State of Maryland

A Contributions Specialist Supervisor is the supervisory 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 supervise lower-level Contributions Specialists and may supervise Contributions Associates and support staff.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from 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 Supervisor is differentiated from the Contributions Specialist, Lead in that the Contributions Specialist Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for Contributions Specialists and Contributions Associates while the Contributions Specialist, Lead assigns, reviews, and approves the work of and trains lower-level Contributions Specialists and Contributions Associates.

Plans, coordinates, supervises, trains and evaluates the work of lower-level Contributions Specialists and Contributions Associates;

Explains policies and directives from management to 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;

Assists employers in completing the Quarterly Unemployment Insurance Contribution Report;

Gives 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 laws 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 supervise lower-level Contributions Specialists and Contributions Associates;

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: Six 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 three 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 not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.