Assistant Manager - Background Investigations Unit Program Manager I

Introduction

If you are looking for an exciting career with great benefits, pension, generous leave, competitive salary, and the opportunity for advancement and professional growth, apply to join the DPSCS team today!

The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) is seeking dedicated candidates to fill important roles within our department. We are one of the largest departments in Maryland with nearly 12,000 employees and a budget of more than $1 billion. In order to fulfill our mission of promoting safety, we have increased security at our institutions while leading the way in innovative restorative justice projects that will help offenders reintegrate into society upon release.

As a member of the DPSCS team, you can have a fulfilling career, while also enjoying a wide range of benefits such as medical and dental coverage, paid time off (i.e. vacation, sick leave), becoming vested in the State pension, supplemental retirement options, and even joining the Maryland State Employees Credit Union.

19

Baltimore City

6776 Reisterstown Road

Baltimore, MD 21215

This is a Management Service position and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.

The Assistant Manager of the Background Investigations Unit provides operational leadership, supervisory oversight, and regulatory compliance management to ensure completion of high-quality background investigations and timely Application for Certification (AFC) processing in accordance with COMAR, MPCTC standards, DPSCS policy, and applicable federal and state laws. Through supervision of investigators, AFC staff, and administrative personnel, the position ensures that only qualified, competent, and suitable individuals enter positions of public trust, thereby strengthening safety, accountability, and professionalism across the department.

• Supervises daily operations of the Background Investigations Unit, including staff oversight, caseload distribution, productivity monitoring, and workflow management.
• Reviews and approves completed background investigations.
• Conducts quality‑control checks, corrective coaching, and performance reviews for investigators and administrative personnel.
• Provides technical guidance to staff on complex, sensitive, or escalated background cases.

• Manages the full AFC submission workflow, including quality checks, documentation review, error correction, and communication with MPCTC.
• Ensures accurate verification of citizenship requirements, training prerequisites, medical/psychological/physical standards, and all supporting documentation.
• Monitors AFC submission timelines, rejection rates, and regulatory compliance; develops and implements corrective strategies as needed.

• Develops and updates SOPs, training materials, process maps, and compliance guidelines for both the Background Investigations and AFC programs.
• Assists the Director with strategic planning, forecasting workload needs, evaluating staffing requirements, and monitoring unit performance benchmarks.
• Prepares and delivers presentations, reports, and data summaries for executive leadership, OSU, MPCTC, and other partners.
• Supports Department-wide hiring initiatives, recruitment events, and HR projects as assigned.

Applicants must meet all minimum qualifications to be considered, and to appear on the list of people eligible for hire. Please read all requirements before applying.

• Education:
  
  Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Experience:
  
  Four(
  4) years of professional HR experience involving talent acquisition and full cycle recruitment processes. At least two (2) years of this experience must have been in a supervisory capacity.
• Note :
  Professional HR management work in the areas of recruitment and selection, classification, salary administration, test development and validation or as a generalist may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for up to four ( 4 ) years of the…