Caregiver Program Manager-(Human Services Specialist II)-Citizen Services, Office of Aging

About the Department

Howard County: Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community. Howard County Government: Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, sustainability, and consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2025, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 83 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the highest number of annual NACo awards achieved in the history of the State of Maryland, and the highest number of awards out of any county in the State of Maryland which received a collective 136 awards. NACo is the leading organization representing county-level government operations. These awards recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policymaking. What are we looking for? We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations. What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government: We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government. We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged! We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs. As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

Develops, coordinates, evaluates and maintains the Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP).

Researches , establishes and promotes new services based on best practices.

Improves, expands or integrates existing service(s) for the Area Agency on Aging.

include program development, community outreach, creating partnerships, and community education, and tracking performance outcomes. Supervises the Family Caregiver Program Support Specialist and other pertinent programmatic staff. Works as part of the Age-Friendly and Dementia-Friendly Division and provides support related to caregiver programming, respite, grant oversight, as well as support to families of Kindred Spirits and Connections. STARTING SALARY HIRING RANGE: $33.61 - $42.68 $69,913 - $88,766 * This is the anticipated starting salary range for this position. Please note that the final salary will be determined by the Office of Human Resources, commensurate with experience and aligned to ensure internal equity with similarly situated roles. * CLASS DESCRIPTION: Performs intermediate professional level human services work, which may include supervisory responsibility, under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work includes administering human service programs or providing specialized health and human services targeted to a special population; assists in formulating policies and developing goals and objectives; and providing a full range of counseling and referral services. Work may also include identifying and investigating complaints of unfair and deceptive practices and violations of local and State laws; and administering criminal justice and alternative sentencing programs. This is a Classified position, meaning that it is a part of the Howard County Classified Service upon completion of a probationary period of at least six (6) months.

• We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

Program Administration and Compliance: Administer the Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations.

Implement systems to measure client outcomes and promote continuous quality improvement.

Oversee all data collection, program compliance, and reports to the Maryland Department of Aging or other requesters.

Update the FCSP and potentially other sections of the Area Plan yearly.

Actively participate as a member of the AAA management team.

Participate in activities related to Emergency Management, including work outside normal business hours.

Service Delivery and Program Development: Manage the design, delivery, and evaluation of consumer-driven support services for caregivers and their loved ones.

Oversee the marketing of the FCSP to caregivers, including directing and expanding outputs such as the annual Caregiver Conference, newsletters, education events, Trualta, etc.

Develop and give public presentations to promote FCSP and other AAA programs.

Staff Leadership and Supervision: Supervise and guide the Family Caregiver Program Support Specialist and other assigned staff to ensure fulfillment of program requirements and quality customer service.

Budget and Resource Management: Develop and manage program budgets to ensure maximization of resources.

Community Engagement and Partnerships: Develop community caregiver coalitions and collaborate with partner agencies to identify caregivers and maintain a supportive service network.

Assure effective communication with stakeholders such as AARP and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Foster community awareness about the needs of caregivers.

Advocacy: Engage in advocacy efforts to influence public policy on issues affecting caregivers.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Supervises designated Human Services Specialist I or other designated positions.

• Administer the Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Implement systems to measure client outcomes and promote continuous quality improvement.
• Oversee all data collection, program compliance, and reports to the Maryland Department of Aging or other requesters.
• Update the FCSP and potentially other sections of the Area Plan yearly.
• Actively participate as a member of the AAA management team.
• Participate in activities related to Emergency Management, including work outside normal business hours.

• Manage the design, delivery, and evaluation of consumer-driven support services for caregivers and their loved ones.
• Oversee the marketing of the FCSP to caregivers, including directing and expanding outputs such as the annual Caregiver Conference, newsletters, education events, Trualta, etc.
• Develop and give public presentations to promote FCSP and other AAA programs.

• Supervise and guide the Family Caregiver Program Support Specialist and other assigned staff to ensure fulfillment of program requirements and quality customer service.

• Develop and manage program budgets to ensure maximization of resources.

• Develop community caregiver coalitions and collaborate with partner agencies to identify caregivers and maintain a supportive service network.
• Assure effective communication with stakeholders such as AARP and the Alzheimer’s Association.
• Foster community awareness about the needs of caregivers.

• Engage in advocacy efforts to influence public policy on issues affecting caregivers.

Bachelor's Degree and one (1) year related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS: Possession of a valid driver's license. PREFERRRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Gerontology, Administration, Public Health, or related fields; or training and experience in related fields equivalent to a college degree plus experience working in federally funded Aging programs or similar program. Program supervision and evaluation experience. Strong interpersonal skills, excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to work well with an ethnically diverse population. Strong computer proficiency especially with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), database management and spreadsheet applications necessary. Proficiency in virtual platforms and use of technology for human services delivery. PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS, AND REASONING ABILITY: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedural manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or schedule form.

