THIS IS A NON-CIVIL SERVICE POSITION

Salary Range:

$157,684.00 - $260,224.00 Annually

Hiring Salary Range:

$157,684.00 - $208,954.00 Annually

Get to Know Us

Welcome to the City of Baltimore! Experience the reward of a fulfilling career and enjoy the added element of excitement in a vibrant, diverse atmosphere. The City of Baltimore offers limitless opportunities to help drive social impact, both on the job and in the community, while serving its citizens. Join us in making Baltimore a great place to live and work. In the City of Baltimore, we hire great people and provide them with the skills and opportunities to grow toward their career aspirations. If you are looking for a career change or are interested in learning more, explore our opportunities and benefits programs. We are excited to have you as a part of the City of Baltimore Team! The city offers medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, optional life, AD&D, and FSA plans. This office also supplies wellness programs, support groups, and workshops. You can learn about our benefits here: https://humanresources.baltimorecity.gov/hr-divisions/benefits

Job Summary

The City of Baltimore is seeking a highly qualified candidate to serve as the inaugural Executive Director to lead the newly established Department of Neighborhood Safety (DNS). The DNS will oversee, provide, coordinate, and evaluate community-based safety services, including alternative response, violence prevention, and other non-law enforcement strategies intended to promote public safety and well-being. The Executive Director will establish and execute the City’s vision for alternative response and violence prevention. This leader will provide strategic, structural, and administrative direction for the department, aligning people, programs, policies, and resources to achieve measurable community safety outcomes. The successful candidate will be both a visionary and an effective executor, capable of setting a clear direction, building organizational alignment, engaging community in codesigning strategies, and driving implementation across complex systems and diverse stakeholders.

Essential Functions

Leadership & Strategy

• Provide executive leadership for the Department of Neighborhood Safety, establishing the department's vision, strategic direction, and organizational priorities in support of the mayor’s public safety agenda.
• Advise the Mayor, City Council, and executive leadership on community safety policy, emerging issues, legislative priorities, and evidence-based practices.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of evidence-based and trauma-informed strategies to improve community and personal safety outcomes. •    Establish department-wide goals, performance expectations, governance structures, and accountability systems.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive departmental strategic plan integrating alternative response, violence prevention, and other community safety initiatives.
• Lead organizational development, change management, and continuous improvement initiatives across all divisions.
• Provide executive oversight of talent development initiatives, ensuring employees are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to achieve department objectives.

Executive Oversight of Department Operations

• Provide executive oversight of all department divisions through Division Directors – including Alternative Response Division Director and other Division Directors as established, ensuring alignment with departmental goals and City priorities.
• Evaluate divisional performance and hold leadership accountable for operational, fiscal, and programmatic outcomes.
• Resolve cross-divisional priorities and ensure coordinated service delivery.
• Establish department standards for performance management, quality assurance, and data governance.
• Oversee execution of the Department’s core operating model through Division Directors and program leadership.
• Oversight of training design and workforce certification for team members in partnership with division leadership, consultants and HR.

Budget & Enterprise Resource Management

• Develop and administer the department's overall operating and capital budgets.
• Allocate financial and personnel resources across divisions to support strategic priorities.
• Approve major contracts, grants, and procurement activities while ensuring sound fiscal stewardship.
• Identify and secure sustainable funding opportunities including braided financing strategies that leverage Medicaid/insurance reimbursement through Maryland’s AHEAD model, hospital partnerships, and philanthropic investment.

Executive Partnerships & Public Leadership

• Build executive-level partnerships with City agencies, elected officials, healthcare systems, community leaders, housing and homelessness service providers, philanthropic organizations, and state and federal partners.
• Establish department-wide community engagement strategies that promote transparency, trust, and shared accountability.
• Serve as the department's principal spokesperson before elected officials, community organizations, media, and the public.

Governance & Accountability

• Establish departmental policies, governance frameworks, and strategic priorities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, grant requirements, and City policies.
• Evaluate department-wide outcomes and recommend policy or organizational changes based on performance data.
• Provide oversight of data governance, implementation of necessary data use agreements and provide analytic oversight of data and outcomes being tracked.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Possession of an advanced degree from an accredited college or university in Public Health, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Work, Criminology, Emergency Management, Behavioral Health, or a closely related field.

AND

Experience: Have ten (10) years of progressively responsible management and leadership experience in public health, behavioral health, emergency response, human services, public policy, criminal justice, or related governmental or community-based programs, including oversight of multidisciplinary staff, complex operations, and significant programmatic and fiscal resources. Previous experience in local, state, and/or federal government is preferred but not required.

OR

Equivalency Notes: Have an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Licenses, Registrations, and Certificates: Have a valid Maryland Class C Noncommercial driver's license or an equivalent driver's license and be eligible to obtain a Baltimore City driver’s permit. PROVISIONAL DRIVER’S LICENSES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. 

NOTE: YOU MUST UPLOAD A COPY OF YOUR VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE WITH THE APPLICATION AT THE TIME OF APPLYING. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Strong administrative and management skills.
• Strong strategic, organizational, and project management skills.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with experience collaborating across agencies, community organizations, public safety partners, and diverse stakeholders.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and public communication skills, with the ability to influence, build consensus, and navigate sensitive issues.
• Results-oriented with a proven ability to implement strategies, achieve organizational goals, and foster interagency accountability.
• Knowledge of alternative response, violence prevention, community engagement, and data-driven decision-making.
• Knowledge of data governance, privacy frameworks (HIPAA), relevant cross-agency behavioral health and public safety data sharing.

Additional Information

Background Check

Eligible candidates under final consideration for appointment to positions identified as positions of trust will be required to complete authorization for a Criminal Background Check and/or Fingerprint screening, and must be successfully completed.

Probation 

All persons, including current City employees, selected for this position must complete a 6-month mandatory probation.

Residency Requirement and Financial Disclosure

This position is subject to Article I, Section 7-10 of the Baltimore City Code, which mandates that the incumbent both reside and be a registered voter of Baltimore City at the time of appointment or sign a declaration of intent to become a City resident and registered voter within 6 months of the effective date of their appointment. Failure to comply with the declaration of intent will result in immediate termination. You will also be required to complete a Financial Disclosure pursuant to Sections 7-7, 7-8, and 7-9 of the City Ethics Law. The initial financial disclosure must be submitted within 30 days of hire.

Baltimore City Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.  The City of Baltimore 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 accommodation during the hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources directly. Requests for accommodation should not be attached to the application.

BALTIMORE CITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER