Director, Special Education, Staffing and Operations.

ABOUT US

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is one of the leading school systems in Maryland and the nation. To learn more about us and our 2024 -2029 Strategic Plan, please visit our website and our careers page. Join our award-winning workforce and make a difference in the lives of our students!

ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Before you begin, please read the job posting below carefully including the Application Requirements specific to this position. Be sure your application reflects experience and education required to meet the minimum and any preferred qualifications listed. Our application guide includes detailed instructions to assist you. Once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes.

Please note that application submission will be available only through 11:59 PM on the date prior to the indicated end date. If no end date is indicated, the posting will remain open indefinitely.

Job Posting End Date:

Reminder: Current permanent and temporary employees must apply through the Jobs Hub in Workday, not the external career site.

This position will be posted until filled. Initial review of applications will begin with those submitted through September 22, 2026.

DESCRIPTION

The Director of Special Education, Staffing and Operations provides strategic leadership for the resources, systems, and infrastructure needed to advance the Department of Special Education’s priorities. The Director oversees staffing and position management, fiscal resources, grants, contracts, and other operational functions to align resources with student needs and departmental goals. The Director provides leadership and supervision to the Compliance, Nonpublic Services, and Academic Budgets teams, ensuring effective implementation of legal requirements, departmental procedures, and student supports. The Director uses data to inform resource allocation, strengthen operational efficiency, and support sustainable decision-making. Working with department and district leaders, the Director develops and streamlines systems and processes that strengthen implementation and accountability. The Director also coordinates strategic planning and progress monitoring to ensure the department’s resources and operations support implementation of the Special Education Strategic Plan.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must meet all qualifications below to be considered for the vacancy.

Education:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Special Education, Educational Leadership, or a closely related field.

Certification/Licensure:

Priority will be given to applicants who:

• Hold a current Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) professional certificate or license in an MSDE licensure area at the time of application with any of the additional endorsements below:
  • Administrator I or Administrator II
  • Supervisor of Instruction, Assistant Principal, and Principal

Applicants who do not already possess the required licensure above may be considered if you are eligible through one of the pathways below: 

• Hold a current MSDE professional certificate or license and complete all MSDE requirements for the Supervisor of Instruction, Assistant Principal, and Principal endorsement by the position effective date. 
• Have completed a Maryland Approved Program which leads to licensure as a supervisor of instruction, assistant principal or principal by the position effective date.
• Have completed an approved out-of-State program which leads to licensure as a supervisor of instruction, assistant principal, or principal and includes a supervised clinical practicum and earn passing score on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (Praxis 6990) by the position effective date.
• Hold a valid professional state license in administration from another state or country and have verification of five years of effective performance as an administrator in a PreK-12 school setting.

Out-of-state applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the application process for educator licensure with the Maryland State Department of Education in addition to uploading all required materials to your HCPSS employment application.

Experience:

• Five years of leadership experience in special education, school administration, or school system operations in a PreK-12 setting.
• Experience supervising positions providing education services to students in a PreK-12 setting.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate for this role will also possess a combination of the additional qualifications below. If you don’t meet every one of the preferred qualifications, we still encourage you to apply, as we welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

• Experience as a school-based administrator and central office or district level leader.
• Special education leadership experience in the areas of staffing and fiscal needs.
• Experience managing departmental budgets and federal/state grants (e.g. LAFF, CLIG) within a complex organization, such as a public-school system, or comparably structured organization. 
• Experience managing position control/staffing allocation models to effectively align resources with student needs.
• Experience in procurement and vendor contract management, with demonstrated success in optimizing internal resource allocation to strategically reduce reliance on third-party contractors.
• Experience achieving measurable organizational change by leading and managing cross-departmental projects or initiatives that advance special education programs and departmental priorities. 
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and implement internal processes and structures to increase efficiency and more effectively utilize resources.

ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

The below list is a summary of the functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

• Leads strategic planning and operational implementation to advance the Department of Special Education’s priorities and strategic plan.
• Oversees the functions of staffing, position management, fiscal resources, grants, contracts, and other department resources.
• Supervises and leads the Academic Budgets, Nonpublic Services, and Compliance teams.
• Supports the tracking and adjustment of internal programming to reduce reliance on nonpublic placements.
• Supports the improvement of special education service delivery and overall compliance with state and federal requirements for services to students with disabilities.
• Supports central office and school-based leaders in effectively aligning school staffing with student needs.
• Develops and implements systems and processes that improve operational efficiency, consistency, and accountability across the department.
• Collaborates with department and district leaders to develop a staffing plan that aligns budgets, resources, and operational planning with student and program needs.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The below list is a summary of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for success in this position, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list.

