Are you looking for a meaningful career with a casual work environment and inclusive culture? Apply today to work as an Unemployment Benefit Specialist (Adjudicator)! We're looking for fair-minded individuals who can look at all sides of a situation, think critically, and make decisions based on state law. We offer advancement opportunities and flexible work options, once you've developed your skills on the job.

Multiple Adjudicator positions are available at our offices in Appleton, Eau Claire, and Menomonee Falls.

• Our Appleton office is conveniently located just off I-41 in the heart of Appleton. The location provides a park-like office setting with restaurants, shopping, and cultural attractions only blocks away.
• Our Eau Claire office is located off US Business 53, near the Highway 53 bypass, and is close to several restaurants.
• Our Menomonee Falls office is located near WI 190 and I-41, a convenient 20-minute drive from Milwaukee.

Adjudicators may request to work remotely in Wisconsin after completing in-person training at their assigned Appleton, Eau Claire, or Menomonee Falls office. These positions are not, however, solely "work from home" and employees will still need to report in-person to the office when required.

This recruitment may be used to fill future similar permanent, project, and/or LTE vacancies.

These positions communicate by phone with applicants, employers, and other relevant parties to interview/investigate claims and determine eligibility for unemployment benefits. They identify, obtain, and document relevant case facts; apply UI law/policy/rules to prepare and issue formal written decisions that may allow, suspend, or deny benefits. These positions use complex software systems to track/document individual records, assess individuals' continuing eligibility for benefits, and provide general information about Wisconsin and Federal UI law. Must maintain confidentiality of information, work in a production environment that relies on quick and correct analysis and decisions, and work at a computer for long periods of time.

For more information, see the position description. 

Starting pay is between $23.50 and $25.75 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience, plus an exemplary benefits package:

• Generous paid time off, including at least 3 1/2 weeks of vacation/personal time, nine paid holidays, and ample sick time that rolls over each year with no cap. 
• Excellent and affordable health insurance options (starting at $42/month for single and $104/month for family coverage).
• Other great insurance options (dental, vision, life, and more).
• A top-notch retirement program and optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan.
• A Well Wisconsin program, offering wellness tools and rewards to employees and spouses.
• A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their household members tools, resources, and professional consultation services.

Public service is rewarding! This position may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Use this Total Rewards Calculator to see an estimate of the total value of our competitive benefits package!

A 12-month probationary period will be required. The classification title for this position is Unemployment Benefits Specialist (schedule 12, range 64). This position is not represented in a collective bargaining unit and is nonexempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Pay will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan in effect at the time of appointment. Starting pay may vary for current state employees.

Remote work:  Employees with approved remote and hybrid-remote work arrangements are generally expected to work within the state of Wisconsin. High-speed internet access is required to meet the needs of remote work. Remote work options are subject to change.

Criminal histories: We consider all qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. Finalists for this position may be required to allow DWD to conduct a background check or other checks to determine whether the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job being filled. For positions with access to sensitive federal tax information, FBI fingerprinting may also be required.

Eligibility to work in United States: Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e. a US citizen or national or a lawful permanent resident) at the time of appointment. DWD does not sponsor visas and is not an eligible OPT employer for those with F1 visas. This is not a contract position. Any appointment made will be contingent on the applicant completing the I-9 upon hire.

Disabled veterans: qualified veterans with a 30% or more service-connected disability are eligible for non-competitive appointment to permanent positions in classified civil service under s 230.275 WI Stats. Email the HR contact listed in this announcement for information on how to apply under this provision. 

It is very important that you specify your experience for the qualifications that are marked with asterisks (*) in your letter and resume as these qualifications will be evaluated in the first step of the selection process. Additional qualifications may be evaluated in subsequent steps.

You will need to have:

• *Experience independently assisting customers in an office environment (or similar) including using basic office computer skills
• *Education or experience reading and applying complex information, such as completion of an Associate's degree or higher, volunteer or work experience referencing or explaining policies or procedures to others, or similar
• Experience demonstrating good judgement and critical thinking skills and organizing and prioritizing work to meet deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

It would be nice to have experience in any of the following:

• *Communicating in challenging situations (e.g., with people who are under stress or experiencing negative emotions, missing or incomplete information, etc.) and successfully resolving issues
• *Working in a highly regulated industry or government program in a position that requires referencing and applying laws, rules, and policies (e.g., insurance, healthcare, finance, Unemployment Insurance, etc.)
• *Working in a high-volume, fast-paced environment that requires completing a great deal of work quickly. 
• Researching or investigating customer/ claimant issues to determine an outcome regulated by complex policies/ rules/ laws (such as government benefit programs, insurance programs, etc.)

Note: If you are viewing this posting on an external site, please visit https://Wisc.Jobs (search Job ID 16596) to complete your application.

Click "Apply for Job" to start the application process. That will prompt you to access your existing account or create a new account. You will be asked to attach a resume and a letter of qualifications as part of the application process. It is important that these materials clearly illustrate how your qualifications relate to the qualifications of this job. Additional guidance on developing your resume and letter of qualifications (including a template) is available at this link.

If you encounter issues submitting your on-line application (e.g. signing in or uploading a resume), please contact the Wisc.Jobs Help Desk at (608) 267-1012 or wiscjobs@wisconsin.gov (Monday - Friday, 7:45am – 4:30pm).

Please note that once you submit your application, you will not be able to update your materials.

What happens next? A panel will review your application materials to determine your eligibility for further consideration in the selection process. If it is determined that you are eligible to move forward in the selection process, you will be notified via the email address you provide in your application.

Please be sure to check your email regularly.

Interviews will be conducted remotely, by phone or video call. The anticipated start date is Monday, April 7, 2025. 

See this UBS Applicant FAQ page for more details.

If you have questions, please email DWDJobs2@dwd.wisconsin.gov. 

DWD is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. 

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on Monday, February 3, 2025. Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted.