Chief, Consumer Protection Division

Description

The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Maryland. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has the general charge, supervision, and direction of the State’s legal business, acting as legal advisors and representatives of the major agencies, various boards, commissions, officials, and institutions of State Government. The OAG also protects the public by civil enforcement of antitrust, civil rights, consumer protection, and securities laws and regulations and by the prosecution of organized crime, Medicaid fraud, environmental crimes, insurance fraud, state tax evasion, and other statutorily assigned matters. As Maryland’s 47th Attorney General, Anthony G. Brown leads the Office with a critical focus on equity, justice, and fairness.

The Consumer Protection Division (CPD) is one of the most visible and publicly active units of the OAG. Serving as a critical safeguard, its mission is to protect Maryland’s consumers from unfair, deceptive, and illegal practices in the marketplace — through enforcement, mediation, advocacy, education, registration, and outreach.

In FY25, the Division received more than 12,000 consumer complaints and 63,000 inquiries, and recovered over $12 million for Maryland consumers. With over 80 attorneys, professionals, and volunteers, the Division operates from its Baltimore headquarters and maintains branch offices on the Eastern Shore, in Prince George's County, and in Western Maryland, to provide virtual and in-person assistance across the state.

CPD's work spans a broad portfolio: major enforcement actions against companies engaged in deceptive trade practices; administrative adjudication of cease and desist proceedings; mediation of tens of thousands of consumer disputes; oversight of the Health Education and Advocacy Unit (HEAU), which mediates billing, insurance coverage, and surprise medical bill disputes; administration of the Home Builder Registration and Guaranty Fund program; data privacy enforcement under the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act and the Maryland Kids Code; consumer outreach, education, and publication programs; and multi-state and federal enforcement coordination.

CPD is organized into multiple units: arbitration, asset recovery, false claims, finance & lending, general enforcement, guaranty fund, health clubs, health education & advocacy, housing enforcement, home builders registration, identity theft, mediation, opioids enforcement, investigations, and administrative/operational functions, with a legal structure that gives the Division Chief final administrative adjudicatory authority over contested enforcement proceedings under Md. Code Ann., Com. Law § 13-403 and COMAR 02.01.02.

The Chief of the Consumer Protection Division is responsible for strategically leading, managing, and directing all functions of the Division. This is first and foremost a management and leadership position. The Division Chief is responsible for the performance, culture, and strategic direction of a multi-unit division of attorneys, investigators, mediators, paralegals, and administrative staff operating across multiple offices throughout Maryland.

The Division Chief reports directly to a Deputy Attorney General. The Chief must be an effective manager of people, an experienced legal professional, a credible public voice on consumer protection issues, and a strategic partner to the Attorney General and the Executive Leadership Team on enforcement priorities, legislative matters, and intergovernmental coordination.

Core Responsibilities:

Division Leadership and Management: The Division Chief is responsible for the overall direction, performance, and culture of the Consumer Protection Division. This includes:

• Providing day-to-day executive leadership to a multi-unit division with attorneys, investigators, mediators, and support staff operating in Baltimore and statewide branch offices.
• Directly supervising Enforcement leaders, who jointly oversee the Division's enforcement docket and litigation operations, including case prioritization, investigation strategy, and major enforcement actions.
• Directly supervising the Director of the Mediation Unit, with responsibility for the timely and effective resolution of consumer complaints through mediation and voluntary arbitration.
• Directly supervising the Director of the Health Education and Advocacy Unit (HEAU), which provides free mediation services to consumers with health billing disputes, insurance coverage denials, surprise medical bills, and Maryland Health Connection issues.
• Indirectly supervising the Home Builder Registration Unit, which administers the new home builder registration program, the Home Builder Guaranty Fund, and sales representative registration.
• Directly supervising operations and legal strategy related to consumer technology and data privacy.
• Conferring with the Enforcement Decision Officer (the Chief's delegated designee for final administrative adjudicatory decisions under COMAR 02.01.02.02 and .04) regarding strategic priorities, and reviewing final orders for legal sufficiency and policy consistency before service on parties.
• Setting performance expectations, conducting and overseeing performance evaluations for direct reports, and ensuring accountability across the Division's operational units.
• Building and sustaining a Division culture that is professional, mission-driven, equitable, and responsive — and that reflects the values of the OAG's Strategic Plan.

Enforcement Oversight and Strategic Prioritization: Working through the Enforcement leaders, the Division Chief provides strategic direction for the Division's enforcement program:

• Overseeing a docket of administrative and civil enforcement actions involving deceptive trade practices, consumer fraud, data privacy violations, unfair business practices, and violations of statutes administered by the Division.
• Approving and directing major enforcement investigations, determining when to escalate investigations to formal proceedings, and authorizing the filing of civil actions in circuit court.
• Exercising or delegating final adjudicatory authority in administrative contested cases under Com. Law § 13-403, including the authority to issue cease and desist orders, order restitution, and assess civil penalties.
• Coordinating with multistate enforcement coalitions (e.g., NAAG task forces) and federal partners including the FTC, the CFPB, and the DOJ.
• Overseeing the Division's enforcement of Maryland's data privacy laws, including the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act and the Maryland Kids Code (HB 603 / Com. Law Title 14, Subtitle 46), including DPIA compliance and enforcement against noncompliant commercial entities.
• Ensuring that enforcement priorities align with the Attorney General's public protection agenda and OAG strategic priorities.

