Skip to Main Content

Contracts Manager

PROGRAM MANAGER II

Recruitment #26-005477-0009

Go Back Apply View Benefits

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 Service position, and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.

GRADE

20

LOCATION OF POSITION

Maryland Department of Human Services
Social Services Administration
25 South Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201

Main Purpose of Job

The Contract Manager is responsible for leading the Social Services Administration’s contract management and oversight functions to ensure the effective, efficient, and compliant use of more than $970 million in public funds dedicated to child welfare and adult services. This position directs the preparation, execution, and monitoring of purchase of care provider contracts, including residential child care, child placement, out-of-state, and specialized agreements. In addition, the Contract Manager provides oversight support to Hotline staff who operate the Call Center for multiple systems, including CJAMS, Provider Portals, and Client Portals. The role includes monitoring and addressing monthly provider payment discrepancies totaling more than $300,000. The Contract Manager ensures that discrepancies affecting child welfare providers, including out-of-state providers, are resolved within required timeframes to prevent audit findings and maintain fiscal accountability. Serving as a Program Manager II, the Contract Manager supervises the Contracts and Performance Monitoring Unit and provides executive leadership with expert guidance on procurement practices, fiscal stewardship, provider compliance, and performance accountability.

POSITION DUTIES

Contract Oversight & Monitoring
  • Plans, negotiates, executes, and monitors over 125 purchase-of- care provider contracts, including residential child care, child placement, out-of-state, and exempt contracts, to ensure effective and compliant use of public funds.
  • Leads the annual contract renewal and modification process in coordination with DHS Procurement, the Office of the Attorney General, and SSA program offices.
  • Develops, implements, and maintains Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) governing contract management and monitoring functions.
Fiscal Strategy and Accountability
  • Provides fiscal analysis and guidance to SSA leadership related to contract utilization, performance outcomes, and fiscal impacts of program initiatives.
  • Oversees CJAMS functions related to contract monitoring, including reconciliation of contract payments and reporting.
  • Monitors and addresses monthly provider payment discrepancies in excess of $300,000, ensuring timely correction to avoid audit findings and maintain fiscal accountability.
Supervision & Operations
  • Supervises four direct reports and provides indirect oversight for a team of 9–11 staff within the Contracts and Performance Monitoring Unit.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Experience: Six years of professional experience in contract management, procurement, fiscal administration, program administration or oversight of publicly funded human services program.
Three years of this experience must include supervising professional staff, and managing contracts, budgets or fiscal monitoring functions related to social services, human services, health services, or public administration.
Note:
Additional professional experience may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.
A Master’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Law, Finance, Human Services, or a related field may substitute for up to two years of the required experience at the rate of 30 credit hours per year.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will possess:
  • Three years of experience managing or overseeing large-scale government contracts valued at $75 million or more annually.
  • Three years of experience leading high-dollar competitive procurements, including full lifecycle RFP development and award in accordance with State procurement guidelines.
  • Two years of experience serving as a lead representative in responding to state or federal fiscal or procurement audits.
  • Two years of experience supervising staff for contract compliance or fiscal monitoring functions.

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the eligible (employment) list for at least one year. 
If you are in State service and are a promotional candidate, your salary will be determined in accordance with State of Maryland guidelines.

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 thirteen (13) 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, Recruitment Services Unit, Attn: Stacey Nelson, 25 S. Charles Street 1115-L, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.

All mailed documents must include the applicant's name and the job number and must be received by 5 p.m. on the closing date. Resumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the application.

If additional information is required, the preferred method is to upload. If unable to upload, please email requested information only to stacey.nelson1@maryland.gov. Only additional materials that are required will be accepted for this recruitment. All additional information must be received by the closing date and time. 

If you have any questions concerning this recruitment process for this position, please contact 410-767-7349.  

TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay.

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. 

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.


Click on a link below to apply for this position:

Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online
View and print the Supplemental Questionnaire. This recruitment requires completion of a supplemental questionnaire. You may view and print the supplemental questionnaire here.
Apply via Paper Application. You may also download and complete the Paper Application here.

Powered by JobAps