PROGRAM MANAGER II

The Intake Director, Community Services leads Intake and Pre-Adjudication Services in the East Region, overseeing operations and staff across nine county offices while guiding the Department’s initial decision point for youth referred by law enforcement, schools, families, community agencies, and other partners. This role provides strategic and operational leadership to supervisory and intake staff, ensures compliance with state and federal law, collective bargaining agreements, and departmental policies, and advances reform and equity through consistent, tool-informed decision-making that supports youth success and community safety. The Intake Director sets the tone for integrity, collaboration, and thoughtful, data-informed practice across the region while managing the complexity of multi-site operations and cross-system coordination.

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by:

Leading regional operations

· Oversee all intake complaints and case outcomes within the East Region.

· Guide pre-court supervision, pre-adjudication services, community detention decisions, restitution processes, and related services.

· Ensure consistent, structured decision-making aligned with legal requirements and departmental standards.

Supporting and developing teams

· Supervise, coach, and support supervisory and intake staff across multiple offices.

· Identify training needs and strengthen team capacity through clear expectations and constructive feedback.

· Foster a respectful, inclusive environment that values different communication styles, lived experiences, and ways of working.

Advancing reform at the front end

· Lead implementation of departmental reform initiatives at the intake stage.

· Use data and established tools to review outcomes and continuously improve practice.

· Design, implement, and evaluate administrative processes that promote clarity, efficiency, and fairness.

Strengthening partnerships

· Collaborate with judges, magistrates, state’s attorneys, youth attorneys, law enforcement, local education agencies, and human service partners.

· Maintain strong working relationships to ensure intake matters are processed accurately and within required timelines.

· Represent the Department in regional meetings and cross-system initiatives.

Ensuring compliance and accountability

· Monitor adherence to laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.

· Review regional practices to maintain consistency and quality across field offices.

· Address operational and personnel matters with sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism.

This position offers a hybrid telework schedule with occasional statewide travel as needed.

Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Six (6) years of progressively responsible experience managing community-based programs or services for youth, including at least three (3) years supervising or leading staff in youth-focused, community-based, or juvenile justice programs.

• · Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in public administration, social work, criminal justice, education, or a closely related field
• · Experience measuring program outcomes and using data to improve services, such as reducing case processing time, increasing diversion placements, improving youth engagement, or strengthening equitable decision-making practices
• · Experience using structured decision-making tools, risk/needs assessments, or case management systems to guide operations and improve outcomes
• · Experience overseeing or managing juvenile intake, pre-adjudication, diversion, or other front-end juvenile justice programs
• · Experience managing budgets, contracts, or grants and ensuring compliance with policies and regulations
• · Ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams, including implementing measurable improvements in staff performance, service delivery quality, or operational effectiveness

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.

The assessment will be a rating of your application based on your education, training, and experience as it relates to the requirements of the position. Therefore, it is essential that you provide complete and accurate educational and employment information on your application. Please make sure to provide sufficient information on your application to show how you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. If you completed education outside of the U.S., you will be required to provide proof of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service. The Certified Eligible list will be used by the hiring agency to select employees. 

Please note that your answers on the supplemental questionnaire must correspond to the information provided on your application to receive credit.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

The online application process is strongly preferred.  A paper application may be mailed to the address below or faxed to the fax number below.  If you choose to fax or regular mail, you must include on each page of the attachment your First and Last Name, the Recruitment Number that is located at the top of the bulletin and the last 4 digits of your SS#.  No postmarks will be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the online or paper application. Incorrect application forms will not be accepted:   

  Maryland Department of Juvenile Services

  203 River Street

  Snow Hill, MD 21863

  Attn: Tabitha Andrews

  Fax number 410-632-1527

  TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay

Should additional information regarding this recruitment be required, please contact DJS Office of Human Resources at djs.careers@maryland.gov. Include the Recruitment Title/Number that is located at the top of the bulletin. 

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

DJS values the experience gained by Veterans while serving our country. Veterans are welcome to apply for all current recruitments. 

Bilingual applicants are welcome to apply for all recruitments.