• Possession of a valid driver's license.
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Gerontology, Administration, Public Health, or related fields; or training and experience in related fields equivalent to a college degree plus experience working in federally funded Aging programs or similar program.
• Program supervision and evaluation experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills, excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to work well with an ethnically diverse population.
• Strong computer proficiency especially with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), database management and spreadsheet applications necessary.
• Proficiency in virtual platforms and use of technology for human services delivery.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.

The employee frequently is required to stand; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms.

The employee is occasionally required to walk.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedural manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or schedule form.

The following is a summary of the benefits available to Howard County employees who hold full-time benefit-eligible positions.

Employees in positions covered by a bargaining agreement should consult their union contract for other specific benefits.

Additional details are also available in the Employee Manual and in summary plan descriptions which are available in the Office of Human Resources or at https://www.howardcountymd.gov/human-resources/benefit-plans .

FLEXIBLE BENEFITS PLAN: Under the County's flexible benefits plan called CountyFlex, employees may elect to enroll in medical insurance plans, dental insurance plans, optional life insurance, dependent life insurance, and healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts.

Employee contributions to these benefits are made on a pre-tax basis.

Information concerning enrollment options, plan rates and a benefits comparison chart are available in the Office of Human Resources.

GROUP TERM LIFE INSURANCE: Employees receive a group term life insurance benefit equal to 2 times their annual salary at no cost.

Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is included.

The County pays the entire cost for this benefit.

Employees may purchase additional coverage under the CountyFlex benefits plan.

PAID LEAVE BENEFITS: Annual and Disability Leaves are accrued over 24 pay periods each year.

Personal leave is credited on January 1st each year.

Use of Annual, Disability and/or Personal Leave requires supervisory approval.

ANNUAL LEAVE: During the first 5 years of employment, employees accrue the equivalent of 13 days per year.

From years 6 through 10, the accrual is the equivalent of 16 days per year.

From years 11 through 20, the accrual is the equivalent of 19 days per year.

From year 21 on, the accrual is the equivalent of 21 days per year.

Annual leave may not be used during the first 6 months of employment.

A maximum of 40 days may be carried over from one fiscal year to the next.

DISABILITY LEAVE: Employees accrue the equivalent of 1 day per month (12 days per year).

There is no maximum accrual.

This leave may be used for the disabling illness/injury of the employee, spouse or minor child or for a serious medical condition approved under F.M.L.A.

Absences of over 3 days must be substantiated by a physician's certificate.

PERSONAL LEAVE: Employees receive 6 personal leave days each calendar year to be taken during the calendar year.

Employees hired after April 30th receive 4 days of personal leave that year; those hired after August 31st receive 2 days; and those hired after November 30th receive no personal leave for that year.

Personal leave may not be carried over.

HOLIDAYS: Employees are paid for the following holidays: New Year's Day; Martin Luther King Day; President's Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veteran's Day; Thanksgiving Day; Friday after Thanksgiving Day; Christmas Day.

OTHER PAID LEAVE: Other paid leave will be granted for approved jury duty, military leave, bereavement leave and official leave.

Unpaid leave will be granted in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act.

RETIREMENT: Howard County sponsors a defined benefit plan for its employees. participation in the plan is mandatory.

Employees are required to make contributions to the plan, which are taken on a pre-tax basis.

Contribution rates are dependent upon the plan in which the employee participates (general plan, or police and fire plan).

The County contributes an additional percentage sufficient to ensure that each plan is adequately funded.

Complete details are available in the summary plan descriptions which are available in the Office of Human Resources.Howard County Retirement Plan: Employees contribute 3% of salary to the plan.

Sheriff Deputies hired after 7/1/2021 contribute 8.5% of salary to the plan.

All eligible Corrections Employees must enroll in the Corrections Employees Enhanced Benefit and must contribute 8.5% of salary to the plan.Howard County Police and Fire Employees' Retirement Plan: Sworn police officers and career firefighters must participate in this plan.

Police employees contribute 11.6% of salary and Fire employees contribute 7.7% of salary to the plan.

SOCIAL SECURITY: Participation is mandatory.

Employees contribute at the current established rate. 457(b) DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN: Employees are eligible to participate in an IRS 457(b) deferred compensation program.

This plan allows employees to defer a portion of their income on a pre-tax basis.

Contributions are invested at the employee's direction on a tax deferred basis.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Employees experiencing problems that affect their personal lives and job performance may take advantage of confidential assessment and referral services.

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE: Employees may apply for reimbursement for tuition costs after completion of 6 months of employment.

Prior course approval is required.

The maximum annual reimbursement is $2500 contingent upon County funding.

PAID PARENTAL LEAVE : Employees who have worked for the county for at least twelve (12) months are eligible for twelve (12) weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the qualifying birth of a child, or the placement of a child with an employee for adoption or foster care.

Leave must be used within the 12 months following the birth or placement.

