POSITION SUMMARY/CLASS DESCRIPTION
Howard County:
Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.
Howard County Government:
Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, sustainability, and consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2026, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 113 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the highest number of annual NACo awards achieved in the history of the State of Maryland, and the highest number of awards of any county in the State of Maryland which received a collective 165 awards. NACo is the leading organization representing county-level government operations. These awards recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policymaking.
What are we looking for? We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.
What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government:
- We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
- We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
- We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
- As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.
POSITION SUMMARY:
This is an advanced level professional position at the full performance level in a supervisory capacity within the Bureau of Operations and Maintenance at Department of General Services, to effectively manage technical tasks and oversight related to operations, maintenance/repair, preventative maintenance and long-range planning for County maintained facilities.
STARTING SALARY HIRING RANGE:
$45.68 - $51.52/Hourly $95,019 - $107,162/Annually *This is the anticipated starting salary range for this position. Please note that the final salary will be determined by the Office of Human Resources, commensurate with experience and aligned to ensure internal equity with similarly situated roles.*
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
Performs management and advanced level operations service work under administrative direction. Work includes managing the operation, construction, and maintenance program of the Bureau of Utilities. Work also includes implementing program policies and procedures; assigning duties to technical and clerical staff; supervising equipment operation maintenance and repair and maintenance facilities; and preparing and monitoring the Bureau’s annual operating budget. *This is a Classified position, meaning that it is a part of the Howard County Classified Service upon completion of a probationary period of at least six (6) months*
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership and Bureau Management:
- Directs overall operations of the Bureau of Operations and Maintenance, overseeing 50+ employees including supervisors, licensed trades, building mechanics, and inventory staff.
- Provides leadership for maintenance services across ~200 County buildings totaling 2.3M sq. ft., including offices, libraries, senior centers, fire/police stations, parks buildings, maintenance facilities, and courts.
- Conducts weekly site visits to evaluate work progress and safety compliance.
- Performs duties with direction from the Director or Deputy Director, applying evaluative thinking and established functional practices.
Staff Oversight, Training and Development:
- Oversees staff training and development, providing guidance to internal staff and contractors on complex electrical, mechanical, and structural repairs.
- Maintains records of division activities and prepares reports on operations, staffing, budgeting, and procedural improvements.
Maintenance Planning and Building Systems Management:
- Develops and manages a comprehensive building maintenance plan that encompasses all building systems for the County portfolio, using both staff and contracted services.
- Provides cost-effective engineering analysis and planning to reduce operational expenses.
- Oversees facility condition studies for all County buildings, updating data and integrating findings into 5- and 10-year building system replacement schedules.
- Manages replacement of major building systems based on planned life-cycle schedules.
Contracting, Procurement and Project Oversight:
- Determines services requiring contracting and prepares scopes of work for repair, renovation, and replacement projects.
- Reviews and evaluates construction bids, recommends awards, and coordinates with contractors to define project parameters.
- Conducts on-site inspections during and after construction to ensure compliance with plans and specifications and approves completed work for payment.
- Initiates and reviews major expenditure requisitions.
Energy Management:
- Oversees energy management and curtailment strategies for all County buildings.
- Collaborates with energy suppliers, consultants, and building occupants to implement best practices to reduce energy consumption and costs.
Regulatory and Accreditation Responsibilities:
- Ensures maintenance and operational compliance for buildings requiring accreditation (e.g., Police, Fire, Corrections, Courts, Libraries, Senior Centers, Recreation & Parks).
- Develops multi-agency maintenance, repair, and usage agreements as needed.
Budget Development and Administration:
- Develops the Bureau’s operating budget and contributes to capital budget planning for system replacements and building improvements.
- Administers and monitors budgets, providing periodic financial reporting.
- Develops program information for capital/operating budgets related to building condition assessments, maintenance, and repair.
- Supervises development of new and expanded maintenance programs.
Systems and Data Management:
- Provides strategic oversight of the Bureau’s Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
- Uses system data and performance metrics to identify trends, optimize workflows, improve accountability, and support continuous improvement.
Additional Duties:
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Directly supervises the employees in the Bureau of Operations and Maintenance. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; developing Standard Operating Procedures; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. Accreditation is related to the operations of the building’s program, which is beyond our responsibility.MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE Bachelor's degree and six (6) years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS:
Class C Maryland Driver's License or equivalent issued by state of residence.
PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Ten (10) plus years of experience overseeing maintenance projects. Certified Facility Manager (CFM) as issued by the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA). Project Management Professional (PMP) as offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI); or equivalent and related experience and/or training.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS AND REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to deliver speeches and write articles for publication that are relevant to the Division's mission. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors with or without visual aids.
Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts such as exponents, logarithms, quadratic equations, and permutations. Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Benefits
The following is a summary of the benefits available to Howard County employees who hold full-time benefit-eligible positions. Employees in positions covered by a bargaining agreement should consult their union contract for other specific benefits. Additional details are also available in the Employee Manual and in summary plan descriptions which are available in the Office of Human Resources or at https://www.howardcountymd.gov/human-resources/benefit-plans.
