Senior Administrative Law Judge

Senior Administrative Law Judge

The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is seeking a Senior Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to lead a team of ALJs in our Social and Health Services Division. This position reports to the Olympia, Tacoma, or Spokane OAH facility and is eligible for part-time telework, as there are some in-person hearings and supervisory responsibilities. If teleworking, the alternate worksite must be in Washington State.

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 caseloads, communicating with stakeholders and employees, and filling in for the DIVC in their absence, as assigned. The Senior ALJ also completes pre-hearing work, conducts hearings that are fair in appearance and substance, and issues well-reasoned decisions within the agency's timeliness standards.

This position oversees a team of ALJs holding hearings for the following caseloads:

Division of Child Support (DCS)

Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)

Health Care Authority (HCA)

Licensing (LIC)

Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)

Public Assistance (PA)

WA Cares

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, 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.

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.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• For ALJs assigned to their team, 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 sessions
• Evaluate performance
• Create developmental opportunities for learning
• Take corrective action or disciplinary action including issuing oral or written reprimands; or recommending further disciplinary action to be taken by the appointing authority, in consultation with Human Resources and/or your supervisor
• Investigate and respond professionally to complaints filed or lodged against ALJs
• Comply 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 offices/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 division 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 offices and business units.
• Make recommendations to Division Chief ALJs and Deputy Chief ALJs, and carry out management decisions for the division 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 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 your supervisor 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) and 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 supervisors 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 demonstrates respect, diversity, equity and inclusion practices with parties, stakeholders and co-workers.

Required education and experience include ALL of the following:

•Active or judicial membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association.

•Five (5) or more years' experience as a licensed attorney or judge.

Statewide Equity Competencies:

•Take action to learn and grow: Curious about self and others. Takes responsibility for knowing own strengths and weaknesses. Uses their learning to make government programs and processes more efficient and effective to serve all of Washington.

•Take action to meet the needs of others: Flexible, adaptable, and customer service focused. Willing and able to empathetically respond to the unique needs of the people they work with and serve.

OAH Core Competencies:

•Accountability and Dependability: Accepts personal responsibility for quality work and actions. Meets productivity standards and timeliness standards. Produces accurate and timely work with minimal supervision. Uses professional judgment to balance quality of work with ability to meet timeliness standards. Informs supervisor or appropriate others of problems, identifies issues and offers solutions. Gives and accepts constructive feedback. Focuses on the situation, issue, or behavior rather than