LONG TERM DISABILITY BENEFITS: Employees who have completed 6 months of service are enrolled in the LTD plan.

After 6 months of disability, plan may pay 60% of base monthly pay up to $2500 per month.

The County pays the entire cost of this benefit.

DISABILITY LEAVE BANK: Employees have established a Disability Leave Bank to which employees may donate disability leave in order to be eligible to receive salary and benefit protection when they are absent due to a serious disabling illness or injury and have exhausted all accrued leave.

Employees are eligible to join the Bank after having completed 1 year of employment.

Administration of the Bank, including the review and approval of claims for grants of time, is handled in accordance with the Bank's Rules and Regulations which are available in the Office of Human Resources.

VOLUNTARY BENEFIT OPTIONS: Employees may elect to enroll in long term care insurance, critical illness insurance, short term disability income protection, and universal life insurance.

CREDIT UNION: Employees may participate in the Tower Federal Credit Union through payroll deductions.

Loans are also available to qualified applicants.

GROUP TERM LIFE INSURANCE: Employees receive a group term life insurance benefit equal to 2 times their annual salary at no cost.

Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is included.

The County pays the entire cost for this benefit.

Employees may purchase additional coverage under the CountyFlex benefits plan.

DISABILITY LEAVE: Employees accrue the equivalent of 1 day per month (12 days per year).

There is no maximum accrual.

This leave may be used for the disabling illness/injury of the employee, spouse or minor child or for a serious medical condition approved under F.M.L.A.

Absences of over 3 days must be substantiated by a physician's certificate.

PERSONAL LEAVE: Employees receive 6 personal leave days each calendar year to be taken during the calendar year.

Employees hired after April 30th receive 4 days of personal leave that year; those hired after August 31st receive 2 days; and those hired after November 30th receive no personal leave for that year.

Personal leave may not be carried over.

HOLIDAYS: Employees are paid for the following holidays: New Year's Day; Martin Luther King Day; President's Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veteran's Day; Thanksgiving Day; Friday after Thanksgiving Day; Christmas Day.

OTHER PAID LEAVE: Other paid leave will be granted for approved jury duty, military leave, bereavement leave and official leave.

Unpaid leave will be granted in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act.

RETIREMENT: Howard County sponsors a defined benefit plan for its employees. participation in the plan is mandatory.

Employees are required to make contributions to the plan, which are taken on a pre-tax basis.

Contribution rates are dependent upon the plan in which the employee participates (general plan, or police and fire plan).

The County contributes an additional percentage sufficient to ensure that each plan is adequately funded.

Complete details are available in the summary plan descriptions which are available in the Office of Human Resources.Howard County Retirement Plan: Employees contribute 3% of salary to the plan.

Sheriff Deputies hired after 7/1/2021 contribute 8.5% of salary to the plan.

All eligible Corrections Employees must enroll in the Corrections Employees Enhanced Benefit and must contribute 8.5% of salary to the plan.Howard County Police and Fire Employees' Retirement Plan: Sworn police officers and career firefighters must participate in this plan.

Police employees contribute 11.6% of salary and Fire employees contribute 7.7% of salary to the plan.

SOCIAL SECURITY: Participation is mandatory.

Employees contribute at the current established rate.

457(b) DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN: Employees are eligible to participate in an IRS 457(b) deferred compensation program.

This plan allows employees to defer a portion of their income on a pre-tax basis.

Contributions are invested at the employee's direction on a tax deferred basis.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Employees experiencing problems that affect their personal lives and job performance may take advantage of confidential assessment and referral services.

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE: Employees may apply for reimbursement for tuition costs after completion of 6 months of employment.

Prior course approval is required.

The maximum annual reimbursement is $2500 contingent upon County funding.

PAID PARENTAL LEAVE : Employees who have worked for the county for at least twelve (12) months are eligible for twelve (12) weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the qualifying birth of a child, or the placement of a child with an employee for adoption or foster care.

Leave must be used within the 12 months following the birth or placement.

LONG TERM DISABILITY BENEFITS: Employees who have completed 6 months of service are enrolled in the LTD plan.

After 6 months of disability, plan may pay 60% of base monthly pay up to $2500 per month.

The County pays the entire cost of this benefit.

DISABILITY LEAVE BANK: Employees have established a Disability Leave Bank to which employees may donate disability leave in order to be eligible to receive salary and benefit protection when they are absent due to a serious disabling illness or injury and have exhausted all accrued leave.

Employees are eligible to join the Bank after having completed 1 year of employment.

Administration of the Bank, including the review and approval of claims for grants of time, is handled in accordance with the Bank's Rules and Regulations which are available in the Office of Human Resources.

VOLUNTARY BENEFIT OPTIONS: Employees may elect to enroll in long term care insurance, critical illness insurance, short term disability income protection, and universal life insurance.

CREDIT UNION: Employees may participate in the Tower Federal Credit Union through payroll deductions.

Loans are also available to qualified applicants.

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