Center Director Jobs in Maryland
Center Director jobs in Maryland are concentrated in the Baltimore metro, the Washington D.C. suburbs, and Annapolis, where demand runs from early childhood education centers to community health and nonprofit program management. Major employers with a lasting Maryland presence include Kennedy Krieger Institute, the University of Maryland Medical System, and Catholic Charities of Maryland, all of which regularly staff center director roles. The most in-demand specialties are early childhood education, behavioral health, and community services program leadership. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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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?
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.
Assist in the overall operation of a regional 50+ Center, including program development, implementation, and evaluation; community outreach; and reporting and record keeping. Serves as the Center Director in their absence and as a team member in all aspects of center operations.
STARTING SALARY HIRING RANGE:
$27.37 - $29.97/Hourly
$56,925 - $62,327/Annually
*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 professional level human services work, which may include supervision, under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work includes planning and directing the safe and efficient operation of activities of a center, overseeing the marketing and participant registration for programs, classes and special events; supervising assigned part-time and full-time personnel; and preparing the budget for center operations.
*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*
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Center Operations and Facility Management:
- Assists with the overall management and daily operation of a regional, multifunctional 50+ Center.
- Oversees the general operation of the center in the absence of the Center Director.
- Coordinates with the Department of Facilities for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance.
- Reviews and conducts facility inspection reports for maintenance needs.
- Works toward ensuring the safety and security of patrons and staff.
- Assists with maintenance and repair issues for fitness equipment, coordinating with contractors and program staff.
- Assists with rentals and other agency use of the building; resolves schedule conflicts.
- Participates in Emergency Management activities, including work outside normal business hours.
Program Planning and Community Engagement:
- Plans, coordinates, implements, and evaluates 50+ center programming.
- Develops quarterly calendars, newsletters, and schedules with instructors and contractors.
- Welcomes and orients 50+ Center participants, provides tours, leads orientation presentations, and conducts outreach to increase participation.
- Maintains active knowledge of DCRS programs, trends, and community needs.
- Facilitates ongoing cooperation and coordination with DCRS offices, County departments, and community partners.
- Works collaboratively with the nutrition team to support food service operations.
- Attends staff meetings and required trainings.
Staff Supervision and Volunteer Coordination:
- Supervises assigned full-time and contingent staff.
- Recruits, selects, trains, and evaluates contingent staff and volunteers.
- Plans, schedules, and assigns work for staff and volunteers.
- Ensures staff compliance with County policies related to cost accounting, PDQ card use, and purchasing.
Administrative and Fiscal Responsibilities:
- Assists with coordination of building scheduling with program staff and other user groups.
- Completes, reviews, and submits incident, injury, accident, and related reports to appropriate departments.
- Assists with development and management of the operating budget.
- Completes fiscal and financial reports as required.
- Coordinates and submits content for digital newsletters, publications, and public service announcements.
- Works with the Department Communications Team and stakeholders to develop marketing strategies for programs, events, and rentals.
Other Responsibilities:
- May require evening and weekend work.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
May supervise contingent and/or benefitted staff. Assists with managing 10+ service provider contracts on an annual basis. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS:
- Serv-Safe Food Sanitation Certification must be received within six months of hire.
- Class C Maryland Driver's License or equivalent issued by state of residence.
PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Bachelor's degree.
- Serv-Safe Food Sanitation Certification.
- Excellent customer service skills.
- Creative thinker and self-starter with an ability to envision, develop, and implement innovative programming.
- Experience and working knowledge of program planning and development.
- Basic math and accounting skills.
- 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:
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to communicate verbally, hear, and interact with participants, staff, contractors, and members of the public. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk throughout the facility, use hands to operate office and program equipment, and reach with hands and arms. The position may require bending, stooping, and moving throughout the facility to conduct inspections, oversee programs and events, and respond to operational or safety concerns. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move materials, supplies, or equipment weighing up to 25 pounds. Required visual abilities include close, distance, and peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus.
Work is performed primarily in an office and community center environment with frequent interaction with the public. The noise level may range from moderate to occasionally loud during programs, activities, and special events. The position may require local travel and work during evenings, weekends, emergencies, or outside normal business hours.
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS AND REASONING ABILITY:
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
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.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
TO APPLY: You must complete an employment application online to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes cannot be substituted for completion of the job application work history. No paper applications will be accepted.
Selected candidates may be subject to drug screening, background screening, and reference checks.
At time of application, please submit a copy of any college degree, coursework, licenses, or certifications that you have referenced on your application. Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. may need to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.wes.org/).
Howard County Government is not sponsoring employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B Visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
Howard County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The County prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources directly at HiringPreference@howardcountymd.gov. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.
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Where Maryland roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Center Director Job Market in Maryland
A snapshot from current Maryland openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Investment & Asset Management
What Maryland Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in center director jobs across Maryland.
- Active Maryland Child Care Center Director credential issued by the Maryland State Department of Education
- Bachelor's or master's degree in education, social work, public health, or a related field
- Minimum three to five years of supervisory or program management experience in a relevant setting
- Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, staff scheduling, and regulatory compliance for Maryland-licensed facilities
- Strong knowledge of Maryland EXCELS quality rating standards and child care licensing requirements
- Experience coordinating with Maryland state agencies, funders, or accreditation bodies such as MSDE or COMAR
Center Director Jobs in Maryland: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a center director in Maryland?
To become a center director in Maryland, you typically need a Maryland Child Care Center Director credential, issued through the Maryland State Department of Education's Child Care Credentialing Unit. Candidates must complete approved coursework in early childhood education or a related field, document supervised experience in a licensed facility, and pass a background check. For health or nonprofit program centers, a relevant degree plus Maryland-specific program licensure may substitute for the MSDE credential.
Which companies hire center directors in Maryland?
Companies currently hiring center directors in Maryland include Mathnasium, Johns Hopkins University, and EarlyDay, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Maryland's high concentration of nonprofit health systems, federally funded Head Start programs, and YMCA branches across Baltimore and the D.C. suburbs makes it one of the more active states for this role.
Which Maryland cities have the most center director jobs?
The cities with the most center director openings in Maryland are Baltimore, Annapolis, and Bethesda. Baltimore drives the largest share of postings given its dense network of nonprofit organizations, hospital-affiliated community centers, and Head Start providers, while Silver Spring and Rockville reflect the high population density and federal contractor presence throughout Montgomery County.
Are there remote center director jobs in Maryland?
Yes, but they're rare. Center director roles are primarily on-site positions responsible for daily operations, staff supervision, and facility compliance, all of which require a physical presence. About 25% of center director openings tied to Maryland are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those tend to be administrative or program-oversight roles at larger nonprofit networks rather than single-site facility director positions.
How can I get hired as a center director in Maryland with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a lead teacher, assistant director, or program coordinator role at a Maryland-licensed child care center or community health organization and building toward the center director credential over time. Large Maryland employers such as YMCA of the Chesapeake and community action agencies running Head Start programs regularly hire associate-level staff with the intention of promoting internally. Earning the Maryland Child Care Center Director credential early, even before a full director posting opens, signals readiness and gives candidates a clear edge in competitive Baltimore and Montgomery County markets.
Where can I find and apply to center director jobs in Maryland?
You can find and apply to center director jobs in Maryland on Migrate Mate, which lists current Maryland openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly without needing to create an account or sign up first.
See All 34 Center Director Jobs in Maryland
Find roles in Maryland that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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