Senior Administrative Law Judge - Olympia, United States - State of Washington

Description

Senior Administrative Law Judge (Internal Only)

Office of Administrative Hearings

Public Assistance & Health


NOTE:
This position is open to current OAH employees only; external candidates will not be considered at this time.


NOTE:

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, as there are some in-person hearings required, and there will be on-site supervisory responsibilities after a new King County facility is established.

Telework can be approved for alternate worksites within Washington state or a county bordering Washington in Oregon or Idaho.


About the Agency:

The 1981 Legislature created the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) to offer Washingtonians an independent, fair, and neutral forum to hold administrative hearings on disputed matters referred by state and local government agencies.

Operating out of field offices in Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, and Spokane Valley there are currently 230 employees, including 120 administrative law judges who preside over administrative hearings involving unemployment insurance benefits, child support, food assistance, medical benefits, business and professional licensing, and more.

OAH conducts hearings for more than 30 agencies and 160 programs.

Our referring agencies include the Employment Security Department (ESD), Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Health Care Authority (HCA), Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and others.

For more information about OAH, please visit our website at

OAH Mission:

To hear and independently resolve disputes between the public and state agencies with an impartial, quick, and easy to access process.

OAH Vision:
All people of Washington can meaningfully participate in their hearing and understand the result.


OAH Values:

• Fairness and independence
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect
• Performance excellence
• Integrity

OAH Goals:

• Performance Excellence: We deliver high quality, timely work.
• Convenience & Accessibility: We make it easy for people to do business with us.
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect: We promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect.
• Good Stewards: We are efficient, effective, and accountable.

OAH Offers:

• Work that is important and makes a difference.
• In-house training and professional development opportunities.
• Healthy work/life balance, including remote work options.
• Comprehensive benefits package.

The Opportunity:

OAH is currently looking to fill a Senior Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) position in our Public Assistance & Health (PAH) Division.

The position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule and has some on-site supervisory and in-person hearing responsibilities.

The position of Senior ALJ is critical to the successful completion of the OAH mission. A Senior ALJ contributes to the mission by supervising a team of Pro Tem, Line, and Lead ALJs.

This primarily includes training and coaching direct reports, assigning resources and mentors to ALJs, and overseeing work assignments, schedules, and leave requests.

The Senior ALJ monitors and prioritizes their own workload and the cases assigned to direct reports in support of the agency's mission and goals.

The Senior ALJ assists the Division Chief ALJ (DIVC) in overseeing a caseload, communicating with stakeholders and employees, and filling in for the DIVC in their absence, as assigned.

The Senior ALJ also completes prehearing work, conducts hearings that are fair in appearance and substance, and issues well-reasoned decisions within the agency's timeliness standards.

This position works on the following caseloads: Division of Child Support (DCS); Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF); Health Care Authority (HCA); Licensing (LIC); and Public Assistance (PA).

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• For assigned ALJs, use established performance management policies and best practices to effectively: provide written expectations

* provide training
* provide timely feedback (both positive, and constructive)
* appropriately document feedback
* evaluate performance
* create developmental opportunities for learning
* take corrective action or disciplinary action including issuing oral or written reprimands; or recommend further disciplinary action to be taken by the appointing authority, in consultation with Human Resources and/or the DIVC
* investigate and respond professionally to complaints formally or informally filed against ALJs.

