Unemployment Compensation Team Leader - Multiple Vacancies

Department of Labor; Virginia; On-site; USD 62,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Vacation leave

Sick leave

Job summary

The Maine Department of Labor is seeking a motivated leader to supervise one of our Unemployment Benefits units. As a Team Leader, you’ll guide day-to-day operations, support staff development, and ensure high-quality service for claimants and employers statewide.

You will co-manage teams across the state, coordinating resources, sharing best practices, and promoting consistent service delivery while aiming to meet federal performance standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; six years of management and/or adjudication experience may substitute education.
• Experience supervising or leading teams in high-volume customer service or administrative environments.
• Knowledge of unemployment security program laws, rules, and objectives.
• Strong communication, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of professional, technical, and clerical staff with coaching and evaluations.
• Plan unit operations and align resources to meet workload and federal standards.
• Drive process improvements to enhance service delivery and program efficiency.
• Oversee claim adjudication and benefit charge assessments for timely payments.
• Monitor performance data and prepare statewide reports to guide decisions.
• Interpret policy changes and provide guidance on unemployment benefits to staff.
• Collaborate across teams to coordinate resources and improve service delivery.
• Represent the Bureau in hearings and public outreach events.
• Apply HR practices in hiring, training, and staff development.

Skills

Team leadership

Process improvement

Policy interpretation

Communication

Performance management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Public or Business Administration, Economics, or related field

Job description

Job Class Code: 0751 Grade: 26 - Supervisory Salary: $62,400.00 - $88,275.20/Annually
Location: Augusta, ME
Opening Date: 10/28/2026
Closing Date: 11/12/2026
Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

Job Summary: Make a difference for Maine workers. Lead with purpose. The Maine Department of Labor is seeking a motivated and experienced leader to supervise one of our Unemployment Benefits units. This is your opportunity to support Maine workers while leading a high-performing team and driving improvements in how we deliver vital services. As a Team Leader, you’ll guide day-to-day operations, support your team’s professional development, and ensure high-quality service for claimants and employers statewide. You'll play a key role in shaping and streamlining processes to improve customer service and meet or exceed federal performance standards. You’ll also co-manage teams across the state, working side by side with other team leaders to coordinate resources, share best practices, and promote consistency in service delivery.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of professional, technical, and clerical staff, providing coaching, mentoring, and performance evaluations.
• Plan and prioritize unit operations, aligning resources to meet fluctuating workloads and federal timeliness and quality standards.
• Drive process improvement by analyzing workflows and recommending changes to improve service delivery and program efficiency.
• Ensure accurate and timely benefit payments by overseeing claim adjudication and benefit charge assessments.
• Monitor performance data and metrics, prepare reports that guide decisions and inform statewide operations.
• Interpret and implement policy changes and provide guidance to staff on laws, rules, and procedures related to unemployment benefits.
• Collaborate across teams and agencies to enhance service integration and streamline claims center operations.
• Represent the Bureau in formal settings including appeal hearings, court proceedings, and public outreach events.
• Foster a respectful, compliant workplace by applying HR practices in hiring, training, and staff development.

We are seeking candidates with strong leadership skills and a background in workforce, unemployment, or social services programs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience supervising or leading teams in a high-volume customer service or administrative environment.
• Strong knowledge of laws, rules, goals, and objectives of the unemployment security program.
• Knowledge of process improvement practices, and performance management tools.
• Excellent communication, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
• A passion for public service and a commitment to helping Maine workers and employers succeed.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: (Entry level knowledges, skills, and/or abilities may be acquired through, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO the following coursework/training and/or experience).

• A Bachelors Degree in Public or Business Administration, Economics, or related field -and- six years experience in management and/or investigation/adjudication/personnel administration. Directly related experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preference may be given to candidates with experience in: Supervising or managing staff in a high-volume operational environment.
• Unemployment Insurance, workforce development, or related public service programs.
• Using data and performance measures to manage workloads and improve results.
• Process improvement and operational change management.
• Interpreting and applying laws, rules, policies, and procedures.
• Employee coaching, development, and performance management.
• Coordinating work across teams, programs, or agencies.
• Representing an organization in formal or public settings.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine

• Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 14.06% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
• State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Contact Information: Questions about this position should be directed to: Sara Aubin, [e-mail]

About Us

Join Maine State Government and Make a Difference in Your Community If you're looking for a fulfilling career that allows you to serve the public and make a difference, consider working with Maine State Government! Our departments boast an array of professions, including attorneys, biologists, correctional officers, equipment operators, engineers, human resources professionals, information technology experts, law enforcement officers, nurses, park rangers, social workers, and transportation workers. With more than 100 agencies, boards, and offices, Maine State Government is the perfect place to explore various industries and interests. Whether you're interested in finance or forestry, there's an opportunity for you to help make Maine an even better place to live.