Position Information

NY HELPYes

AgencyLabor, Department of

TitleUnemployment Insurance Referee- Buffalo (NY HELPS)

Occupational CategoryLegal

Salary Grade25

Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)

Salary RangeFrom $93530 to $117875 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Competitive Class

Travel Percentage 0%

Schedule

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 9 AM

To 5 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? No

Telecommuting allowed? Yes

Location

County Erie

Street Address 290 Main Street

Room 207

City Buffalo

StateNY

Zip Code14202

Job Specifics

Minimum Qualifications **Please note that this position will have a start date of March 13, 2025.**

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide program (NY HELPS). For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, if they meet the below NY HELPS minimum qualifications.

NY HELPS Non-Competitive Minimum Qualifications:

12 months as an Assistant Unemployment Insurance Referee/Assistant Unemployment Insurance Referee (Spanish Language) OR Admission to the NYS Bar and 24 months of subsequent satisfactory legal experience in the trial of issues in courts of record or in the conduct or trial of adversary proceedings, quasi-judicial in nature, before a governmental department or agency.

It is expected that employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status in the future, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified. If you are interested in the NY-HELPS program, or this position, you may reply to this vacancy posting, or you may visit the New York State Department of Civil Service website at https://www.cs.ny.gov/help/ (copy and paste in browser) to register today, in three easy steps.

Competitive Minimum Qualifications:

A review of your state history is needed, if you meet any of the below Permanent Competitive qualifications. Please provide the last four digits of your social security number in your email response or on your resume. If you are not comfortable providing this information via email, a representative from our office will contact you via phone.

Admission to the New York State Bar and current registration to practice law in New York State is necessary for continued employment. Disbarment or loss of registration shall result in termination or suspension of employment.

Reassignment Qualifications:
Current New York State Department of Labor employees only, with at least one year of permanent, contingent-permanent or 55 b/c service as an Unemployment Insurance Referee. An employee with less than one year of permanent competitive service is eligible for reassignment to a different geographic location if reachable for appointment in the new
location.

52.6 Transfer Qualifications:
You may qualify for transfer if you have one year of permanent competitive service in a title allocated to a Grade 23 or above and your title is designated “Administrative” under Section 52.6 of the Civil Service Law. Transfer candidates must also possess a law degree from an accredited college or university and be able to provide evidence of current registration to practice law in New York State.

Note: For all transfers noted, a comprehensive list of titles approved for transfer is available through Civil Service GOT-IT at https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/ .

Preferred Qualifications:
Ability to initiate and maintain relationships across a diverse set of stakeholders.

Duties Description When assigned to the Hearings Section, Unemployment Insurance Referees are responsible for conducting hearings, evaluating factual information and rendering written decisions, in accordance with the New York State Unemployment Insurance Law, related statutes, and special Federal programs, for claimants or employers appealing initial determinations regarding entitlement to unemployment insurance compensation or liability for unemployment insurance contributions. If assigned to the Appeals Section, Unemployment Insurance Referees review and analyze records and files for cases on appeal, prepare summaries of such cases, and author appeal decisions for the Board.

Additional Comments This position may require a fingerprint background check prior to appointment.

Position specific job duties may include occasional altered work schedule or job assignments which require availability and willingness to work occasional evenings and/or out-stationed assignments.

Candidates with no previous state service will begin at the starting rate of the salary range listed above.

Additional location pay is available for the following counties: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, NYC-Manhattan, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, and Putnam.

If you are a current NYS employee and have questions regarding salary, please contact the Business Services Center (BSC): 518-457-4272, BSCHR@ogs.ny.gov.

Telecommuting is available and can be discussed during the interview.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:
• 13 paid holidays, 5 personal days, and a minimum of 13 vacation days per year
• Paid sick leave (CSEA and PEF employees- 13 days; M/C employees- 8 days plus free enrollment into the Income Protection Program for short-term and long-term disability coverage).
• Choice of several affordable and competitive health insurance plans
• Dental and vision insurance plans at no additional cost
• Membership in the NYS Employee’s Retirement System
• NYS Deferred Compensation Investment Plan
• Eligibility to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) (full-time employees)
• Eligibility to apply for tuition reimbursement for qualifying employees and courses
• Paid Parental Leave

Our mission is to provide outstanding services to our customers—the workers and business that call New York home. We help New Yorkers find careers they will love. We build and support New York’s businesses. We empower and protect New York’s workers. To learn more about our mission and the exciting work of the DOL, please visit: https://dol.ny.gov/about-us

DOL is committed to fostering employee engagement and work-life balance. We offer telecommuting (up to 40%) and alternative work schedules to eligible employees. Our exciting training and development opportunities, including Coursera and our formal Employee Recognition Program allow us to develop, recognize, and celebrate our workforce.

Please note that specific benefits and programs may vary based on negotiating unit, current contract, length of State service, and program area.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Contact Information

Name Rachel Palumbo

Telephone (518) 457-1020

Fax EFax: 5184742871@fax.ny.gov

Email Address labor.sm.personnel.jva@labor.ny.gov

Address

Street New York State Department of Labor- Personnel

Harriman State Office Campus, Building 12, Room 561

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12226

 

Notes on ApplyingAll candidates must submit a written resume and cover letter which clearly demonstrates how they meet the minimum qualifications for the position. These documents must be received by November 29, 2024 and submitted via email to labor.sm.personnel.jva@labor.ny.gov or mailed to the NYS Department of Labor, Personnel Bureau, Building 12, Room 561, State Office Campus, Albany, NY 12226. You must include, Vacancy ID#172394, Unemployment Insurance Referee- Buffalo, in the subject line of your email. Failure to do so may result in a delay of processing your application.

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Department of Labor is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to ensuring equal opportunity for persons with disabilities and workplace diversity.

New York State (NYS) is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. NYS Law prohibits discrimination because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, domestic violence victim status, carrier status, gender identity or prior conviction records, or prior arrests, youthful offender adjudications or sealed records unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

If you are a person with a disability and wish to request that a reasonable accommodation be provided for you to participate in a job interview, please contact: Department of Labor, Attn: Director, Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (ODEIA), Building 12, Albany, NY 12226 (Phone (518) 457-1984 and/or fax (518) 485-2575.)

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at response@oer.ny.gov.