Executive Director to the MSPB

Job Title Executive Director to the MSPB (Manager II), Grade M2

Location Rockville, MD, US

Organization Name Merit System Protection Board

Medical Exam Medical History

Background Investigation No

Financial Disclosure Yes

Job Description

Executive Director to the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB)

Candidates are required to submit a cover letter as part of their application. Candidates are asked to provide a recent legal writing sample as part of the selection process.

This position may be filled as a part-time or full-time position with flexibility for the selected candidate to shape their schedule and take advantage of opportunities for remote work. The salary range for this position is $76,929 to $135,861 for 30 hours per week and $102,572 to $173,291 for a full-time position .

The County’s synergy of talent, resources and support makes Montgomery County Government an ideal employer for individuals who are looking to work for one of the most innovative governments in the country. Montgomery County, which shares a border with Washington, D.C., is one of the largest, most diverse counties in the United States. More than a quarter of its one million residents are foreign-born and speak over 100 languages. As one of the wealthiest counties in the country, it also holds the record for most post-graduate degrees per capita.

The Merit System Protection Board is a three-member quasi-judicial body that makes final administrative decisions on appeals by employees, job applicants, and retirees from grievance and disciplinary decisions. In addition to its adjudicatory functions the MSPB’s responsibilities include contracting for periodic independent audits of the classification and compensation system, commenting on proposed changes to the merit system law or regulations, and reviewing temporary promotion extensions and the creation of new classifications. The MSPB has general authority to conduct investigations, audits, or special studies of the merit system. The  Executive Director  provides legal counsel, consultation, and advice to the County's Merit System Protection Board ("Board"). This position oversees the day-to-day operations of the Board and serves as the liaison between the Board and County officials, employees, and employee representatives as well as outside counsel.

The majority of contacts are with the County Attorney's Office, to provide information regarding the status of cases, to discuss the process for dealing with various issues; management and staff of the Office of Human Resources to request information to assist the Board; employees and applicants to respond to questions regarding the Board's procedures; and counsel for employees and applicants to respond to questions about the Board's procedures and inform counsel how to research Board precedents.

The employee will manage office operations, coordinate meetings, work sessions and agendas, and serve as liaison between the Board and County officials, managers, employees, and employees' representatives as well as outside counsel. Applicants should be comfortable managing the day-to-day operations of an organization to include budget preparation (formulating, managing, and executing) and supervision of support staff. Applicants should have a demonstrated record of advancing racial equity and social justice.

Work is performed under the administrative direction of the Board and within a framework of applicable guidelines (laws, regulations, and procedures) which must be interpreted and applied. Applicants must have knowledge of employment law. Specific knowledge of County laws, regulations and procedures concerning all aspects of personnel administration is desirable, but not required. Considerable judgment is required in interpreting guidelines and drafting official documents for Board approval and signature. Applicants must have demonstrated experience drafting comprehensive official employment law documents that are judicially reviewable, including decisions, rulings, opinions and interpretations.

Example of Duties:

• Conducts legal research and analysis to support the Board in the performance of its quasi-judicial functions. Reviews and analyzes all appeals and supporting documentation and determines extent of investigation necessary and/or validity of documentation in record for Board review.
• Drafts fair, impartial and consistent decisions on motions and appeals for review by the Board for approval and assures that applicable deadlines are met.
• Directs operations of the office, including supervision of office support personnel, coordination of records management, and preparation of office budget and approval and monitoring of expenditures.
• Prepares Board's annual report.

A review of applications will begin on February 14, 2024

Additional Employment Information

OHR reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position/IRC.

Montgomery County Government is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources via email to OHR@montgomerycountymd.gov . Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

Montgomery County Government also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, please refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference .

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for interview.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law : Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code . Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications :

We are seeking a candidate with seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in employment law, three (3) years of which were in a supervisory or executive capacity.Position also requires a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited university school of law.Note: The term "executive" is further defined as a high echelon or high-level position in an organization that is assigned technical research, management advisory services responsibilities, or policy- making duties and responsibilities that exerts considerable influence on organizational policy, plans, and operations through technical research, management advisory services, and/or policy-making duties and responsibilities (e.g., County positions at Grade 30 or above).

Maryland State Bar : Membership in the Maryland State Bar or membership in the bar of any other state in the U.S. or Washington, DC, in which case a Maryland State Bar membership must be obtained during the probationary period.

Preferred Criteria

Preferred Criteria:

Resume or cover letter must include information specific to the preferred criteria listed below. Make sure that your resume or cover letter references your knowledge, skills, and abilities as they relate to the preferred criteria. The system only allows for one document to be submitted so discussion of how you meet the preferred criteria must be part of the resume or cover letter.

• Experience conducting research, analysis, and assessment of a broad range of complex employment law issues, which demonstrates knowledge of Federal, State and/or applicable County employment law precedent.
• Experience drafting comprehensive official employment law documents that are judicially reviewable, including decisions, rulings, opinions, and interpretations.
• Experience managing the day-to-day operations of an organization, including supervision of support staff.