Mediation and Consumer Services Oversight: Working through the leaders of the Mediation Unit and the HEAU, the Division Chief ensures that the Division's direct consumer services functions are operating effectively:  

• Overseeing the mediation and voluntary arbitration program, which is the Division's primary vehicle for resolving individual consumer complaints against businesses.
• Overseeing HEAU's mediation and advocacy services for health billing, insurance coverage, and No Surprises Act matters, including the HEAU hotline and annual statutory reporting to the Governor and General Assembly.
• Ensuring that mediation and enforcement functions are integrated — including appropriate escalation of systemic complaint patterns from mediation to enforcement review.
• Maintaining quality, timeliness, and equity standards across consumer services operations.

Administration of Registration and Licensing Programs: Working through the leader of the Home Builder Registration Unit, the Chief ensures the lawful and effective administration of the Division's statutory registration and licensing functions:

• Overseeing the new home builder registration program, guaranty fund claims, and sales representative registration pursuant to the Maryland New Home Warranty Security Act and related statutes.
• Ensuring appropriate staffing, fee collection, and fund management for the Home Builder Guaranty Fund.
• Overseeing other registration and compliance programs administered by the Division, including vehicle protection product warrantors, structured settlement transferee registration, and related programs.

Consumer Education and Outreach

• Directing the Division's consumer education and public outreach programs, including publications, consumer alerts, the Division's digital presence, and community engagement.
• Representing the Division at community events, stakeholder meetings, and public forums statewide.
• Overseeing multilingual outreach efforts to ensure that the Division's services are accessible to all Marylanders, including non-English-speaking communities.

Legislative Affairs and Policy

• Serving as the Division's primary point of contact for the Maryland General Assembly on consumer protection legislation, working in coordination with OAG's legislative affairs function.
• Advising the Attorney General and the Executive Leadership Team on legislative priorities and proposed consumer protection legislation.
• Providing testimony before legislative committees on consumer protection matters.
• Representing the Division's interests in interagency policy coordination with the Maryland Department of Labor, the Maryland Insurance Administration, the Maryland Health Care Commission, and other state agencies with overlapping consumer protection jurisdiction.
• Participating in NAAG and other national consumer protection policy forums on behalf of the OAG.

Budget and Administration

• In collaboration with the Director of Budget & Fiscal Services, manage the Division's budget, including preparation of the annual budget submission, monitoring of expenditures, and allocation of resources across units and branch offices.
• In collaboration with the Director of Human Resources, oversee human resources matters for Division personnel, including hiring recommendations, performance management, and employee relations.

Media and Public Communications

• In collaboration with the Communications Division, serve as a primary spokesperson for the Division on enforcement actions, consumer alerts, and consumer protection policy.
• Drafting and reviewing press releases, public statements, and consumer publications.
• Coordinating with Communications Division staff to ensure accurate and timely public communication regarding Division activities.

Classification: Assistant Attorney General VII 

Experience: Candidates should have at least ten years of progressively responsible legal experience, including substantial work in consumer protection, regulatory enforcement, civil litigation, or a closely related field. A minimum of five years of experience managing attorneys and professional staff is required, including direct supervision of multiple subordinate attorneys or units. Strong knowledge of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act (Commercial Law Title 13) and the administrative law framework governing Division enforcement proceedings is essential. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to set strategic direction, balance competing priorities, and lead a multifunctional organization, along with excellent written and oral communication skills and experience serving as a public spokesperson or senior organizational representative. The successful candidate must be an active member of the Maryland Bar or have the ability to waive in. A commitment to public service, equity, and the mission of consumer protection is also required.

Preferred qualifications include experience managing a multi unit or multi office legal organization; experience in administrative adjudication and contested case proceedings; and familiarity with health care billing, insurance regulation, or health consumer advocacy. Additional preferred experience includes work in data privacy law and enforcement involving state or federal privacy statutes; participation in multistate enforcement coordination with entities such as NAAG task forces, the FTC, or the CFPB; prior experience in government or public interest law; and a demonstrated ability to build and sustain an inclusive organizational culture.

Submission: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and a list of three professional references, including at least one current or former supervisor.

Telework: Hybrid work – two in-office days weekly.

Employment Benefits: Working for the Office of the Attorney General offers a competitive benefits package designed to support your health and well being.

• Generous Leave:
  • Annual Leave: 10–25 days per year based on service.
  • Sick Leave: 15 days per year with unlimited carryover.
  • Personal Leave: Up to 6 days per year.
  • Paid Holidays: 12 state holidays.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Retirement Savings: Defined benefit pension plan plus 401(k) and 457 supplemental retirement options.
• Work–Life Balance: Hybrid and flexible work schedules available for many roles.
• Professional Growth: Ongoing training and development opportunities, including paid MSBA membership.
• Additional Benefits: Flexible Spending Accounts, free mass transit (eligible areas), Employee Assistance Program, and access to SECU.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging: The Office of the Attorney General views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving professional excellence and fostering and maintaining a culture where every employee can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the best pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values. We honor, respect, and celebrate all differences, both visible and invisible, and are committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting individuals who have historically been underrepresented in the practice of law and professional careers.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The OAG is an equal opportunity employer that encourages all interested persons to apply regardless of race, color, religion or belief, ancestry, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, pregnancy, family or parental status, veteran status, genetic information, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.