State of Maryland

A Personnel Associate I is a level of paraprofessional work involving the operation, implementation and monitoring of the personnel system in Maryland State government.  Employees in this classification perform a variety of tasks covering a broad range of general personnel activities involving the application and explanation of principles and practices of the personnel system in the State of Maryland.  Employees in this classification, in some cases, may be required to supervise, train and guide lower-level paraprofessional and clerical employees.

Employees in this classification receive moderate or general supervision, depending on specific job functions, from a higher-level paraprofessional or a professional Personnel Specialist, Personnel Analyst, Personnel Officer or Personnel Administrator.

The Personnel Associate I-IV classifications differ from other specialized paraprofessional classes (Personnel Technicians) on the basis of the range of activities performed.  Personnel Associate work is diverse, covering a multitude of personnel-related functions, whereas Personnel Technician work is specialized covering a specific area of personnel-related functions.

Positions in the Personnel Associate classifications are evaluated based on the total points accrued by the application of the Paraprofessional Personnel Management Positions Point Factor Job Evaluation Method.  The job evaluation factors are: nature and variety of work, nature and purpose of contacts, nature and extent of supervisory accountability and nature and extent of control exercised over the position.  The point range requirement for the Personnel Associate I classification is 250-399.

Responds to inquiries received from the public and employees concerning employee services such as, recruitment activities, promotional opportunities, status of actions, test schedules and information concerning current and former employees;

Uses computer applications for personnel-related duties;

Establishes and maintains personnel files;

Maintains current copies of personnel policies, procedures, rules, regulations, salary schedules etc.;

Receives, interprets and distributes personnel administrative memoranda, bulletins and directives;

Answers questions concerning the application of personnel-related rules, regulations, policies and procedures and advises employees and supervisors of alternative courses of action;

Maintains confidentiality for all personnel-related activities;

Receives, completes and audits personnel transaction forms;

Requests and reviews eligible lists for vacancies;

Reviews eligible list clearances and verifies selections;

Completes employment forms and conducts orientation for new employees;

Advises new employees of job requirements, rights, privileges and obligations;

Discusses employment problems with employees;

Prepares and submits periodic reports such as, vacancy reports, turnover statistics, and EEO statistics; Prepares bi-weekly time reports and maintains leave records;

Prepares and reviews requests for sick leave extensions and accident and injury reports;

Coordinates charity campaigns, blood drives and other employee activities;

Completes and reviews transaction documents;

Assigns record and action codes for computer applications;

Contacts agency personnel representatives to ascertain or clarify information;

Ascertains the status of positions by referring to various records including relevant databases;

Calculates salaries;

Determines increment and entry-on-duty dates;

Reviews appointment documents to insure completeness and accuracy;

Receives and answers personnel-related questions and complaints from employees, personnel officers and the general public;

May counsel employees regarding health and retirement benefits and options;

Performs other related duties.

Class Descriptions 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.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

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 not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by 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.