.

If education was completed outside the United States, a foreign credential evaluation showing the U.S. equivalent must be submitted with the application.

Because the duties are confidential in nature, the selected candidate must pass a background check.

The evaluation will be based on education, training, and experience as presented in the application and matched against the position requirements. A supplemental questionnaire may also be required and may factor into the final rating, so complete and accurate information is essential.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance at low cost.
• New employees receive six personal leave days per year, prorated by start date.
• Annual leave accrues at ten days per year.
• Sick leave accrues at fifteen days per year.
• At least thirteen state holidays each year.
• Credit toward a retirement pension.
• Some positions may qualify for telework.

Application Instructions

The online application route is strongly preferred. If online submission is not possible, applicants may mail a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to the Maryland State Retirement and Pension Systems, Human Resources Section, 120 E. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, Attention: Shanera Johnson. Mailed materials must be postmarked by the closing date.

Questions may be directed to Shanera Johnson at smjohnson@sra.state.md.us. Do not send unsolicited documents.

The resulting certified eligible list may also be used for comparable openings in this or other state agencies. Maryland is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce. Candidates with disabilities and bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply. Veterans are thanked for their service. TTY users may connect through Maryland Relay.

For foreign education, the equivalent U.S. credential evaluation must be provided before hire.

Workplace Highlights

The office environment includes an on-site café, renovated shared spaces, improved elevators, panoramic views, 24/7 security, and convenient access to dining, shopping, public transportation, and major roadways.