FLEXIBLE BENEFITS PLAN: Under the County's flexible benefits plan called CountyFlex, employees may elect to enroll in medical insurance plans, dental insurance plans, optional life insurance, dependent life insurance, and healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts. Employee contributions to these benefits are made on a pre-tax basis. Information concerning enrollment options, plan rates and a benefits comparison chart are available in the Office of Human Resources. GROUP TERM LIFE INSURANCE: Employees receive a group term life insurance benefit equal to 2 times their annual salary at no cost. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is included. The County pays the entire cost for this benefit. Employees may purchase additional coverage under the CountyFlex benefits plan. PAID LEAVE BENEFITS: Annual and Disability Leaves are accrued over 24 pay periods each year. Personal leave is credited on January 1st each year. Use of Annual, Disability and/or Personal Leave requires supervisory approval.
ANNUAL LEAVE: During the first 5 years of employment, employees accrue the equivalent of 13 days per year. From years 6 through 10, the accrual is the equivalent of 16 days per year. From years 11 through 20, the accrual is the equivalent of 19 days per year. From year 21 on, the accrual is the equivalent of 21 days per year. Annual leave may not be used during the first 6 months of employment. A maximum of 40 days may be carried over from one fiscal year to the next.DISABILITY LEAVE: Employees accrue the equivalent of 1 day per month (12 days per year). There is no maximum accrual. This leave may be used for the disabling illness/injury of the employee, spouse or minor child or for a serious medical condition approved under F.M.L.A. Absences of over 3 days must be substantiated by a physician's certificate. PERSONAL LEAVE: Employees receive 6 personal leave days each calendar year to be taken during the calendar year. Employees hired after April 30th receive 4 days of personal leave that year; those hired after August 31st receive 2 days; and those hired after November 30th receive no personal leave for that year. Personal leave may not be carried over. HOLIDAYS: Employees are paid for the following holidays: New Year's Day; Martin Luther King Day; President's Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veteran's Day; Thanksgiving Day; Friday after Thanksgiving Day; Christmas Day. OTHER PAID LEAVE: Other paid leave will be granted for approved jury duty, military leave, bereavement leave and official leave. Unpaid leave will be granted in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act. RETIREMENT: Howard County sponsors a defined benefit plan for its employees. participation in the plan is mandatory. Employees are required to make contributions to the plan, which are taken on a pre-tax basis. Contribution rates are dependent upon the plan in which the employee participates (general plan, or police and fire plan). The County contributes an additional percentage sufficient to ensure that each plan is adequately funded. Complete details are available in the summary plan descriptions which are available in the Office of Human Resources.Howard County Retirement Plan: Employees contribute 3% of salary to the plan. Sheriff Deputies hired after 7/1/2021 contribute 8.5% of salary to the plan. All eligible Corrections Employees must enroll in the Corrections Employees Enhanced Benefit and must contribute 8.5% of salary to the plan.Howard County Police and Fire Employees' Retirement Plan: Sworn police officers and career firefighters must participate in this plan. Police employees contribute 11.6% of salary and Fire employees contribute 7.7% of salary to the plan. SOCIAL SECURITY: Participation is mandatory. Employees contribute at the current established rate. 457(b) DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN: Employees are eligible to participate in an IRS 457(b) deferred compensation program. This plan allows employees to defer a portion of their income on a pre-tax basis. Contributions are invested at the employee's direction on a tax deferred basis. EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Employees experiencing problems that affect their personal lives and job performance may take advantage of confidential assessment and referral services. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE: Employees may apply for reimbursement for tuition costs after completion of 6 months of employment. Prior course approval is required. The maximum annual reimbursement is $2500 contingent upon County funding. PAID PARENTAL LEAVE: Employees who have worked for the county for at least twelve (12) months are eligible for twelve (12) weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the qualifying birth of a child, or the placement of a child with an employee for adoption or foster care. Leave must be used within the 12 months following the birth or placement. LONG TERM DISABILITY BENEFITS: Employees who have completed 6 months of service are enrolled in the LTD plan. After 6 months of disability, plan may pay 60% of base monthly pay up to $2500 per month. The County pays the entire cost of this benefit. DISABILITY LEAVE BANK: Employees have established a Disability Leave Bank to which employees may donate disability leave in order to be eligible to receive salary and benefit protection when they are absent due to a serious disabling illness or injury and have exhausted all accrued leave. Employees are eligible to join the Bank after having completed 1 year of employment. Administration of the Bank, including the review and approval of claims for grants of time, is handled in accordance with the Bank's Rules and Regulations which are available in the Office of Human Resources. VOLUNTARY BENEFIT OPTIONS: Employees may elect to enroll in long term care insurance, critical illness insurance, short term disability income protection, and universal life insurance. CREDIT UNION: Employees may participate in the Tower Federal Credit Union through payroll deductions. Loans are also available to qualified applicants.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
TO APPLY: You must complete an employment application online to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes cannot be substituted for completion of the job application work history. No paper applications will be accepted.
Selected candidates may be subject to drug screening, background screening, and reference checks.
At time of application, please submit a copy of any college degree, coursework, licenses, or certifications that you have referenced on your application. Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. may need to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.wes.org/).
Howard County Government is not sponsoring employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B Visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
Howard County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The County prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources directly at HiringPreference@howardcountymd.gov. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.
