ROCKVILLE MARYLAND Grade 21

CLASS SPECIFICATION

A L C O H O L A N D T O B A C C O E N F O R C E M E N T S P E C I A L I S T II

DEFINITION OF CLASS:
This is full performance level work enforcing compliance with Federal, State and County laws, rules and regulations on alcoholic beverage and tobacco sales and service. It requires considerable knowledge of an extensive body of alcohol and tobacco licensing and enforcement rules, procedures, methods, operations and techniques as well as considerable knowledge of the structure, practices, procedures and standards of businesses or their specific operating practices concerning sales and service of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. Employees in this class interactively work with licensees (and applicants) and their employees, County police and other law enforcement personnel (including supervisors and the Fire Marshal), County Attorneys and program managers, State officials and employees, community leaders and others in the public and private sectors to exchange routine information, conduct detailed interviews, provide instruction and help, develop evidence or exchange such non-routine information as major procedural or enforcement policy changes. Language barriers may be present on a regularly, recurring basis and program requirements demand precise information exchange. Public service/assistance in this class predominantly concerns routine, frequent assistance to public customers. It typically involves immediate assistance or information provided to licensees, applicants, residents, complainants, etc.
Employees in this class conduct routine and special investigations and surveillance activities, make field inspections and service calls and perform a range of other compliance-related duties to educate and assist owners, operators and employees on compliance, determine if alcoholic beverage, tobacco and/or public safety and health violations exist, recommend or take corrective action, and testify in court and other venues. Employees in this class may assist less experienced employees with non-routine duties they may be assigned, and regularly advise them on a range of technical and practical matters. Core work involves explaining and interpreting codes and program processes (to include situations where interpretations are unclear), attempting to obtain voluntary participation or compliance, recommending or taking enforcement action, preparing brief-to-detailed reports and drafting basic-to-complex correspondence, attending and providing training, gathering evidence, preparing cases for court and providing information to the public and other types of outreach. Assignments vary and require analysis of conditions and issues, and selection and application of various methods and standards. They are carried out in accordance with applicable codes, ordinances, rules and/or standards as well as court decisions and opinions and Board of License Commissioners and supervisory policies. Typically, work is reviewed through written and verbal reports, discussions and conferences and other ways and means for quality, quantity, timeliness and other factors, including adherence to policies. An employee in this class uses initiative in carrying out recurring assignments independently without specific instructions and is typically responsible for planning and scheduling one's own workday, consistent with program requirements. As seasoned full performance level workers, employees in this class typically work under general supervision. The adequacy and effectiveness of inspections, investigations, training provided and other work affect the social well being of County residents, the economic well being of licensees and applicants, the effectiveness of trainees and public acceptance and private compliance of program objectives. Work is mainly performed indoors (including offices, bars and restaurants) and sometimes outdoors under adverse weather conditions. It involves regular exposure to uncooperative people and persons under the influence of alcohol, some exposure to unpredictable behavior by people bar and restaurant patrons and others encountered and similar types of risks. Work in this class requires moderate periods of driving, standing, walking, standing, climbing, stooping, some lifting of objects that weigh up to 20 pounds, infrequent lifting of objects that weigh up to 50 pounds and application of equivalent forces in pushing and pulling (in seizing illegal products and evidence). Employees in this class conduct inspections and respond to complaints or other calls for service late at night, in early in the morning, weekends, etc. and may have to work rotating schedules and/or serve time on call.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: (Illustrative Only)
Investigates licensed facilities to ensure compliance with Federal, States and County laws, rules and regulations on alcoholic beverage and tobacco sales and service.
Explains, interprets and applies codes, regulations and program processes. Seeks to convince affected parties to achieved desired results here interpretations are unclear.
Tries to gain voluntary compliance, then recommends or takes other enforcement action(s).
Issues citations (such as tobacco civil citations), reports, notices (such as administrative alcoholic beverage violation notices), signs and orders.
Conducts undercover surveillance of licensed and unlicensed alcoholic beverage and tobacco establishments, working with seasoned employees, underage co-workers employees/volunteers and police officers. Develops cases.
Analyzes alcoholic beverage licensee's business records to develop evidence, including keg registration, alcoholic beverage purchases and sales, retail delivery, food purchases and sales, employee records and alcohol awareness certifications.
Interviews license applicants, licensees, employees, defendants, members of the general public, complainants and others to obtain information, identify issues, provide service and resolve problems.
Prepares brief-to-detailed written reports and drafts basic-to-complex correspondence.
Provides, or supports others who provide, information to the public and other types of outreach by working with citizens, business owners, managers and others.
Provides instructional training on laws, rules, regulations and procedures to less experienced co-workers, County police, enrollees of alcohol awareness certification courses (at least one licensee or employee at each licensed facility must be trained and on the premises whenever alcoholic beverages are sold) and others. (Keeps abreast of Federal, State and County laws, rules and regulations on alcoholic beverage and tobacco sales and service through training and study.)
Prepares case testimony for alcoholic beverage and tobacco District Court, Civil hearings and Administrative Show Cause hearings. Testifies at Board of License Commissioners hearings and meetings, District and Circuit Court trials and State Comptroller proceedings, as a regularly recurring duty.
Performs related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education/Experience: Sixty college credits and two (2) years of experience in alcohol and/or tobacco code enforcement or closely related law enforcement work, one (1) year of which must have been in alcohol & tobacco related inspection and code enforcement work; or, Completion of high school or High School Certificate of completion recognized in the State of Maryland and four (4) years of experience in alcohol and/or tobacco code enforcement or closely related law enforcement work, one (1) year of which must have been in alcohol & tobacco related inspection and code enforcement work.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Considerable knowledge of Federal, State and County laws, rules, regulations, standards and related court decisions as well as opinions on and issues concerning alcoholic beverage and tobacco sales and service, and considerable skill in interpreting and applying this information to normally recurring assignments.
Considerable knowledge of the structure, practices, procedures and standards of businesses or their specific operating practices concerning sales and service of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
Considerable skill in the use of directly related technical standards, methods, materials, techniques and equipment to normally recurring assignments. This includes inspection and enforcement methods and techniques, such as detailed interviewing and records review.
Skill in solving problems in alcoholic beverage and tobacco sales and service enforcement.
Interpersonal skills and a customer service orientation to serve and reach out to the public in groups and individually to directly inform and advise on rules and objectives and indirectly improve acceptance of facilities by citizens in the area and voluntary compliance of licensees/operators.
Ability to communicate facts clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability and willingness to attend meetings and perform a range of assignments, including public outreach, at various locations.
Ability and willingness to work in bars and restaurants and among persons under the influence of alcohol.
Ability to read construction drawings and blueprints to discuss licensing requirements with architects, builders, Fire Marshal representatives and others and help resolve problems.
Discretion and tact in handling highly confidential information, such as critical financial data, possible fraudulent activity and results of criminal background investigations.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:
Individuals appointed or promoted to a position in this class will be required to serve a probationary period of six months. Performance will be carefully evaluated during the probationary period. Continuation in this class will be contingent upon successful completion of the probationary period.

LICENSE:
Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license.
Pursuant to the Office of the Board of License Commissioners Policy #1-11, all employees in this class must, within 24 months of beginning employment in this class, have completed the following: National Liquor Law Enforcement Association Training Academy, Phase I, II or III curriculum, as applicable; State of Maryland approved Alcohol Awareness Certification curriculum.

MEDICAL PROTOCOL: Core Exam.

Class Established: May, 2001
Revised: April, 2010