Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program Manager (PSA, OPT 1)

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program Manager for an assigned region. This position will direct subordinate staff in monitoring and providing technical guidance in matters related to Unemployment Insurance program development. Responsibilities include developing and implementing changes in policy and procedures affecting Unemployment Insurance program components and program activities. This position provides a great opportunity for someone who has a strong knowledge of unemployment insurance law and is dedicated to improving policies and procedures to ensure best practices in delivery of unemployment insurance services. The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent organizational skills, strong leadership skills, and supervisory experience in an unemployment insurance or employment services program, or a program in a related area providing employment, human resource development or social welfare services. IDES offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program. We invite you to join our innovative team to help make a positive difference in the lives of Illinois employers and job seekers.

Job Responsibilities

1. Under administrative direction, serves as Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program Manager for an assigned region.

2. Develops, recommends and implements changes in policy and procedures affecting Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program components and program activities within the assigned region.

3. Serves as full line supervisor

4. Serves as a liaison with agency staff, employers and organizations from the public and private sector in exchanging and relaying information relevant to Unemployment Insurance Program administration.

5. Provides support to regional and local office management as directed.

6. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college, preferably with courses in business or public administration.
2. Requires three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization.

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance)

1. Two (2) years of managerial experience in the development, implementation and maintenance of an unemployment insurance or employment services program, or a program in a related area providing employment, human resource development or social welfare services, including developing long term goals and objectives, and directing activities and operations
2. Experience requiring knowledge of unemployment laws and regulations and applying federal and state unemployment insurance legislation to specific issues regarding liability, employment, and wages
3. Experience monitoring program output levels for delivery of services in accordance with Federal laws, policies and guidelines, including but not limited to U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) requirements
4. One (1) year of professional experience supervising staff, including providing training and evaluating staff performance
5. Experience utilizing tax software to examine financial records; examples of applicable tax software systems include but are not limited to: GenTax and MyTax Illinois
6. Experience speaking to various groups to convey policy and procedures in a manner easily understood by diverse audiences
7. Experience with the grievance and discipline processes contained in bargaining unit contracts
8. Professional experience preparing training materials and conducting training
9. Basic proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint
10. Experience using virtual meeting platform systems to conduct meetings; examples of applicable virtual meeting platform systems include but are not limited to: Webex and Zoom
11. Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite products, including Outlook, Word and Excel

Conditions of Employment

1. Requires ability to travel occasionally, including overnight stays