State of Maryland

A Workforce Development Specialist V is the program expert level of case management work in the field of workforce development within the Maryland Workforce Development Division of the Maryland Department of Labor. Employees in this classification function as Statewide program technical experts in a large office or for a specialized workforce development program in a designated geographical area and provide advice to staff, managers, and executives in resolving highly technical and complex workforce development issues.  Employees in this classification do not supervise lower-level Workforce Development Specialists.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a designated administrator. The work may require travel to various employer work sites in order to promote use of public workforce development services.

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 specification.

Performs the most technical and specialized workforce development assignments and provides advice to staff, managers, and executives in resolving highly technical and complex workforce development issues and projects;

Evaluates statistical reports and formulates procedural changes to address operational problems, increase efficiency and comply with directives of the Office Manager or higher-level administrator;

Ensures that the case management operations of the employment services comply with the policies, directives, and objectives of the Department of Labor;

Evaluates operational problems, processes and procedures and develops and recommends solutions or alternative plans of action to correct problems and increase efficiency of case management operations;

Promotes the continuing use by employers of the public employment service or special programs for the disadvantaged by employers;

Discusses recommendations for improvements and consolidates plans of action submitted by lower-level Workforce Development Specialists;

Resolves issues with staff on the interpretation or clarification of employment services operating procedures;

Resolves disputes and complaints of employers, applicants, and the general public concerning the interpretation or application of Department of Labor policies and procedures;

Advises staff in the dissemination of public information regarding employment service programs or special programs;

Develops and maintains working relationships with employers, in an effort to solicit interviews for specific applicants, provides special recruitment services, keeps abreast of current and potential employer needs, and promotes a greater mutual understanding of programs and services;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the workforce development programs in the Department of Labor;

Knowledge of local workforce development policies, procedures and techniques;

Knowledge of State and federal regulations and policies applicable to the operations of the employment services and special programs for the disadvantaged;

Knowledge of supervisory principles and techniques;

Knowledge of a wide variety of occupations and their required qualifications or those of an industrial-occupational category;

Knowledge of current local and Statewide employment practices, trends and opportunities;

Knowledge of community resources including training and employment facilities;

Knowledge of the techniques of job development;

Knowledge of the Unemployment Insurance Law of Maryland;

Ability to direct the case management activities of a major employment service phase in a large local office or a special employment services program in a designated geographical area;

Ability to disseminate public information regarding employment service programs or special programs to industrial, civic, and government leaders;

Ability to coordinate manpower and support services in the local office area;

Ability to communicate effectively with agency staff and the general public;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, applicants, employers, and representatives of other agencies;

Ability to perform the most technical and complex workforce development assignments and to be able to provide advice to staff, managers, and executives.

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

Experience: Five years of case management experience in the field of workforce development, delivering a wide range of career services to special and targeted populations of job seekers, conducting interviews with persons seeking employment and providing assistance to employers need qualified personnel to fill vacancies.  Case management duties are defined as taking job orders, conducting job-ready interviews, registering job applicants, verifying job referrals, conducting vocational placements, performing unemployment adjudications or appraising job applicants for employability.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute education at an accredited college or university, at the rate of thirty credit hours for each year up to two years of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer with active-duty military recruiting experience or career counseling experience on a year-by-year basis for the required education and 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 F, Social and Human Service 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.