• Comply with and enforce all OAH policies, administrative and court rules, state ethics laws, and the OAH Code of Ethics.
• In collaboration with Division Chief ALJs, Senior ALJ colleagues, Legal Administrative Managers, and other divisions/units as appropriate, manage performance, workload, and cultural issues that arise.
• Work with Senior ALJ 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 perform other administrative functions for the field office in accordance with agency guidelines.
• Foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture of innovation, trust, and respect that welcomes feedback and collaboration, both within the assigned division and between all other OAH divisions and business units.
• Make recommendations to Division Chief ALJs and Deputy Chief ALJs, and carry out management decisions for the field office and assigned caseload.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with others using a variety of communication methods, styles, and modes.
• In coordination with Division Chief ALJs, liaise with agency representatives and their first-level supervisors.
• Ensure all direct reports complete mandatory state and agency training.
• Provide orientation to new employees.
• Keep Division Chief ALJ and other supervisor(s) timely informed of work progress, significant developments, case status, and other issues.
• Complete casework commensurate with level of experience, complexity of cases, and overall agency workload, as determined by the Division Chief ALJ.
• Monitor ALJ timeliness performance by using reports and the case management system.
• Make day-to-day decisions needed to maintain standard operations, including giving guidance to ALJs and legal support staff. When assigned on-site leader responsibilities, communicate all emergencies or extraordinary situations that come to your attention to Division Chief ALJ and/or Headquarters.
• Serve as a resource for OAH committees and workgroups, as assigned.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of statutes, regulations, case law, and agency procedures relevant to assigned caseload(s); keep current on new developments.
• Preside over and rule on pre-hearing, hearing, and post-hearing matters in a fair and impartial manner.
• Work with supervisor as necessary to meet assigned caseload timeliness standards and other deadlines, being mindful of time pressure and stressful circumstances related to the job.
• Use OAH equipment and technology systems to perform and manage work and communicate with others.
• Make a clear and complete hearing record.
• Make legally sufficient Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law on all contested issues.
• Write accurate legal documents that clearly set out the analysis used in reaching decisions, use proper grammar, clear language, and "plain talk" when possible.
• Demonstrate judicial demeanor and maintain control of legal proceedings involving multiple parties.
• Follow specific work directives of supervisor(s), as appropriate for the position.
• Maintain reliable and regular attendance, and be readily available to coworkers and others, as appropriate for the position.
• Protect privileged and confidential information.
• Accurately track and account for case-specific work and non-billable hours.
• Appropriately demonstrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect practices with parties, stakeholders, and co-workers.

Required Education & Experience:

• Juris Doctor degree or equivalent (if obtained outside of the United States)
• Active or Judicial membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association (or any US bar association)
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience as a licensed attorney OR one (1) year as an Entry or Line ALJ

Required Competencies:

• Delivers and drives results: Leads by example. Demonstrates a willingness to take initiative and seizes opportunities. Creates and nurtures a performance-based culture of continuous improvement. Provides timely, quality services that consistently meet or exceed OAH standards. Uses customer feedback and evaluations as a measure of quality. Uses problem solving and analytical skills to improve processes. Evaluates relevant information to make decisions and solve problems. Prioritizes casework, assignments, and projects to meet OAH standards. Uses good judgment. Pursues economy and efficiency in the use of resources.
• Develops self and others: Is self-aware, adaptive, and willing to learn and improve. Coaches others through purposeful instruction and targeted questioning. Gives and accepts constructive feedback. Welcomes mistakes as opportunities to learn. Creates a safe environment in which to experiment. Gives early and frequent feedback to cultivate individual growth. Encourages strong performance management principles. Focuses on the situation, issue, or behavior rather than the person.
• Fosters collaboration: Participates in, leads, and supports the team. Builds trusting, cooperative relationships and meaningful connections with supervisor and coworkers. Seeks to learn and understand rather than to be a "knower." Effectively collaborates with supervisor and appropriate others to assess needs, identify objectives, and prioritize actions to achieve team and OAH goals. Provides input and encourages the input of others on the team. Supports decisions once a decision is made. Shares pertinent information and keeps others informed of changes. Accepts and quickly implements changes to workload according to the needs of the team.
• Models the way: Earns the trust, respect, and confidence of supervisor, coworkers, and customers through consistent honesty, authenticity, transparency, and professionalism. Sets personal example of ideal employee behavior for others and leads by example. Follows through on promises and commitments. Leads with humility and respect. Brings authentic best self to work.
• Supervision: Assigns and directs work, sets expectations, instructs, coaches, evaluates, and identifies training needs. Holds direct reports accountable. Performs corrective and disciplinary action in partnership with Human Resources.
• Valuing others: Develops and leverages relationships within and across work groups to achieve results. Works effectively with individuals of diverse cultures, interpersonal styles, abilities, motivations, or backgrounds. Seeks out and uses unique abilities, insights, and ideas from diverse individuals.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Expertise in an assigned caseload with the ability to train, mentor, and educate others on the caseload
• Adjudication experience
• Litigation experience
• Mediation experience
• Experience with subject matter of caseload(s) assigned

How to apply:
To begin the online application process, click the green "Apply" button on this announcement on or To be considered for this position, you must include the following information in your online application:

• A letter of interest describing how you meet the qualifications for this position; and
• A detailed chronological resume; and
• 3 professional references with current contact information.
• A complete NeoGov application profile is NOT required.

OAH is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.

For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email us at For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or