Salary : $62,751.00 - $120,981.00 Annually
Location : Fire Headquarters, 2201 Warwick Way, Marriottsville, Maryland 21104, MD
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 26-00601
Department: Fire & Rescue Services
Division: Fire Dept - Fire Admin Office
Opening Date: 08/07/2026
Closing Date: 8/21/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

POSITION SUMMARY:
Responsible for technical level financial administrative work performed for the daily operations of Fire & Rescues payroll processing.
Work includes editing, reviewing, and processing data in the Department of Fire & Rescues (DFRS) payroll system, process updates to ensure compliance with overtime based on union agreements, review file maintenance and reconcile various payroll accounts and knowledge of Fire & Rescues and the County's payroll system.

STARTING SALARY HIRING RANGE:
$30.17 - $34.04$62,751 - $70,806

*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 senior technical level administrative support work, which may include supervisory responsibility, under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work typically involves administrative, technical and para- legal work providing staff assistance to various Boards; or administrative secretarial or constituent services work assisting the County Executive, the State's Attorney, the Chief Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, Chief of Staff or the Chief Administrative Officer. Assumes responsibility for clerical procedures and office operations; maintains executive calendar and appointments. May supervise a support staff. Work at this level may include independent responsibility for a difficult and complex administrative or clerical process not requiring the attention of a professional or technical expert.

*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*

*Please note that this position falls within a collective bargaining unit and is represented by AFSCME Local 3085, Local 3888, or Local 1810.*

*This position may be eligible for a hybrid work after completion of probation, depending on performance and operational need.*
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Payroll Administration and System Management:

• Assists in the management of Fire & Rescue's payroll system for over 600 uniformed, civilian, and contingent employees.
• May act as lead in the absence of the Payroll Administrator.
• Reviews union agreements for FLSA overtime and specialty pay requirements.
• Reviews and implements FLSA-related updates and specialty pays as required by collective bargaining agreements and federal, state, and County law; ensures compliance in overtime calculations.
• Creates daily and fiscal-year overtime reports for administrative staff and Fire Chief.
• Manages quarterly payments related to specialty pays, differentials, and allowances.
• Answers all payroll and leave-related questions for Fire & Rescue personnel.

Personnel Actions and Records Management:

• Submits Personnel Action Forms and required leave calculations to County Human Resources for promotions, demotions, terminations, retirements, resignations, reclassifications, actions, LWOP, military deployments, premium pays, location changes, and other personnel actions.
• Enters data into and assists in management of the Fire records management system (RMS).
• Manages career, civilian, and volunteer personnel records in RMS, including back up responsibilities for volunteer workers' compensation and life insurance program reporting
• Monitors leave usage, modified duty hours, and scheduling.

Reporting and Data Analysis:

• Creates payroll reports and queries to validate accurate payments and respond to departmental payroll inquiries.
• Generates internal and external reports for management, Risk Management, Finance, and Human Resources.
• Compliance and Confidentiality:
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion.

Communication ?and Interdepartmental Coordination:

• Communicates regularly with Human Resources, Risk & Safety, Central Payroll and other County agencies.
• Assists supervisory personnel when needed.

Training and Support:

• Trains personnel on payroll system functions.
• Assists the Department's Human Resources Coordinator as needed.

Administrative and General Duties:

• Uses problem-solving and judgment skills with high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrates strong organizational skills and ability to work under pressure.
• Effectively manages multiple tasks and meets deadlines.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This job has no supervisory responsibilities at this time.
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Associate's Degree and four (4) years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Considerable knowledge ofFireDepartmental and/orCounty operations and functions,andprinciples, practices,rulesand regulations applicable to theFire Service.
• Considerable knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint), Microsoft Outlook, and general knowledge of Microsoft Access.
• Ability to assemble and organize data and background information into useful reports and summaries.
• Ability to apply departmental policy to daily work problems.
• Ability to revise existing and devise new payroll procedures and practices.
• Ability to make mathematical computations.
• Ability to train and cross-train assigned personnel.
• Ability to use good judgment, in deciding when to act independently and when to refer situations to my supervisor.
• Ability to express ideas effectively, both oral and written.
• Ability to work on a cooperative, courteous and effective basis with associates, officials and representatives of public and private agencies, and the public.

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; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; and talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand 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, and peripheral vision.

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 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.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and percentages.
• 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, diagram, or schedule form.

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.

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

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 physic