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 p rior 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 mu