Knowledge

• Comprehensive understanding of federal and state special education regulations (e.g., IDEA, Section 504), compliance standards, nonpublic placement mandates, and legal reporting requirements.
• Mastery of long-range organizational planning, resource allocation frameworks, operational design, and continuous improvement methodologies within large educational systems.
• In-depth knowledge of public-school accounting, academic budgeting, position control systems, grant administration (e.g., Title/IDEA funding), and contract management.
• Practical knowledge of district staffing models, talent allocation, position management, and supervisory practices for multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

• Translate high-level vision and strategic priorities into actionable, measurable operational plans across multiple teams.
• Skill in managing multi-million-dollar budgets, monitoring grant expenditures, ensuring legal alignment, and optimizing fiscal resources for student needs.
• Proven skill in analyzing existing workflows and implementing scalable systems that increase department-wide efficiency, consistency, and accountability.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills to partner effectively with district leadership, school administrators, and external agencies.
• Analyze operational, financial, and compliance data to guide staffing allocations, resource requests, and service delivery.

Abilities

• Ability to manage, inspire, and evaluate diverse teams—including academic budget, nonpublic, and compliance service personnel—to foster high performance and accountability.
• Ability to dynamically align human, physical, and financial resources directly with student learning outcomes and specialized program needs.
• Ability to navigate conflicting district priorities, regulatory changes, and resource constraints with sound judgment and structured solutions.
• Ability to clearly present complex financial, operational, and compliance concepts to executive leadership, board members, and department staff.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

Working Hours

This position will require occasional evening hours.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Complete applications must be submitted, and once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes. Incomplete applications will not be considered.  Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.
 
Supplemental Application Questions

This position requires applicants to provide responses to the below supplemental application questions to determine whether you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications. Please upload your responses in a separate file to the supplemental application questions section of the application.

1) Please summarize your leadership experience in table format. For each position you have held, identify your title, employer, and number of direct reports.

2) Please describe any experience you have managing departmental budgets and federal or state grants (e.g. LAFF, CLIG) within a complex organization, such as a public-school system, or comparably structured organization. Include in your response the position in which you gained the experience, the total funds managed, and the specific budgets and grants with which you worked.

3) Please describe any experience you have managing position control/staffing allocation models to effectively align resources with student needs. Include in your response the position in which you gained the experience and up to two key outcomes achieved.

4) Please describe any experience you have in procurement and vendor contract management, including optimizing internal resource allocation to strategically reduce reliance on third-party contractors.

5) Please describe up to two examples of experience you have achieving measurable organizational change by leading and managing cross-departmental projects or initiatives that advance special education programs and departmental priorities.

6) Please describe up to two examples of experience you have collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and implement internal processes and structures to increase efficiency and more effectively utilize resources.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be included in further evaluation. Interviews will be limited to those applicants who, in addition to meeting the basic requirements, have experience and education which most closely match the position qualifications and the needs of the school system.

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

Compensation

This is a 12-month per year position in the Howard County Association of Supervisors and Administrators (HCASA) employee unit. The current salary range for this position is in the Director lane on the Central Office Administrators salary scale. Actual placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Howard County Public School System and the HCASA Master Agreement which considers relevant prior experience. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, this position is exempt from overtime. 

Retirement

Membership in the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) pension plan is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in the State Personnel and Pensions Article and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). A qualifying employee cannot reject membership, nor can an ineligible employee elect membership. The annual contribution to the pension plan will be 7% of an employee’s annual salary.

Benefits

HCPSS offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. Information about additional benefits such as paid time off can be found in the negotiated agreement for employees in this bargaining unit.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Professional references will be contacted prior to any offer of employment. Recommended candidates will be required to provide references from current and recent supervisors.

All employees, regular and temporary, must be fingerprinted, have a criminal background investigation completed, and successfully complete the Maryland Employment History Review, pursuant to Section 6-113.2 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. In addition, some positions will require completion of a physical examination and/or drug testing.

Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the United States. HCPSS participates in E-Verify and does not offer employee sponsorship.

For questions regarding this posting, please contact Sandy Saval at [email protected].

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

To request an accommodation during the application or interview process due to a documented disability, please email [email protected].

HCPSS celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any kind. HCPSS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees in providing them with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at HCPSS are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability,  sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, veteran status or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.