State of Maryland

A UI Professional VI is the second-level supervisory or expert level professional for the various units within the Maryland Unemployment Division of the Maryland Department of Labor. Employees in this classification perform work as a UI Benefits Professional, UI Tax Professional, UI Administration Professional, or UI Integrity Compliance Officer. Employees in this classification provide supervision to subordinate UI Professionals I-V or function as an expert program professional. Positions in this classification perform administrative work requiring the regular use of critical thinking and analysis, as well as the ability to evaluate, interpret, and apply complex administrative plans/policies within the Division of Unemployment Insurance. Employees within this classification are assigned responsibilities involving the analysis of operational programs or procedures in order to make recommendations for improvements. Employees in this classification may supervise lower-level administrative, clerical, and/or other support staff.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a UI Professional VII-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 VI is differentiated from the UI Professional V in that the Professional V functions as an advanced program professional or first level supervision program professional, while the Professional VI functions as a second-level supervisor or expert program professional. The UI Professional VI is differentiated from the UI Professional VII in that the UI Professional VII functions as a program regional -level supervisor and master or virtuoso program professional.

UI Benefits Professional

Coordinates, reviews, and leads the efforts and work of a unit comprised of lower-level UI Professionals responsible for taking and processing claims, answering claimant questions, conducting fact-finding interviews and completing non-monetary determinations in accordance with established guidelines;

Provides feedback, guidance, and training to lower-level UI Professionals in current, complex departmental policies, procedures, and programs to ensure all internal and external goals are met;

Examines and reviews unemployment insurance claims and/or non-monetary determinations for accuracy and completeness to minimize improper payments and prevent fraud;

Investigates operational problems and propose solutions to the management;

Reviews and takes appropriate action on work items generated through the system;

Contributes to the compilation of metrics information to report to leadership;

May ensure that lower-level staff members are reviewing and taking appropriate action on work items generated through the system;

Performs other related duties.

UI Administration Professional

Directs or assists in the direction of the daily operations of a unit or division;

Evaluates efficiency of operations and develops, revises, and recommends new policies, standards, and workflow procedures, using new technology where appropriate;

Interprets and applies or oversees the application of agency policies, rules, and regulations to accomplish the work of the unit or division;

Implements new regulations and policies as directed by upper management;

Sets goals and deadlines and oversees the workflow of the unit;

Coordinates workflow with administrators of other units in areas of work spanning multiple units;

Coordinates leave and staff coverage of unit or division;

Performs other related duties.

UI Tax Professional

Identifies discrepancies in financial tax operational accounting systems making the necessary adjustments and modifications to ensure the reliability of UI financial tax data;

Responsible for the analysis of the tax operational accounting systems and procedures with recommendations for improvements, scheduling, assigning, reviewing, approving, compiling, balancing, and reconciling qualitative data to ensure divisional units are in compliance with legal parameters;

Reviews and takes appropriate action on work items generated through the system;

Ensures that lower-level staff members are reviewing and taking appropriate action on work items generated through the system;

Contributes to the compilation of metrics information to report to leadership;

Performs other related duties.

UI Integrity Compliance Officer III

Reviews and takes appropriate action on work items generated through the system;

Performs lead/expert oversight of  financial and operational BAM investigations on randomly selected cases that include elements for finance, correctness of adjudication, and compliance with DUI policy, and US DOL mandates;

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

Conducts new and independent fact-finding interviews;

Completes redeterminations (if applicable) on previously adjudicated issues and correct errors detected during BAM investigation;

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

Utilizes BAM Questionnaire /Forms, Maryland Law & Policy, USDOL, Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE), Maryland Reemployment Exchange (REX), and various crossmatches such as: Appriss, National Report of Hire, State Report of Hire, Post-Audit 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 TPS Acceptance Sample Questionnaires;

Analyzes computed measures that consist of reporting data derived from  systems reviews, acceptance sample findings, and Employment and Training Administration (ETA) reports and prepares recommendations for improvement;

Prepares final report for each tax function with conclusions and recommendations for improvement to be submitted electronically to the US DOL and prepares TPS annual report to be submitted to DUI administration;

Compiles all data and facts gathered during the course of the investigation and prepares a formal written summary for each case investigated;

Utilizes BTQ methodology to review and analyze the claims process from beginning to end, focusing on the five eligibility criteria: separated for no fault of their own, able and available, monetarily eligible, registered for work, and actively seeking work;

Data enters BAM and BTQ case documentation and scoring into the Sun System to be submitted electronically to the US DOL;

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

Performs other related duties.

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

Knowledge of methods and procedures for the collection and organization of information;

Knowledge of State of Maryland personnel policies;

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

Ability to schedule and allocate staff resources;

Ability to guide and mentor subordinate technicians;

Ability to communicate effectively 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 identify and analyze problem areas and recommend appropriate solutions;

Ability to prepare and present reports or recommendations clearly and concisely;

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

Ability to learn and apply new computer applications and computer systems, proficient in Microsoft Word Suite.

Experience: Nine years of experience, five years of experience supervising staff in a public or private agency related to rendering and/or determining eligibility for a Human Service Program, or an insurance claims processing and fraud investigation program OR five years of experience in administrative staff or professional staff work (One year of this experience must have involved one or more of the following: the supervision of other employees, applying rules and regulations, or exercising responsibility for the development of policies or procedures) and an additional four years of experience in a public or private agency related to rendering and/or determining eligibility for a Human Service Program, or an insurance claims processing and fraud investigation program.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and five years of experience supervising staff in a public or private agency related to rendering and/or determining eligibility for a Human Service Program, or an insurance claims processing and fraud investigation program OR five years of experience in administrative staff or professional staff work (One year of this experience must have involved one or more of the following: the supervision of other employees, applying rules and regulations, or exercising responsibility for the development of policies or procedures) 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.