Human Resources Office

The City Human Resources Office works with the City Departments to provide a wide variety of services to employees, applicants and prospective employees. These services include:

Recruitment: Openings for positions are posted on bulletin boards in City buildings. The main bulletin board is in City Hall across from the Human Resources Office. All openings are advertised in the Bowie Blade-News and here on our web site. Selected openings also appear in the Pennysaver magazine,, the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Afro-American, and/or appropriate journals such as International City Manager's Association (ICMA), the Maryland Municipal League (MML) or National League of Cities (NLC). Frequently jobs are advertised on GetAGovJob website. Temporary and Seasonal positions are advertised on City message boards and in the Bowie Blade-News. Temporary and Seasonal openings occur at the Bowie Ice Arena, in City Parks, and on City work crews.

Applications/Resumes: Prospective employees are urged to complete a City application. Applications can be picked up in the City Human Resources Office in City Hall between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on work days or at the reception desk from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. [weekdays] and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays. A City employment application can be downloaded from this web site. For some positions, it is helpful to include a complete resume with the City application. Materials may be mailed to the Human Resources, Bowie City Hall, 2614 Kenhill Drive, Bowie, MD 20715 or sent via fax to 301-809-2304. Call the City Human Resources Office at 301-809-3003 for more information.

EEO Policy: The City of Bowie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The City does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age or disability. In compliance with federal and state laws, the City can provide accommodations for persons with disabilities - when such accommodations are requested in a timely fashion.

Drug-Alcohol Policy: The City has a Drug-Alcohol Policy that includes periodic random testing for affected classifications, as well as testing for reasonable suspicion and in accidents involving a City vehicle. A qualified and certified Medical Review Officer assists the City in the administration of this Drug-Alcohol Policy. Employees who test positive are provided an opportunity for counseling by a certified Substance Abuse Professional. Second and later violations of this policy may result in discipline and/or termination. All new City employees are subject to drug/alcohol testing.

Classification and Compensation: The City Code provides for the creation of a Classification System. The job components of all classifications are evaluated periodically. Job classifications are placed on a salary scale based on the skills, knowledge, and abilities related to each classification. The City has a Pay-For-Performance Annual Evaluation System. The level of achievement and evaluation affects the percentage of annual increase for each employee's position. Employees are paid on a bi-weekly basis. Direct deposit of paychecks is available and encouraged.

Employee Benefits Administration: The City Human Resources Office administers a flexible benefits, cafeteria plan for all regular full-time City employees who work at least 37.5 hours per week. This plan includes: health benefits [a choice of medical plans plus prescription, dental, and vision plans]; life insurance; Flexible Spending Accounts [health and child care]; short-term and long-term disability coverage. The City pays 75% and the employee pays 25% of the cost of health care premiums.

Other benefits available to City employees include: a 401(k) pension plan where the City matches employee contributions based on a combination of amount contributed and years of service; a 457 deferred compensation plan; unemployment compensation benefits as provided under State law; worker's compensation; an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that provides counseling for employees and or family members with problems or special circumstances; membership in the State Employees of Maryland (SECU) Federal Credit Union; Long-Term Care Insurance with an opportunity for employee buy-up; United Buyers Service (UBS) for discount purchases of motor vehicles and furniture.

Leave: City employees receive: 6 Personal Leave days (pro-rated for Part-time employees); 10 Holidays; and 2 Supplemental Holidays. Annual Leave is earned at the rate of 10 days from hire to 5 years of service; 15 days for over 5 years, but less than 15 years of service; 20 days for over 15 years, but less than 20 years of service; and 23 days for over 20 years of service. Part-time employees who earn leave earn it at a pro-rated basis.

Training and Employee Development: The City Human Resources Office works with the various City Departments to provide or coordinate needed training and/or employee development opportunities.

Labor Relations: A portion of City employees [in the Departments of Public Works and Community Services] are represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Union membership is voluntary for those employees who are covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.