This senior level position is located within the Center for Health Care Facilities Planning and Development and reports directly to the Center Director.  This position provides overall management of the Maryland Certificate of Need program, evaluating and making recommendations to the Commission on the approval or denial of proposed capital projects by health care facilities.  This Chief position will lead a staff of project analysts and, as necessary, outside consultants, to assist the Commission in its review of Certificate of Need applications.  This will require substantial work with applicants and their representatives, providing information, guidance, and technical assistance on the Commission's regulatory requirements and the mangaement of regulatory compliance reviews related to administration of the Maryland Certificate of Need program.  Additionally, this position will assist in the periodic updating of Certificate of Need procedural regulations and provide substantive consultation in the development and updating of State Health Plan components.  This position will work with other division chiefs and legal counsel within the Center and other Centers within the Commission that play a role in establishing regulatory policy for health care facilities, and with the Health Services Cost Review Commission, which regulates hospital charges.  This Chief position will be providing senior level decision makers with advice and recommendations on the need for proposed health care facility projects the costs and efffectiveness of project alternatives, the viability and financial feasibility of proposed projects, and the impact of proposed projects on health care costs and the existing health care system.  The Maryland Health Care Commission's Center for Health Care Facilities, Planning and Development focuses on improving the care provided by health care facilities, bringing together planning, regulation of capital investment, and colleciton of relevant facilities information.  The Commission itself is an independent regulatory agency that plans for health system needs, promotes informed decision-making and increased accountability, and works to improve access to needed heatlh care services by providing timely and accurate information on availability, cost, and quality of services to policy makers, purchasers, providers and the public.  The Commission's vision for Maryland is to ensure that informed consumers hold the health care system accountable and have access to affordable and appropriate health care services through programs that serve as models for the nation.