Senior Administrative Law Judge

State of Washington•Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is hiring a Senior Administrative Law Judge to lead a team of Pro Tem, Line, and Lead Administrative Law Judges in its Social and Health Services Division. The position reports to an OAH facility in Olympia, Tacoma, or Spokane and is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule. In-person attendance is required for certain supervisory duties and hearings; any alternate telework site must be in Washington State. Recruitment is limited to current OAH employees. This is a permanent position. The Senior ALJ supervises and develops a team, including training and coaching direct reports, assigning resources and mentors, and overseeing work assignments, schedules, and leave. The role monitors the Senior ALJ’s own workload and the caseloads of direct reports, supports the Division Chief ALJ with caseload oversight and stakeholder and employee communications, and fills in for the Division Chief ALJ as assigned. The Senior ALJ also completes casework, prepares for and conducts fair and impartial hearings, and issues well-reasoned decisions within agency timeliness standards. The team handles cases involving child support, children and family services, health care eligibility and services, licensing, public assistance, and the WA Cares Fund. Hearings may be telephonic, by video conference, or in person, depending on the case and parties’ requests. Some travel may be required. Case orders are subject to program-specific deadlines. OAH is a Washington state agency established to provide an independent, fair, and neutral forum for administrative hearings referred by state and local agencies. It operates field offices in Olympia, Tacoma, and Spokane Valley and has 230 employees, including 120 administrative law judges. OAH conducts hearings for more than 30 agencies and 160 programs. Its mission is to impartially resolve disputes between the public and state agencies through an accessible, timely process. The role requires an active or judicial membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association and at least five years of experience as a licensed attorney or judge. The position also requires leadership, supervision, sound judgment, strong legal writing and communication, collaboration, adaptability, accountability, and a commitment to equity, inclusion, and respectful service.

Requirements

Active or judicial membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association.
At least five years of experience as a licensed attorney or judge.
Ability to learn and grow, understand personal strengths and weaknesses, and use learning to improve government programs and services.
Flexibility, adaptability, customer-service focus, and ability to respond empathetically to the needs of others.
Accountability, dependability, accurate and timely work, professional judgment, and ability to meet productivity and timeliness standards with minimal supervision.
Ability to adapt to changing business needs, priorities, and responsibilities and use problem-solving and analytical skills to improve processes.
Strong attention to detail and ability to check work for accuracy and completeness.
Effective verbal and written communication, active listening, clear and technically correct writing, and ability to communicate in plain language.
Ethics, integrity, professionalism, discretion with confidential information, and adherence to policies, rules, procedures, and commitments.
Ability to build constructive, respectful working relationships, promote cooperation, and resolve disagreements constructively.
Self-awareness, awareness of personal biases, and commitment to personal and professional growth.
Ability to lead by example, take initiative, prioritize work, make sound decisions, and deliver timely, quality services.
Ability to coach, instruct, provide feedback, create development opportunities, and hold direct reports accountable.
Ability to collaborate with supervisors and colleagues, share information, support team decisions, and adjust workload according to team needs.
Supervisory ability, including interviewing, assigning and directing work, setting expectations, coaching, evaluating, identifying training needs, and partnering with Human Resources on corrective or disciplinary action.
Ability to work effectively with people of diverse cultures, interpersonal styles, abilities, motivations, and backgrounds.
Ability to preside over hearings impartially, maintain control of proceedings, create a complete record, and prepare legally sufficient findings, conclusions, and decisions.
Ability to use OAH equipment and technology systems and maintain reliable attendance and availability.
Current OAH employment; the recruitment is open only to current OAH employees.

Nice To Haves

Expertise in an assigned caseload and ability to train, mentor, and educate others in that caseload.
Adjudication experience.
Litigation experience.
Mediation experience.
Experience with the subject matter of assigned caseloads.

Responsibilities

Supervise Pro Tem, Line, and Lead ALJs using established performance-management practices, including setting expectations, training, providing feedback, evaluating performance, and identifying development opportunities.
Take corrective or disciplinary action when appropriate, including consulting with Human Resources or supervisors and investigating and responding professionally to complaints about ALJs.
Ensure compliance with OAH policies, administrative and court rules, state ethics laws, and the OAH Code of Ethics.
Collaborate with Division Chief ALJs, Senior ALJ colleagues, Legal Administrative Managers, and other units to manage performance, workload, and workplace issues.
Work with colleagues and legal support staff to schedule and assign cases and other work to Lead, Line, and Pro Tem ALJs.
Process travel, leave, telework agreements, work schedules, timesheets, and other division administrative functions in accordance with agency guidelines.
Promote an inclusive culture of innovation, trust, respect, feedback, and collaboration within the division and across OAH.
Make recommendations to Division Chief ALJs and Deputy Chief ALJs and carry out management decisions for the division and assigned caseload.
Liaise with agency representatives and their first-level supervisors in coordination with Division Chief ALJs.
Ensure direct reports complete mandatory state and agency training and provide orientation to new employees.
Keep supervisors informed about work progress, significant developments, case status, and other issues.
Complete casework according to experience, case complexity, and agency workload needs; monitor ALJ timeliness through reports and the case management system.
Make day-to-day operational decisions and provide guidance to ALJs and legal support staff.
When assigned on-site leader duties, report emergencies or extraordinary situations to a supervisor or Headquarters.
Serve on or support OAH committees and workgroups as assigned.
Maintain knowledge of applicable statutes, regulations, case law, agency procedures, and developments relevant to assigned caseloads.
Preside over and rule on pre-hearing, hearing, and post-hearing matters fairly and impartially; maintain judicial demeanor and control of proceedings.
Work with supervisors to meet caseload timeliness standards and other deadlines.
Create a clear and complete hearing record and prepare legally sufficient findings of fact and conclusions of law on contested issues.
Write accurate legal documents that explain the analysis supporting decisions, use proper grammar and clear language, and use plain talk when possible.
Use OAH equipment and technology systems to manage work and communicate.
Follow supervisor work directives, maintain reliable attendance and availability, protect confidential information, and accurately track case-specific work and non-billable hours.
Demonstrate respect and apply diversity, equity, and inclusion practices when working with parties, stakeholders, and coworkers.