Labor Department Community Services Representative

• In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the Department of Labor for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application. 
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

• If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Elizabeth Weston at Elizabeth.Weston@ct.gov and reference the recruitment number.
• Due to the large volume of applications received, the Department of Administrative Services is unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account.
• Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.

In the Department of Labor this class is accountable for providing client services in the areas of unemployment compensation, assessment of clients needs, placement of workers and employer services; in the Central Office this class is accountable for performing basic technical tasks in the following functional areas: claims examination, benefit payment control and merit rating.

CENTRAL OFFICE: Performs basic technical tasks within operational support functional areas of claims examination, benefit payment control and merit rating; reviews employer protest to Unemployment Compensation benefit charges, researches issues and makes initial charge/non-charge decisions; presents appeals to Appeals Division; audits and recalculates employer tax rates based on protest determinations; participates in compilation and dissemination of quarterly and annual employer accounts statements; conducts fraud audits by reviewing quarterly cross match reports and automated files; obtains information needed to verify overpayments; calculates overpayment(s) amounts including penalties; reviews, analyzes and corrects claims under a variety of special programs including military, federal, out of state or multistate claims and claims involving reduced hours, pensions, child support or shared work; obtains and verifies data; applies federal and/or state laws and guidelines to make monetary determinations and other disposition of claims; reviews and processes special program claim appeals; corresponds with employers, claimants and their representatives on variety of matters; provides technical support to local offices in pertinent areas; creates, updates and maintains case management files; maintains records and prepares reports; may collect overpayments as assigned; performs related duties as required.

JOB CENTER: Serves as a front line service provider for all services necessary for determination of monetary eligibility for Unemployment Compensation benefits; reviews benefit application and secures additional data needed; analyzes work history to determine appropriate benefit program; assesses need for non-monetary hearing based on reason for separation or any barriers to employability; makes appropriate adjustments to system wage file or refers to a field auditor as needed; processes adjustments to claims, investigates and resolves held claims and exceptions; provides information, referral, assessment, eligibility determinations and certification for all Job Service Employment and Training programs; determines barriers to employment; assesses needs and refers client to employment counseling, training, employment planning or other support services; develops job opportunities for clients whose skills do not match current listings; periodically assesses continuing eligibility; assists in developing work search plan; customizes and conducts job search and vocational exploration workshops; works with employers to seek, place and follow up on workers with appropriate skills; provides services, including outreach services, to specialized client groups as assigned; provides and explains information on programs, procedures, policies, laws and regulations to clients, employers and others as appropriate; may assist in training new or lower level staff; performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of Job Service, Unemployment Compensation and Employment and Training laws, regulations, policies and procedures; knowledge of interviewing techniques and principles; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; analytical skills; decision making ability; ability to establish cooperative relationships with staff, employers, diverse client population and the public; ability to use automated systems; ability to maintain good public relations; ability to understand, apply and explain relevant laws, regulations, policies, programs and procedures; ability to create and maintain case management records.

Five (5) years of technical level experience in counseling, employment placement, public contact work, human service programs, community action programs, Job Service, Unemployment Insurance or Employment and Training functions.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) hours equaling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

2. For State employees, two (2) years of experience as a Social Services Trainee with the target class of Labor Department Community Services Representative may be substituted for the General Experience.

3. For State employees, two (2) years of experience as an Employment Security Intermittent Interviewer may be substituted for the General Experience.

• Experience drafting and issuing decision letters based on law and administrative procedures.
• Experience drafting responses to correspondence.
• Experience with basic accounting mathematical calculations.

1. Incumbents in this class assigned to veterans program positions will be required to meet the qualifications set forth in Title 38, i.e. must be veterans, preferably disabled veterans, or other qualified, eligible persons. Any employee who bumps a Labor Department Community Service Representative in a veterans program position must meet the eligibility requirements under Title 38.

2. Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language.

3. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.