Director of Employer Contributions - Unemployment Insurance (UI)

Title: Director of Employer Contributions - Unemployment Insurance (UI)

State Role Title: Financial Services Manager III

Hiring Range: Commensurate to $160,000

Pay Band: 7

Agency: Virginia Employment Commission

Location: VEC CENTRAL OFFICE

Agency Website: www.VEC.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Director of UI Employer Contributions is a senior leader within the Virginia Employment Commission's Unemployment Insurance program. This position is focused on executive leadership over its own contribution base. The Director sets and executes the operational strategy for UI employer taxation and is accountable for the accuracy, timeliness, and defensibility of every dollar flowing into the Virginia UI Trust Fund.

The Director owns the end-to-end UI employer tax lifecycle: employer registration, liability determination, and successorship; quarterly tax and wage reporting and payment processing; experience rating, benefit charging, and annual tax rate assignment; accounts receivable (A/R) reconciliation, delinquency, and collections; field audit, examination, and program integrity - including detection of worker misclassification and improper transfers of experience rating; and the employer resolution (phone/service) function. The position is directly accountable for federal conformity and for VEC's performance against U.S. Department of Labor UI tax measures.

A defining feature of this role is transition leadership. The Director will partner with the Director of PFML Employer Contributions (Tax) to separate shared staff, systems, employer-facing communications, and processes into two clean operating structures without disruption to employers or to Trust Fund collections. The Director will also ensure employers experience the two programs coherently, since most Virginia employers will be liable for both UI tax and PFML premiums.

The position may involve extended hours to meet operational demands, quarterly filing deadlines, and federal reporting cycles.

Minimum Qualifications

• Tax Administration Expertise: Experience with insurance or employer taxation - liability determination, taxable wage base application, quarterly tax and wage reporting, experience rating, benefit charging, accounts receivable, and field audit.
• Federal Conformity Knowledge: Working understanding of the Federal or State Tax Act, Social Security Act provisions, federal or state performance and reporting requirements, and the federal certification process that preserves employers' credit - or similar experience.
• Legal & Regulatory Knowledge: Command of federal and state accounting principles, laws and regulations (or other state's similar law or regulation) and related regulations governing employer liability, tax collection, debt collection, worker classification, and confidentiality of wage and tax information.
• Leadership & Program Management: Demonstrated ability to lead high-performance teams and to develop and execute short- and long-range strategies that improve organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
• Organizational Transition & Change Management: Ability to separate a combined function into distinct operating structures - reallocating staff, workload, systems access, and employer communications - while sustaining service levels and staff morale.
• Analytical Skills: Strong financial and analytical acumen - experience with assessing tax, receivable, and Trust Fund data, identifying trends and fraud indicators, and translating findings into policy and process improvements.
• Stakeholder Management: Skilled in managing relationships with demanding stakeholders in complex, high-stakes environments, including employers, third-party administrators, federal partners, legislative bodies, and executive leadership.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to represent the Directorate before state officials, legislative committees, appeals bodies, and employer audiences.
• Technological Proficiency: Working understanding of how modern technology (employer self-service portals, wage-reporting intake, payment processing, audit case management) improves compliance and the employer experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing short- and long-range strategies to improve organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
• Experience leading high-performance teams and managing relationships with demanding stakeholders in complex, high-stakes environments.
• Experience leading teams through organizational restructuring, function separation, or comparable operating-model change.

The incumbent must also complete mandatory Statement of Economic Interests forms and Conflict of Interest training. A valid Driver's License is also required, as the job duties may occasionally involve statewide overnight travel.

Additional Considerations

• Direct experience in a state unemployment insurance employer tax function, including experience rating and field audit or comparable field.
• Knowledge of Trust Fund solvency mechanics, tax rate schedules, and forecasting.
• Track record of data-driven, user-centered improvements to employer-facing processes and training.
• Experience in progressively responsible roles within state government, particularly related to Commonwealth fiscal or tax rules and regulations.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Working for the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) offers the chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of Virginians every day. As the agency responsible for supporting workers, employers, and the statewide labor market, the VEC plays a critical role in strengthening economic stability and fostering workforce resilience. Employees have the opportunity to shape modern public programs, improve service delivery, and contribute to initiatives that directly help individuals and families during life's pivotal moments. The VEC values innovation, collaboration, and public service, providing a mission-driven environment where leaders can create lasting, positive change for communities across the Commonwealth. If you're motivated by purpose and committed to excellence, the VEC offers a rewarding and impactful place to grow your career. And working for the Commonwealth has terrific benefits as well! Visit https://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/employeebenefits for more information.

The Virginia Employment Commission is committed to upholding our values in our employment opportunities across the Commonwealth to people from all backgrounds, including all races, ethnicities, genders, and abilities. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program, and a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

• The selected candidate must successfully pass a comprehensive background check including an FBI fingerprint background investigation and an Unemployment Insurance (UI) fraud background check.
• Applications for this position must be submitted electronically through this website. Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications and résumés will not be accepted.
• Applications are not accepted after the recruitment closing date.
• Please carefully review the details of this recruitment including the location of the position and the posted salary before applying. VEC does not provide relocation assistance, and no salary will be offered outside of the posted salary range / flat rate.
• Consideration for an interview is based solely on the information within the application (and/or resume). You must ensure your application/resume includes the scope of your experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as it relates to the position you are applying for. Information not stated will not be assumed.
• This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted for consideration.
• For the status of your application and this position, please refer to your PageUp / Jobs.Virginia.Gov account. We do not provide application status updates via email or telephone.
• Auxiliary Aids and Services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Applicants needing accommodations should contact the Human Resource office for additional information.

The VEC does not provide sponsorship; therefore, applicants must be a citizen or national of the U.S., a Lawful Permanent Resident, or an alien authorized to work in the US.

NOTICE: VEC will record information from each new employee's Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

Contact Information

Name: VEC Human Resources / Recruitment

Phone: For the most up-to-date status of your application, please refer to your Jobs.Virginia.Gov account. We do not provide application status updates via phone.

Email: Careers@vec.virginia.gov for recruitment related questions. Emailed applications, resumes, or cover letters will not be accepted. For the most up-to-date status of your application, please refer to your Jobs.Virginia.Gov account.

In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.