Description
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY Your Partner For A Stronger Arizona.
DES works with families, community organizations, advocates and state and federal partners to realize our collective vision: A thriving Arizona.
DES serves more than 3 million Arizonans. Our Mission is to strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS CHIEF HEARING OFFICER Job Location: Office of Inspector General (OIG)
2200 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
www.azdes.gov Posting Details: Salary: $90,000 – $105,000
Grade: 25
Closing Date: March 28, 2025 Job Summary:
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; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES' video. Come Join the DES Team!
The Department of Economic Security and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as an Administrative Appeals Chief Hearing Officer. The Administrative Appeals Chief Hearing Officer (Chief) reports directly to the Appellate Services Administration (ASA) Administrative Counsel and is responsible for every facet of management and operation of the legal side of the Office of Appeals (OA). The position is responsible for directly supervising a team of Presiding Administrative Law Judges (PALJs), indirectly supervising teams of Hearing Officers (HOs) who work in operational units responsible for processing lower authority appeals for a variety of programs within the Department of Economic Security (DES), and supervision over a deputy chief if later hired.
This position may offer the ability to work remotely within Arizona based upon the department's 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, 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.
Essential Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Supervise PALJs, and ALJs ; hire and select new employees; assign, evaluate and approve work product; train, coach, counsel and discipline. Track productivity of PALJs and ALJs through reports.
• Lead, coordinate or participate in special projects as assigned by upper management. Attends meetings. Works in close cooperation with Operations Manager to assure legal accuracy and consistency in support functions.
• 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.
• Monitor, track and prepare reports, data and other information regarding management and operations of the Office of Appeals to the Administrator, Assistant Director/OIG Chief, subordinates and personnel from other administrations, divisions and agencies.
• Research and interpret statutes, regulations, department policies, court decisions. Interact with legislative liaison, AG's office, Appeals Board Members, or other professional liaisons and partners as requested.
• 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.
Knowledge of:
• Extensive knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations, DES policy, and precedent decisions for 20 or more different benefit programs.
• Extensive knowledge of due process, rules of evidence, rules of administrative procedure, rules of judicial ethics, and legal research methods.
• Legislative and administrative rule making process
• Case management systems such as ASA's Appeals Processing System, word processing systems, Clear2There, e-mail, electronic calendar, program databases, and use of a computer to process cases in a paperless environment.
• Developed knowledge of CACTUS
• Personnel rules, DES personnel policy and management and supervisory methods, practices and principles.
• Principles of English grammar and composition.
Skill in:
• 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 persons 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 a large number of 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 clearly and simply explaining how the principles have been applied.
Ability to:
• Communicate diplomatically, professionally and effectively with subordinates, attorneys, legislative personnel, other DES managers and personnel.
• Supervise, train, coach, direct, evaluate, and motivate subordinate staff.
• Write clearly and succinctly using 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 work-flow process.
• Hear spoken testimony or other information.
• Sit uninterrupted for long periods.
• Implement time management and project management techniques.
The ideal candidate for this position will have:
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in the practice of law. Experience can be in the public or private sector and should demonstrate strong analytic skills, exceptional research and writing techniques, and dispute resolution proficiency. Experience as a Judge, Administrative Law Judge, Hearing Officer, Arbitrator, or mediator is preferred.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency's ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, then the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver's license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver's license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).
• Juris Doctorate from an accredited university. Membership in good standing in the Arizona State Bar.
The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
• 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
By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.
Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page.
State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.
On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.
For questions about this career opportunity, please contact Benson Walker at (480)318-4150 or email Bensonwalker@azdes.gov.
The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (480) 318-4150. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.
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