Assigned to the central office, of the Employment Security Department, supervises a professional staff and directs the activities of a unit within the statewide Employment and Training or Unemployment Insurance Programs; OR serves as a management designated senior-level specialist within the Employment and Training or Unemployment Insurance Programs and provides advance level consultation or liaison to a variety of internal and/or external customers.

Positions at this level are characterized by a high level of independent judgment and broad responsibilities and decision-making authority in determining the nature and scope of problems to be resolved.

Positions that are allocated as senior-level specialists for a program area must be designated in writing by a Division Administrator using the following criteria:

A senior-level specialist is defined as a consultant and recognized authority working in a designated specialty area. Positions research new or revised laws and regulations to recommend policies and develop procedures or consult on technical systems procedures for the administration of programs. Positions exercise primary responsibility for program policy development and/or act as an agency spokesperson and have primary responsibility and authority for the planning and design of their assigned specialty area.

Supervises professional staff in planning, evaluation, monitoring, and/or technical assistance for agency programs; sets deadlines for completion of projects and activities; acts as primary staff consultant in areas of specialization;

Evaluates proposals for consistency with program objectives and goals; analyzes, evaluates, and recommends alternative courses of action for program operations;

Coordinates budget planning and preparation; determines allocation of funds;

Conducts and coordinates analysis of program, procedures and policies; interprets complex legislation, rules and regulations in the development of procedures and policies in the administration of state or federal programs;

Drafts legislation, performs legislative analysis, prepares or provides testimony at hearings;

Investigates strikes, lockouts, and employer-union disputes to determine claimant eligibility. Represents the agency in labor dispute hearings. Administers Union Referral program;

Coordinates the planning, designing, analyzing, and implementation of statewide employment and training and unemployment insurance programs;

Provides coordination or acts as liaison with federal, state, and local government agencies, community organizations, and other public and private entities in the development of agency programs;

Develops or coordinates input for a program planning process or preparation of grants and contracts;

Designs special programs and determines resource needs to respond to pre-employment, employment and training, or unemployment insurance needs resulting from economic crisis or special initiative;

Coordinates or serves as staff to external councils, committees, or boards;

Markets agency programs through presentations, literature, in-person contact, press releases, or public service announcements;

Coordinates integration of fraud management activities;

Resolves issues of compliance with the federal or state monitoring agency;

Acts as system liaison, designing and developing revisions to the Unemployment Insurance tax and payment systems required by changes in laws and policies; coordinates system changes with information services staff and other agency staff;

Coordinates, plans, schedules, and conducts multi-state audit program of employers and evaluates results for compliance with federal and state laws, regulations, and policies;

Performs the duties of the lower levels in the series;

Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of: principles and procedures involved in planning, development, administration and monitoring; contract development; negotiation and evaluation techniques; budgetary methods and techniques; the Employment Security Department and related programs.

Ability to: supervise and participate in carrying out agency programs and related activities; handle and develop a program budget; interpret and apply applicable policies; accept responsibility for major program activities, think conceptually, observe and interpret trends, analyze data, identify key relationships, draw logical conclusions, establish and maintain effective work relationships with governmental officials outside the agency at all levels: employees, private groups, and the general public; present ideas, conclusions and factual data on concise and understandable form; evaluate complex issues and apply the findings in professionally written documents.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

One year of experience as an Employment Security Program Coordinator 2.

OR

Two years of experience as a WorkSource Specialist 3 or equivalent.

OR

A Bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, political science, or closely related field, and four years of professional or technical experience in employment and training or unemployment insurance programs.

Additional qualifying experience may be substituted, year for year, for education.