State of Maryland

An Unemployment Insurance (UI) Claim Center Specialist Supervisor I is the supervisory level of work in a Claim Center within the Division of Unemployment Insurance involving the review and evaluation of work completed by a unit comprised of lower-level UI Claim Center Specialists. Employees in this classification supervise lower-level UI Claim Center Specialists.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an UI Claim Center Administrator or other designated supervisory personnel.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by 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 description.

The UI Claim Center Specialist Supervisor I is differentiated from the UI Claim Center Specialist Advanced in that the UI Claim Center Specialist Supervisor I has supervisory responsibility for lower-level UI Claim Center Specialists while the UI Claim Center Specialist Advanced performs advanced duties in the areas of handling complex determinations, investigations and mentoring and training lower-level UI Claim Center Specialists. The UI Claim Center Specialist Supervisor I is differentiated from the UI Claim Center Specialist Supervisor II based on the scope of overall responsibility. The UI Claim Center Specialist Supervisor I only has supervisory responsibility for UI Claim Center Specialists while the UI Claim Center Specialist Supervisor II has supervisory responsibility for UI Claim Center Specialists and assists the UI Claim Center Administrator with administrative support.

Supervises and coordinates the efforts of a unit comprised of lower-level UI Claim Center Specialists to provide high quality customer service that regulates the distribution of unemployment insurance benefits in accordance with established guidelines;

Reviews Unemployment Insurance fact-finding reports and non-monetary determinations for accuracy, completeness and conformance with the annotated Unemployment Insurance Law of Maryland, Code of Maryland Regulations and Unemployment Insurance Directives, policies, procedures and regulations;

Provides feedback, guidance and training to lower-level UI Claim Center Specialists in current, complex departmental policies, procedures and programs to ensure a satisfactory level of efficiency;

Monitors reports to ensure that due process, to claimants and employers, is not compromised by UI Claim Center Specialist backlog;

Compiles and maintains legible, accurate records documenting the progress of individual staff and conducts and completes the evaluations of an assigned unit of lower-level UI Claim Center Specialists, utilizing the Performance Planning and Evaluation Program (PEP) process;

Recommends performance based disciplinary actions;

Develops and maintains harmonious working relationships with co-workers and support personnel;

Trains employees to attain desired levels of performance;

Coordinates the operation of the unit with that of other related units;

Assists in planning, coordinating, organizing and assigning work to a unit comprised of lower-level UI Claim Center Specialists, in cooperation with management, to achieve maximum workforce utilization;

May perform the full range of lower-level UI Claim Center Specialist duties, as dictated by Agency backlog;

May be assigned duties associated with Unemployment Insurance reports and the daily Interviewer Scheduler;

May represent the Division of Unemployment Insurance at referee, appeal board, or court hearings to present factual information;

May perform bilingual services;

May take and process claims, as necessary;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the Annotated Unemployment Insurance Law of Maryland, Title 8 and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), Title 9, Subtitle 32;

Knowledge of the information contained in policies, precedents, directives and instructions pertaining to specific areas of adjudication;

Knowledge of English usage and grammar;

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

Ability to assign, review, train and approve the work of a designated unit of lower-level UI Claim Center Specialists, ensuring compliance with Unemployment Insurance laws, policies and directives;

Ability to compile, conduct and complete the performance evaluations (PEPs) of an assigned unit of lower-level UI Claim Center Specialists;

Ability to issue performance based disciplinary recommendations;

Ability to use tact and discretion when communicating verbally and in writing with internal and external customers;

Ability to elicit sufficient and pertinent information concerning the facts of a situation and to record this information in a clear, concise and logical form;

Ability to apply the reasoning contained in Unemployment Insurance laws, precedents, policies, directives and instructions to arrive at valid conclusions;

Ability to exercise sound and impartial judgment in analyzing information and making decisions;

Ability to organize daily work plans to minimize backlog;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Unemployment Insurance Claim Center Associates, Unemployment Insurance Claim Center Specialists, Unemployment Insurance Claim Center Supervisors and Administrators.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Four years of experience adjudicating unemployment insurance separation and non-separation issues; or gathering information used to render determinations related to unemployment insurance contributions.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute four years of general clerical experience on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Human Resources Management classifications or Human Resources Management specialty codes in the unemployment insurance claims or contributions field 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 from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.