Director of Social Services, Somerset County

PROGRAM MANAGER SENIOR II

Recruitment #25-005483-0044

Department	DHS - Somerset County DSS
Date Opened	9/16/2025 10:45:00 AM
Filing Deadline	10/16/2025 11:59:00 PM
Salary	$111,484.00- $142,752.00/year with potential growth to $173,752.00/year
Employment Type	Full-Time
HR Analyst	Mario West
Work Location	Somerset
Telework Eligible	Yes

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

LOCATION OF POSITION

Maryland Department of Human Services

Somerset County Department of Social Services

30397 Mt Vernon Rd

Princess Anne, MD, 21853

Main Purpose of Job

The Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS), together with the Somerset County Government, seeks a strong administrator to direct all program activities of the Somerset County Department of Social Services. These services consist of a network of protective, supportive, and financial services that assist Marylanders and county residents with achieving a realistic and attainable level of self-sufficiency including:

Child Welfare
Adult Services
Financial Assistance
Programs- Temporary Cash Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, and Temporary Disabilities Assistance, and Long-Term Care
Child Support

POSITION DUTIES

The Somerset County Director oversees a diverse staff of 83 and has a combined $9.8 million operating budget. The Director actively implements a culture of outstanding service to the Somerset County community through building inclusive relationships with a broad range of community partners, maintaining internal policies and practices that support the mission of the Department of Human Services, and improving the availability and accessibility of services to people throughout the County.

In this role, the Director builds relationships to ensure that the Marylanders living in the County have access to the full array of services possible. The Director is a member of the Maryland Association of Social Services Directors (MASSD) and works with 23 other local Directors, state leadership, and local and state elected officials and an Advisory Board to develop, plan, and implement mandated and non-mandated social services programs and policies statewide. The Somerset County Department of Social Services is in Princess Anne, Maryland.

Somerset County is the southernmost county in Maryland, situated between Baltimore City and Virginia’s Eastern Shore. It lies approximately 20 miles from Virginia’s Eastern Shore and about 151 miles from Baltimore City. As part of Maryland’s Eastern Shore region, Somerset County is included in the Salisbury, MD-DE Metropolitan Statistical Area. Covering a land area of roughly 319.7 square miles, it ranks as the 18th largest county in the state. The county has a population of around 27,450 residents and a median household income of approximately $52,462.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicant must have a Master’s Degree in Social Work or a related field and at least five years of professional employment in social services administration and supervision.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

Strong leadership and management skills particularly in fiscal and human resource management.
Ability to implement change.
Motivate staff and maintain relationships
Ability to acquire new funding from non-traditional sources; and strong communication skills.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. It is important that you report all related education and experience that is relevant to this recruitment qualifications. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates will be placed on the employment (eligible) list. The resulting list may be used for future vacancies with this agency.

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, Maryland Department of Human Services, Recruitment Unit, Attn: Mario West, 25 S. Charles Street 1115-J, 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 [email protected]. 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 410-767-6081.

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 [email protected].

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.

Job ID: 80278276