State of Maryland

SKILLED SERVICE          BARGAINING UNIT: G           NCP

A UI Professional IV is the full performance or lead level worker in the Division of Unemployment Insurance of the Maryland Department of Labor. Employees in this classification perform work as a UI Benefits Professional, UI Tax Professional, UI Administration Professional, UI Legal Case Manager, or UI Integrity Compliance Officer. Employees in this classification will primarily be focused on providing high-quality customer service to individuals applying for unemployment insurance benefits in the UI Benefits and UI Contributions divisions. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.  However, this position can work as a lead and can train, assign and review work of lower-level UI Professionals.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a UI Professional V-X or other designated administrator.

Position placement in this classification is determined by 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 a classification specification.

The UI Professional I-III and the UI Professional IV are differentiated based on supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. The UI Professional I-III performs the duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed, and the UI Professional IV performs the full or lead work with a range of duties under general supervision. The UI Professional IV is differentiated from the UI Professional V in that the UI Professional V is the first level of supervision and can supervise lower-level UI Professionals or clerical staff.

UI Benefits Professional

Assigns reviews and approves work of lower-level UI Professionals or clerical staff;

Trains UI Professionals I-III;

Responds to telephone and/or email inquiries from both internal and external customers;

Gathers and analyzes information from claimants to determine the appropriate type of Unemployment Insurance claim;

Maintains and updates claimant account information;

Researches and answers claimant questions regarding unemployment insurance benefits;

Obtains and records earnings and employment information;

Examines claim history to ensure prompt and accurate payment of benefits;

Conducts bulk processing claims;

Analyzes reports to determine and resolve issues regarding unemployment insurance claims;

Presents unemployment insurance information offsite during Rapid Response and Bulk Claim sessions;

Conducts minor, separation, and/or non-separation fact finding interviews and document information gathered;

Approves or disqualifies claims by applying Unemployment Insurance laws, regulations, and/or directives;

Evaluates unemployment insurance claims to detect improper payments and fraud;

Provides advice and guidance to lower-level UI Professionals;

Performs other related duties.

UI Tax Professional

Assigns reviews and approves work of lower-level UI Professionals or clerical staff;

Trains UI Professionals I-III;

Responds to telephone and/or email inquiries from both internal and external customers;

Gathers tax and wage information from employers to establish liability under Maryland Unemployment Insurance law;

Maintains and updates employer account information;

Researches and resolves employer protests and delinquency notices;

Handles lockbox functions and processes deposits and returned check items;

Validates financial data to ensure accurate reflection of payment and wage data;

Processes wage adjustments and employer refund requests;

Assists with management and maintenance of the Collateral Program for reimbursable employers;

Determines employer liability of payment of unemployment insurance taxes;

Determines appropriate rate classification for employers;

Writes review determinations in response to employer protests;

Testifies at appeal hearings regarding review determinations issues by the agency;

Assists with reconciling monthly ledgers and balancing daily accounts receivable items and resolution of discrepancies;

Explains State unemployment laws, rules, and regulations to employers and their representatives;

Assists with the Vendor Liability Offset Program and the federal Tax Offset Program;

Reviews, prepares, and processes financial tax accounting transactions;

Provides advice and guidance to lower-level UI Professionals;

Performs other related duties.

UI Administration Professional

Assigns reviews and approves work of lower-level UI Professionals or clerical staff;

Trains UI Professionals I-III; Independently plans, develops, conducts or supervises the conduct of studies and analyses of agency programs, organizations, procedures or systems;

Formulates final reports and effective recommendations based on analyses conducted;

Prepares or supervises the preparation and development of management tools such as procedural manuals, statistical reports, work-flow charts, performance measurement criteria or organization charts;

Participates in the formulation, establishment or modification of program goals and objectives through analysis of alternatives, trends, available resources and projected program needs;

Participates in the program planning process by developing forecasts, proposals or procedures for orderly growth and expansion;

Confers with other administrative officials, program heads, staff specialists or others in order to exchange information pertaining to the program, or interpret policies or offer recommendations;

Advises departmental officials regarding administrative practices, procedures or policies;

Coordinates inter-agency transactions and provides liaison with officials in other agencies in the State, legislature, the federal government, private industry or local government agencies;

May provide assistance to a higher-level administrator in the formulation and preparation of an agency's budget or portions of the budget;

Provides advice and guidance to lower-level UI Professionals;

Performs other related duties.

