HEARING OFFICER CHIEF

Arizona Department of Administration•Phoenix, AZ

1d•$73,447 - $89,769•Remote

About The Position

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES) we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals who are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov [https://des.az.gov]; or click on the link here [https://youtu.be/EjLhFs6kqmE] to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come Join the DES Team! DES is seeking an experienced and highly motivated professional to serve as a Chief Hearing Officer, responsible for supervising a team of Hearing Officers and/or legal support staff who handle Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Public Assistance (PA) cases. This role involves overseeing all aspects of team management, including conducting performance evaluations, implementing corrective actions when necessary, and supporting staff well-being. The Chief Hearing Officer also monitors case assignments through workflow queues and automated reports, ensuring timely and accurate processing by coordinating closely with support personnel. Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills, along with a solid understanding of administrative law and public benefit programs, are essential for success in this role. This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures. The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Requirements

Federal and state laws and regulations, departmental policy, and precedential decisions for 20 or more different programs.
Due process, rules of evidence, rules of administrative procedure, rules of judicial ethics, and legal research methods.
ASA's Appeals Processing System, word processing, Clear2There, email, electronic calendar, program data bases, OnBase, and use of a computer to process cases. in a paperless environment.
Extensive knowledge of personnel rules, DES personnel policy and management and supervisory methods, practices and principles.
Principles of English grammar and composition.
Writing clearly, concisely and persuasively with proper English grammar.
Conducting thorough legal research.
Relating to customers and working on a team project.
Interacting interpersonally with people from a wide variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Reading, interpreting and extrapolating from a variety of data and statistical reports.
Planning, organizing, prioritizing and executing many competing duties and activities.
Supervising, directing, controlling, evaluating, and motivating subordinate staff.
Conducting and controlling hearings, interrogating witnesses, ruling on motions and objections.
Applying complex legal principles to factual situations and in clearly and simply explaining how the principles have been applied.
Remember large amounts of complex facts and information.
Think logically, to articulate complex arguments and to resolve conflicts between competing information.
Concentrate and focus on complex and sometimes conflicting information expressed orally or in writing from a variety of sources.
Use manual dexterity to operate computer equipment and other office machines and to use computer software to execute various workflow processes.
Quickly and logically organize information and to present the organized information orally in a sustained and controlled process.
Hear spoken testimony or other information.
Sit uninterrupted for long periods.
Implement time management and project management techniques.

Nice To Haves

Bar License, in good standing, from any state bar.
2 years’ experience practicing law
Experience as a hearing officer or as an administrative law judge or in representing parties in administrative hearings

Responsibilities

Supervise Hearing Officers and support staff; hire and select new employees; assign, evaluate and approve work products; train, coach, counsel and discipline. Track productivity of Hearing Officers and support staff through reports.
Oversee and manage the appeal and hearing processes to ensure compliance with due process, statutory and regulatory requirements and timeliness and quality standards mandated by federal and state administering authorities.
Lead, coordinate or participate in special projects assigned by upper management and attend meetings.
Work with the ASA management team to solve systemic problems and to design and implement new policies, procedures and processes to maximize efficiency, quality and timeliness.
Conduct hearings in person or on telephone, asking questions, making a record, making evidentiary rulings, controlling the course of the hearing and issue legally correct decisions based upon legal research.
Provide information to parties about the hearing process, assist them effectively using that process, investigate and respond to customer complaints.
Follow up to ensure that decisions are implemented.

Benefits

Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
10 paid holidays per year
Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
Deferred compensation plan
Wellness plans
Tuition Reimbursement
Stipend Opportunities
Infant at Work Program
Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance