Job Summary

This position is located in the Department of Employment Services (DOES), Office of Unemployment Compensation (OUC). The Associate Director for the American Job Centers (AJCs) provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for the delivery of Unemployment Insurance (UI) services across the District's American Job Centers. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring the efficient, timely, and customer-focused administration of UI benefits while promoting compliance with the District of Columbia Unemployment Compensation Act, the Social Security Act (SSA), the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA), U.S. Department of Labor regulations, and other applicable federal and District laws, policies, and program requirements.

The Associate Director oversees all AJC Unemployment Insurance operations, including claimant services, adjudication support, eligibility assistance, RESEA integration, customer experience initiatives, workforce partner collaboration, staff development, performance management, quality assurance, and continuous process improvement. This position works closely with executive leadership and internal and external stakeholders to strengthen service delivery, enhance operational efficiency, ensure federal performance standards are achieved, and improve outcomes for District residents utilizing American Job Center services.

Duties and Responsibilities

Plans, organizes, directs, implements, and manages the District of Columbia's Unemployment Insurance Program. Formulates, develops, promulgates, and executes relative policies, rules regulation, resolutions and standards. Develops and recommends legislation to improve the District Unemployment Compensation Act. Conducts activities necessary to inform, coordinate and obtain concurrence from groups of management and labor on legislative proposals. Formulates standards for the operation of OUC to ensure conformity with the Social Security Act and other federal acts and standards relating to unemployment compensation, program performance and accountability, reporting and other federal requirements.

Provides daily administration of OUC which includes, (a) the fixing of tax rates for each employer annually in accordance with the length of time the employer has been covered under the provisions of the Act and the amount of benefit payments which are chargeable to the employer's account; (b) the adjustment of each employer's account to credit such account with interest earned on the Trust Fund where applicable under the Unemployment Compensation Act; (c) the collection of contribution (taxes} due quarterly from employers in accordance with the established rates; (d) the assessment of the waiver of such penalty for good cause; (e) the operation of a program of field audits of employers, and enforcing compliance with the law and regulations; (f) the proper and prompt payment of benefits to eligible applicants; (g) prosecution of claimants for benefit claims, contribution rates, compromise settlements, and reciprocal coverage with other states; and (h) the collection and processing of statistical data to be used in recurring reports for administrative purposes and determination of budget needs.

Qualifications and Education

Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, one (1) year of specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression.

Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in Unemployment Insurance benefits administration, workforce development, public administration, or a closely related field preferred.

At least three (3) years of senior supervisory or management experience leading multiple teams, operational units, or program areas preferred.

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Human Resources, Economics, Finance, Organizational Leadership, or a closely related field is preferred. A Master's degree is highly desirable.

Licensures and Certifications

None

Working Conditions/Environment

The work is performed in a normal office setting.

Other Significant Facts

Tour of Duty: Monday-Friday 8:30 am- 5:00 pm

Operational Status: In-person reporting with limited telework and flexible work schedules available upon eligibility.

Promotion Potential: None

Duration of Appointment: Management Supervisory Service At-will. Positions in the Management Supervisory Service serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may be terminated at any time with or without cause.

Pay Plan, Series, Grade: MS-0301-15

Salary: $127,030-$177,839; Based on qualifications and funding

Collective Bargaining Unit (non-Union): This position is not in a collective bargaining unit.

Position Designation : This position is designated as Security Sensitive. The incumbents of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC personnel regulations, Suitability.

Residency Preference: Applicants claiming Residency Preference will be required to maintain residency in the District of Columbia for a minimum of seven (7) years from the date of employment. You will be required to present documents (proofs) to show District residency and failure to maintain bona-fide District residency for the seven-year (7-year) period will result in forfeiture of employment.

Residency Requirement: If the position you are applying for is in the Career, Management Supervisory, or Educational Service at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of the appointment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of the appointment.