UI Legal Case Manager

Assigns reviews and approves work of lower-level UI Professionals or clerical staff;

Trains UI Professionals I-III;

Reviews new assessments to determine appropriate legal action including recording of liens, coding, and issuing Writs of Execution in order to levy on chattels of the delinquent taxpayers;

Researches and recommends garnishment proceedings on bank accounts, contracts and salaries of delinquent taxpayers;

Prevents revivals of forfeited corporate charters;

Issues subpoenas for delinquent employers and their records, and conducts administrative hearings with employers for information useful in effecting collection;

Renders determinations of accuracy, validity and legality of assessments in response to appeals by employers and their representatives;

Approves adjustments and recommendations regarding liability of employer accounts;

Reviews, approves and forwards instructions from Unemployment Insurance Specialists, Collection Agents, and Auditors regarding opening and closing of employer accounts, adjusting quarterly reports, name and address changes to Employer Status Unit for data entry on automated tax system;

Prepares injunction proceedings against employers to enjoin and restrain them from operation of their businesses as long as the taxes remain due;

Negotiates and recommends payment agreements with employers; monitors compliance with any settlement terms;

Corresponds with employers, their representatives or attorneys regarding account dollar amounts, payment of applicable taxes, and to resolve disputes with tact and courtesy;

Interprets history of the account, including computer records, and educates taxpayer or representative regarding their liability;

Reviews, approves and forwards instructions regarding the application of payments received to Internal Audits Unit for data entry on automated tax system;

Researches and responds to notices of foreclosures and public auction sales;

Periodically checks the status of foreclosure proceedings for adjustment or distribution of surplus proceeds;

Evaluates and refers cases for annual listing of corporate charter forfeiture requests for enforcement action;

Issues appropriate “Releases of Tax Lien” for cases after review of facts and governing law and regulations;

Reviews legal references and other sources in order to verify that legal citations and references are accurate and complete;

Refers cases and briefs to attorney in Litigation and Prosecution Unit within the Unemployment Insurance Contributions Division for potential court appearance;

Provides advice and guidance to lower-level UI Professionals;

Performs other related duties.

UI Integrity Compliance Officer

Assigns reviews and approves work of lower-level UI Professionals or clerical staff;

Trains UI Professionals I-III;

Performs financial and operational Benefits Accuracy Management (BAM) investigations on randomly selected cases that include elements for finance, correctness of adjudication, and compliance with agency policy, and US Department of Labor mandates;

Identifies all records or activities to be reviewed and are necessary for a complete fact-finding;

Conducts new and independent fact-finding interviews;

Complete redeterminations (if applicable) on previously adjudicated issues and correct errors detected during Benefits Accuracy Management investigation;

Gathers financial and wage information from employers used to verify claimant benefit year earnings;

Utilizes agency resources to detect factors that would impact the claimant’s eligibility for benefits and to conduct a thorough investigation;

Uses interviewing and investigation techniques to conduct thorough telephone fact finding interviews;

Reviews the quality of the outputs, ensuring accurate employer wage and tax records, against uniform standards of quality using the Tax Performance System (TPS) acceptance sample questionnaires;

Analyzes computed measures that consist of reporting data and prepares recommendations for improvement;

Prepares final reports for each tax function with conclusions and recommendations for improvement to be submitted electronically to the US DOL and the agency;

Compiles data prepares formal written summaries for each case investigated; Utilizes Benefits Timeliness and Quality (BTQ) methodology to review and analyze the claims process;

Submits BAM and BTQ case documentation electronically to the US DOL;

Attends BAM, BTQ and TPS Regional Peer reviews/ training, which may include out of state travel;

Provides advice and guidance to lower-level UI Professionals;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of English, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and basic arithmetic;

Knowledge of federal and state unemployment insurance laws, rules, and regulations;

Skill in preparing reports and other correspondence;

Skill in the use of standard office equipment such as photocopiers, calculators, personal computers, and printers;

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

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

Ability to exercise tact, integrity, and discretion in dealing with a wide variety of people from various economic and social backgrounds;

Ability to guide and mentor lower-level UI Professionals or clerical staff;

Ability to establish and maintain effective and harmonious working relationships with the general public, employers, and co-workers;

Ability to organize daily work plans;

Ability to learn and apply new computer applications and computer systems which include but are not limited to Microsoft Suite (i.e. Word, Excel and PowerPoint);

Ability to apply State unemployment laws, rules, and regulations and make appropriate determinations; 

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Experience: Seven years of experience in a public/or private agency rendering and/or determining eligibility for a Human Service Program, or an insurance claims processing and fraud investigations program OR Seven years of experience in administrative staff or professional staff work.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of experience in a public/or private agency rendering and/or determining eligibility for a Human Service Program or an insurance claims processing and fraud investigations program OR three years of experience in administrative staff or professional staff work for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute additional graduate level education at an accredited college or university at the rate of 30 credit hours on a year-for-year basis for the required general 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 the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification. 

Director, Division of Classification and Salary