Program Specialist I/II

Job Description

Job Description

  Description: The Office of Administrative Services (OAS) provides program management and support services to the Office of Finance and Employee Services, the Office of Development Services, the Office of Public Projects and Services, and initiatives undertaken by the Town Manager. In addition to providing deliverables for internal customers, this centralized office interacts with and provides deliverables to the public, the Town, local officials, contract staff, and others. The Office comprises two program specialists who report to and work with the Deputy Town Manager.

The Position: As part of the Administrative Services team, a Program Specialist I/II performs intermediate to high-level professional work in providing deliverables to internal and external customers. Functional assignment areas will include a combination of the following: Town-wide communications; web and social media content management; permit and licensing program management; data analysis and reporting; public events planning, coordination, and implementation; and related program management and support. The position also includes administrative support (agendas, minutes, and meeting materials) for meetings of the Mayor and Council, as well as Town Boards, Committees, and Commissions. The work is primarily performed in an office setting with an opportunity to work remotely a few days per week. Town events are often held outdoors and on evenings or weekends. The position may be filled as a Program Specialist I or II, depending on additional experience and qualifications.

Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate will be seeking an exciting opportunity to assist in creating change across diverse functional areas. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in public administration, communications, information management, or a related field is strongly desired. An advanced degree in a related field is welcomed. A combination of education and relevant experience will be considered. Demonstrated experience must include at least three (3) years in program management and support, preferably in one or more of the above-listed functional areas.

The ideal candidate will be bilingual in English and Spanish; have a high degree of literacy and advanced problem-solving, decision-making, data analyses, and reporting skills; have excellent oral/written communication and mathematical skills; and have a high level of attentiveness to the spoken and written word. Attention to detail is critical. The successful candidate will take ownership of assigned programs and assist the team in building and maintaining systems, policies, and processes to further improve service delivery. Lastly, the successful candidate must maintain a valid Class D Driver’s License in accordance with Town policy.

The Community : The Town of Riverdale Park is a growing community. The Town is situated between the Cities of Hyattsville and College Park, Maryland. The Town’s population is approximately 7,343. The Town is experiencing significant development and is poised for additional development as two Purple Line Stations are being constructed within the Town. The Town operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The Town’s elected leadership is comprised of a Mayor and six (6) Council Members. The Mayor serves as the chair of the Council, the legislative branch of the Town government. The Town’s staff leadership team reports to the Town Manager. The Town’s FY2027 Operating Budget is 13.1MM.

Challenges/Opportunities: The OAS team provides services to all Town departments and the community. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic team as you help build systems, policies, and processes in serving most of the Town’s operations and the public. Like many departments in small-to-mid-sized Towns that are experiencing growth, the OAS faces challenges associated with evolving expectations, leading change, transitioning to data-driven decision-making, improving policy and process implementation, and enhancing community services within operational and budgetary constraints.

Compensation: The starting salary range for FY 26 is $50,627 to $60,216, depending on qualifications. The Town offers competitive health care benefits, a leave package, and excellent retirement plan options. In addition to base pay, the Town offers additional pay per year for bilingual English-Spanish speaking and writing skills, based on language proficiency.

Process: To apply, click the Apply for this Job tab (below or to the right). Applicants are required to submit a resume, cover letter, and three (3) professional references through this application portal. The position is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed on a continual basis.

The Town of Riverdale Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Town provides equal opportunity to all qualified applicants on the basis of demonstrated fitness and merit as determined through the selection process without regard to sex, race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability (as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act), or any other basis protected by federal or state law, ordinance or regulation.