Administrative Hearing Officer
About The Position
The Administrative Hearing Officer conducts administrative appeal hearings for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program and provides administrative support for program and compliance oversight. The role manages the appeal hearing process, including scheduling hearings in accordance with the Section 8 Administrative Plan, reviewing records, conducting informal hearings, obtaining statements, researching applicable laws and precedents, analyzing facts, and rendering final decisions on program eligibility in compliance with federal and state laws, program rules, regulations, and the Administrative Plan. The officer notifies tenants and OHFA staff of decisions and documents hearing outcomes. The position also handles Rental Assistance Team open-records requests; leads and maintains documentation for the Richard S. Lillard Emergency Housing Assistance Fund; supports disaster-response coordination and staff training; assists with utility allowance analysis, program documentation and procedure updates, rent reasonableness certifications, and reviews and enters approved HCV payment standards. The officer contributes to day-to-day agency operations and provides courteous, helpful service to internal and external customers.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university and two to three years of experience in a professional position involving adjudicative or legal work as a primary duty, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Valid driver's license.
- Must be bondable.
- Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Specialist certification required within six months.
- Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Hearing Officer certification required within one year.
- Fair Housing regulations certification required within one year.
- Familiarity with federal housing programs and knowledge of federal regulations.
- Knowledge of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan and related rules.
- Knowledge of administrative law, due process principles, and hearing procedures.
- Strong analytical, investigative, and decision-making skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
- Ability to evaluate evidence objectively and remain impartial.
- Ability to interpret policies, regulations, and statutes.
- Conflict resolution and mediation skills.
- Strong organizational and record-keeping skills.
Responsibilities
- Manage the Section 8 administrative appeal hearing process, including timely scheduling, record review, informal hearings, obtaining statements, researching applicable laws and precedents, analyzing facts, and issuing final eligibility decisions.
- Notify tenants and OHFA staff of hearing decisions and document actions and results in case files.
- Complete open-records requests received for the Rental Assistance Team.
- Lead the Richard S. Lillard Emergency Housing Assistance Fund, which assists Oklahoma families whose homes are uninhabitable following a federally declared disaster or a state of emergency declared by the Governor of Oklahoma.
- Maintain documentation for the Richard S. Lillard Emergency Housing Assistance Fund and ensure adherence to its processes and procedures.
- Attend and train staff to represent the agency at Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC), and attend Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (OK VOAD) meetings to stay current on Oklahoma emergency planning processes.
- Assist with the annual utility allowance analysis and rate adjustments.
- Assist with revising the Administrative Plan, Briefing Book, and HCV Procedure Manual.
- Process rent reasonableness certifications for contracts with PHAs requiring third-party certifications.
- Assist in reviewing and analyzing OHFA payment standards when HUD releases revised Fair Market Rents, prepare a spreadsheet comparing current and proposed standards, and enter final approved standards into the database.
- Support the agency's day-to-day operations and provide polite, helpful customer service to internal and external customers.
