Career Center

Choice Program

The mission of The Choice Program is to strengthen communities through innovative, family-focused strategies that connect youth to opportunities for positive choices. The mission is accomplished using a culturally responsive, trauma-responsive, community-based approach that identifies and links the youth and families with social supports; fosters caring relationships; develops high expectations; and provides meaningful participation in youth-centered, community-based activities.

As the convening leader of the Executive Leadership Team of the Choice Program at UMBC, the Director is responsible for strategic management of programmatic and administrative processes to achieve the organizational mission. The Director partners with the Executive Leadership team to promote a strengths-based organizational culture through active personnel management and a commitment to anti-racist programming in the community.

UMBC offers competitive compensation. This role starts at $95,000 and has over 4 weeks of vacation for regular full time roles. Tuition remission is also available.

What is it like to work at UMBC? Check out Glassdoor or Indeed. And read about our recent award, UMBC is a 2023 Great College to Work for…. In every category.

A hybrid telework schedule may be available. 

Specific responsibilities include:

• Supervises a Deputy Director, a Manager of Personnel and Staffing, and the Manager of Evaluation and IT, and if needed, various other positions due to vacancies. The position also leads the Vision Team, Choice's senior program managers.
• Sets priorities, standards, and implementation plans for programming, administration, training, infrastructure, risk management, quality assurance and other Choice activities.
• Assists the Executive Director in cultivating and maintaining Choice funder relationships to sustain Choice's funding of approximately $3.75 million dollars annually, which includes agencies such as the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), Family League of Baltimore City, Baltimore County, GOCPYVS, as well as foundations, philanthropic and corporate funders.
• Leads grant writing and reporting efforts to include the development and oversight of internal and external communications and strategies.
• Administers program contracts, MOU's, compliance policies and other agreements.
• Acts as a member of the Shriver Leadership team, an associate faculty member overseeing Choice courses, and represents Choice and The Shriver Center on UMBC and University System of Maryland (USM) committees and panels. 

• Master's Degree, preferably in Criminal Justice, Non-Profit Management, Sociology, Psychology or a Human Services related field
• Three years of experience related to youth in need of supportive services or vulnerable populations
• A minimum of three years supervisory, leadership or administrative experience

• PhD, preferably in Criminal Justice, Organizational Leadership, Sociology, Human Services or related field
• Experience in human resources, risk mitigation and administrative practices in the non-profit or university sector
• Ability to effectively build organizational and staff capacity, while building a strong team-oriented culture
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to create proposals, evaluation and reports under strict deadlines
• Commitment to anti-racist, inclusive practices for the organization and in the communities that are being served
• Experience in curriculum development and university teaching
• Fluency in Spanish a plus

A background check will be required.  

Upload a cover letter and a resume.  

UMBC offers a rich benefits package.

Regular and grant funded regular positions (Full benefits summary click here):

Generous Leave which includes accruing:

• 22 Days of Annual Leave  
• 15 Days of Sick Leave  
• 15 Holidays
• 3 Personal Days

Tuition Remission:

• 8 credit hours per semester
• Tuition remission at UMBC for eligible dependents after two years of FT employment

Additional Benefits:

• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement plans (including the choice of joining the pension plan)
• Professional development opportunities
• Wellness opportunities
• & Much more

Contingent II positions may include some benefits. 

Benefits offered align with type (Regular, Contingent II, etc.) of position. 

If you require a reasonable accommodation for a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at 410-455-2337 or MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-735-2258 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.