State of Maryland

A Job Service Specialist III is the advanced level of work in workforce development with responsibility for overseeing the daily operations of a specialized workforce development program.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions but may provide technical guidance to lower-level Job Service Specialists.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an Office Manager or other designated supervisor.  The work may require travel to various employer work sites in order to promote use of public workforce development.

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.

The Job Service Specialist III is differentiated from the Job Services Specialist II in that the Job Service Specialist III is responsible for overseeing the daily operations a of a specialized workforce development program while the Job Services Specialist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Job Service Specialist III is differentiated from the Job Service Specialist IV in that the Job Service Specialist IV assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Job Service Specialists, and is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a workforce development unit or specialized program.

Oversees the daily operations of a specialized workforce development program, such as the Local Veterans Employment Program, Early Intervention Program or Job Development program;

Interviews job applicants to determine occupational qualifications and classifications and analyzes work experience, education and vocational training and degree of job readiness;

Evaluates an applicant’s qualifications such as education, experience and skills, in order to select only those applicants for referral who are qualified for vacancies reported by employers;

Advises applicants on workforce development program policies and procedures and offers guidance on techniques of applying for jobs;

Conducts counseling interviews for job applicants who are experiencing problems in occupational choice or occupational adjustment;

Appraises applicant’s suitability for a variety of job openings available and assists applicant in choosing between alternatives, then refers applicant to employer;

Contacts employers to determine results of referrals and continues follow-up with employers and applicants as necessary;

Receives job orders from employers and determines job content, skills and abilities required and other occupational data necessary for selection of qualified workers;

Advises employers of specific labor market conditions, current recruitment methods, and selection techniques;

Evaluates need for specialized or technical services by applicants and employers, and arranges for services to meet these needs;

Solicits employers to develop a job for a specific applicant or group of applicants and encourages employers to modify selection requirements to enable acceptance of disadvantaged applicants;

Promotes the continuing use of public workforce development or special programs for the disadvantaged by employers;

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

May develop jobs and set up program contracts for on-the-job training for employment programs for the disadvantaged applicants;

May serve as the local veteran’s representative;

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 interviewing 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 the principles and techniques of employment counseling;

Knowledge of community resources including training and employment facilities;

Knowledge of the Unemployment Insurance Law of Maryland;

Ability to oversee the daily operations of a specialized workforce development program;

Ability to analyze work qualifications of applicants and evaluate job work requirements;

Ability to gather, collate and make informal analyses of statistical data;

Ability to work with employers in developing jobs;

Ability to motivate applicants to improve their employability;

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.

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

Experience: Three years of experience in the field of workforce development involving conducting interviews with persons seeking employment and providing assistance to employers needing qualified personnel to fill vacancies.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute additional experience in workforce development taking job orders from employers, conducting job-ready interviews, registering job applicants, verifying job referrals, conducting vocational placements, performing unemployment adjudications, or appraising job applicants for employability on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

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

3. Candidates may substitute active duty military recruiting experience or career counseling experience on a year-by-year basis for the required education or 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.