State of Maryland

A Contributions Specialist, Lead is the lead level of work reviewing unemployment insurance liability issues and sending review determinations to employers to inform them of their liability located in the Unemployment Insurance Contributions Division, Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.   Employees in this classification assign, review, and approve the work of and train lower-level Contributions Specialists and Contributions Associates.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Contributions Specialist Supervisor or other designated supervisory personnel.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Contributions Specialist, Lead is differentiated from the Contributions Specialist II in that the Contributions Specialist, Lead assigns, reviews, and approves the work and trains lower-level Contributions Specialists and Contributions Associates while the Contributions Specialist II performs the full range of duties under general supervision.  The Contributions Specialist, Lead is differentiated from the Contributions Specialist Supervisor in that the Contributions Specialist Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Contributions Specialists and Contributions Associates.

Assigns, reviews, and approves the work of and trains lower-level Contributions Specialists and Contributions Associates;

Provides advice and guidance to lower-level Contributions Specialists and Contributions Associates on resolution of problems in reviewing unemployment insurance liability issues and in gathering facts and information regarding employers’ liability to pay Unemployment Insurance Tax;

Explains policies and directives from management to lower-level Contributions Specialists and Contributions Associates;

Develops monthly productivity reports for program administrators;

Determines employer liability to pay unemployment insurance tax, under Labor Unemployment Article 8, following established Maryland Unemployment Insurance Law, standards, procedures, rules and regulations;

Assesses type of ownership and business entity by reviewing the Combined Registration Application and other account information;

Explains and interprets Maryland State tax laws governing Unemployment Insurance to employers and employer representatives;

Develops written correspondence notifying employer of liability or non-liability and rights of appeal;

Communicates verbally and in writing with internal and external customers throughout the State of Maryland and in out-of-state agencies when employers protest unemployment tax liability within Maryland because liability has been established in another state;

Prepares and maintains documents to open and close employer accounts, and to record changes in name and liability;

Obtains work and wage information from claimants and employers to establish an earnings record in cases of complicated disputed claims;

Reviews and makes determinations regarding disputed claims, redeterminations, and protest letters;

Examines, researches and resolves employer protest and delinquency notices;

Receives, researches and responds to employer inquiries regarding charges to their Experience Rate account;

Analyzes, assigns, calculates and adjusts employer tax rate;

May assist employers in completing the Quarterly Unemployment Insurance Contribution Report;

May give technical advice to employers, employer representatives, and local unemployment offices regarding benefit charges;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of federal and Maryland Unemployment Insurance laws, and Code of Maryland Regulations Title 9, Subtitle 32;

Knowledge in the specific unemployment insurance areas: employer liability to pay unemployment insurance tax, correct assignment of employer tax rate, appropriate benefit charges to employers’ accounts and accuracy of past due Quarterly Contributions Reports based on federal and Maryland Unemployment Insurance Law and Code of Maryland Regulations Title 9, Subtitle 32;

Skill in the application of unemployment insurance law, standards, procedures, rules and regulations;

Skill in the use of standard office equipment, such as fax machine, photocopier, calculator, personal computer, printer;

Ability to assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level Contributions Specialists and paraprofessional support staff;

Ability to exercise sound and impartial judgment in analyzing facts, evidence and precedents, evaluating such information, and drawing valid conclusions from documentary evidence in making sound decisions;

Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with internal and external customers;

Ability to learn new computer applications and computer systems;

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Experience: Five years of experience rendering determinations related to unemployment insurance contributions; or obtaining and evaluating facts pertinent to an alleged unemployment insurance disqualifying issue and preparing a decision justifying the determination; or  reviewing, verifying, recording, adjusting, and balancing financial transactions.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of an Associate of Arts degree from an accredited college or university and two years of experience rendering determinations related to unemployment insurance contributions; or obtaining and evaluating facts pertinent to an alleged unemployment insurance disqualifying issue and preparing a decision justifying the determination; or reviewing, verifying, recording, adjusting, and balancing financial transactions for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Internal Review classifications or Auditing specialty codes in the Financial or Auditing fields of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation. An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.