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Assistant Secretary for Unemployment Insurance

EXEC VIII

Recruitment #26-009608-0001

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Introduction

GRADE

EPP 0005

LOCATION OF POSITION

100 South Charles Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Main Purpose of Job

The Assistant Secretary for Unemployment Insurance (UI) serves as the senior executive responsible for the administration, oversight, and continuous improvement of Maryland’s Unemployment Insurance program. This position provides strategic, operational, and policy leadership to ensure the timely, accurate, and compliant delivery of UI benefits and services to workers and employers, while safeguarding trust fund integrity and meeting federal and state requirements. This individual is responsible for ensuring that the unemployment insurance system operates effectively and serves as a reliable safety net that meets the needs of unemployed individuals and employers, maintaining workforce attachment and supporting economic resilience. The Assistant Secretary leads a large, complex organization operating in a highly regulated environment and is accountable for translating policy into effective operations, strengthening business processes, improving customer experience, and sustaining measurable performance outcomes.
This executive must lead the Division to ensure timely and efficient administration of the UI program, which includes improving customer service, meeting performance metrics, increasing efficiency, evaluating and adopting new technologies, and safeguarding privacy and security.

POSITION DUTIES

Duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

The Assistant Secretary: 

• Serves as a member of the executive leadership team of the Maryland Department of Labor. 
•  Working with the Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief of Operations, plans, directs, and oversees all operations of the Division of Unemployment Insurance, including benefits administration, adjudication, employer tax operations, appeals support, fraud prevention, and program integrity activities. 
• Leads continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen end‑to‑end business processes, improve timeliness and quality of claims processing, and enhance service delivery for claimants and employers. 
• Establishes performance expectations, monitors results against federal and state benchmarks, and implements corrective actions to ensure sustained compliance and accountability. 
• Ensures full compliance with federal and state UI laws, regulations, directives, and reporting requirements. 
• Oversees development and management of federal and state budgets, grant funding, and legislative and policy recommendations for the UI program. 
• Monitors the health and solvency of the UI Trust Fund and recommends operational or legislative strategies to promote fiscal stability and tax equity. 
• Serves as the primary liaison with the U.S. Department of Labor on program administration, grants, audits, and national initiatives. 
• Directs workforce planning, staff development, and organizational capacity‑building efforts to support effective program delivery. 
• Builds and maintains partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including other government agencies, workforce partners, and employer organizations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or Juris Doctor Degree.

Experience: Eight years of progressively responsible executive‑level experience in operations management, organizational leadership, business process improvement, or administration of large‑scale public programs.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to applicants who possess the following preferred qualification(s). Include clear and specific information on your application regarding your qualifications.

Experience and expertise in the formulation and implementation of UI policy, providing high-level guidance on legislative matters, fraud integrity initiatives, and strategic management. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Personnel employed in this classification will have access to federal tax information and must undergo a state and FBI criminal background check as a condition of employment.

All candidates are subject to a background check against files maintained by the Division of Unemployment Insurance (MD Labor/DUI) to determine whether any monies are owed to MD Labor/DUI as a result of unemployment insurance overpayment/fraud. Any unpaid debt may have an impact on whether or not a candidate is offered employment.

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the eligible (employment) list for at least one year.

Resumes are strongly encouraged, please upload along with application

All information concerning the qualifications, including any required documentation (diploma, transcript, certificate, etc.) must be submitted and received by the closing date. Information submitted after this date will not be considered. 

For positions that require Bachelor/Master Degree etc:
Educational credentials from foreign countries must be evaluated by an approved education review service. This evaluation must be submitted prior to hire. For further information, you may call International Consultants of Delaware, Inc. (302) 737-8715 or World Education Services Inc. 1-800-932- 3897 or (202) 331-2925. 

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position. It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Please report all experience and education that is related to this position.

BENEFITS

This is a full-time, permanent position and eligible for full State benefits, which include:

● Flexible hours and hybrid teleworking
● Paid holidays 12-13 per year 
● Generous paid leave package (annual, sick, personal and compensatory leave) 
● State Pension ("defined benefit" plan) 
● Tax-deferred supplemental retirement savings plans (401(k) and 457) 
● Comprehensive, subsidized health, dental and prescription plans with little to no deductibles, free generic prescriptions, and free preventative health services 
● Flexible Spending Account plans for Health Care and Daycare 
● State Employees Credit Union

To learn more, please click this link: STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

U.S. Military Veterans may qualify for additional bonus points towards certification. Any job offer will be contingent on the candidate providing a U.S. Military form DD 214 verifying honorable discharge from service prior to starting employment (and may be requested prior to interview). Permanent State employees do not need to submit proof of Veterans’ status. If you are unable to apply online, or encounter difficulty attaching required or optional documentation, you may submit via email to felicia.ransome@maryland.gov Please be sure to include your name, identification number (Easy ID#) and job announcement number on any documentation to ensure timely processing.

PLEASE DO NOT FAX OR EMAIL UNSOLICITED DOCUMENTATION

Completed applications, required documentation, and any required addendums may be mailed to:
Maryland Department of Labor Office of Human Resources
Attn: #26-009608-0001 (Director of Unemployment Insurance/FR)
100 S. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

The MD State Application Form can be found online Maryland Department of Labor is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of MDOL that all persons have equal opportunity and access to employment opportunities, services, and facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status.



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