Hearing Officer

Hearing Officer, Appeals And Fair Hearings, Compliance Division W1540Title: Hearing Officer, Appeals and Fair Hearings, Compliance Division W1540State Role Title: Hearing Legal Services Officer IIHiring Range: $66,000 to $76,000, commensurate with experiencePay Band: 5Agency: Department of Social ServicesLocation: DSS HOME OFFICEAgency Website: dss.virginia.govRecruitment Type: General Public - GJob DutiesAt the Virginia Department of Social Services, we put people at the center of everything we do. We believe that every Virginian can live a life of dignity and that all voices, ideas and experiences contribute greatly to our pursuit of excellence. Inspired by continuous improvement, we commit ourselves to listening, learning and cultivating environments of trust, respect and positive engagement. Together, we are mission-driven, eager to achieve, and passionate about bringing the best of who we are to those we serve. We design and deliver high-quality human services that help Virginians achieve safety, independence and overall well-being. We are a $2 billion agency – one of the largest in the Commonwealth of Virginia – partnering with 120 local departments of social services and 31 community action agencies, along with faith-based and non-profit organizations, to promote the well-being of children, adults, and families statewide. We proudly serve alongside 1,650 (state) and 12,200 (local) human services professionals throughout the Social Services System, who ensure that thousands of Virginia's most vulnerable citizens have easy access to the services and benefits available to them. In addition to a rewarding work experience, VDSS offers excellent health and life insurance benefits, pre-tax spending accounts, state funded Short and Long Term Disability, paid holidays, vacation, tuition assistance, free wellness programs, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching – Employee Benefits.About the Position: The primary function of the Hearing Officer is to ensure that assigned appeals within the respective programs are conducted in an impartial manner, in compliance with state and federal law and regulations, that the hearings are expediently held, decisions are rendered in writing in a timely manner and competently address all of the issues presented by the parties.Minimum QualificationsMust have demonstrated: • Degree (JD or Doctor of Jurisprudence) from an accredited School of Law as attorneys generally represent parties to Administrative Disqualification Hearings, and these hearings can be contentious and involve legal issues. • Knowledge of the administrative fair hearing process. • Ability to analyze and research complex regulatory, statutory and legal issues. • Familiarity with Department of Social Services programs generally and Benefits and Services law, regulations and policies specifically. • Ability to assess workload and prioritize. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. • Computer literacy and advanced skills in word-processing.Additional Considerations• Knowledge of and or relevant experience in social work or a related subject area.Special InstructionsYou will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position.To be considered for this position, you must submit a Commonwealth of Virginia application or resume through the on-line "Virginia Jobs" (RMS) employment site no later than 11:55 p.m. on the closing date listed. Each application is reviewed for documentation that shows the applicant meets the minimum and additional considerations stated in the job announcement. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided. This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted for consideration. Please refer to your RMS account for the status of your application and this position. Selected candidate(s) must successfully pass a fingerprint-based criminal history background check. A record of criminal history does not automatically bar an applicant from consideration. Employment verification will be conducted to include current/previous supervisory employment reference checks. VDSS will record information from each new employee's Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization. Selected candidate may be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor. This position may be eligible for telework opportunities; availability, hours, and duration will be in accordance with the Commonwealth's Teleworking policy on a case-by-case basis. VDSS values the service and experience of our Veterans. As such, Veterans are encouraged to apply and receive preference in the hiring process. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and other national service alumni also are encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants, if requested, during the application and/or interview process. Virginia Department of Social Services does not provide sponsorship. The Virginia Department of Social Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity within its workforce. We are a "Virginia Values Veterans" (V3) official certified company and state agency that provides hiring preference to Veterans and Members of the Virginia National Guard in support of Executive Order 29, (2010). If you are a Veteran or Virginia National Guard Member, we urge you to respond accordingly on your state application or resume. Minorities, Individuals with disabilities, Veterans and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. For more information about our employment practices, please visit our "Vision, Mission and Strategic Plan". Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment within 90 days of the closing date.Contact InformationName: VDSS – Division of Human Resources