Hearing Officer

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. All employees are expected to maintain a permanent residence within the State of Utah as a condition of employment. New employees must provide a valid Utah residential address within 30 days of their start date.

About the role

The Hearing Officer serves as chairperson of a Grievance Hearing Committee convened under SLCC Employee Grievance Policy. This is a part-time, temporary, engagement-based role activated on an as-needed basis when a formal employee grievance proceeds to a hearing. The Hearing Officer is appointed directly by the College President for each grievance hearing. The role is to preside over the hearing, ensure a fair and orderly process, and support the Grievance Hearing Committee in reaching findings and a recommendation for the final and binding decision-maker.

Responsibilities

• Preside over Grievance Hearing Committee proceedings for both standard and Level Three corrective action grievances, ensuring the hearing follows the process outlined in SLCC’s Employee Grievance Policy.
• Control the conduct and pace of the hearing, including managing the order of presentations, limiting repetitive or irrelevant testimony, and ruling on procedural matters raised by either party.
• Confirm committee composition is appropriate to the grievance and free of conflicts of interest, excusing any committee member whose impartiality may reasonably be questioned.
• Invite and excuse witnesses as appropriate, and permit both parties and committee members to ask questions of witnesses and each other.
• Dismiss character witnesses or testimony determined not applicable to the relevant issues.
• Clarify issues of fact and process for the committee, without advocating for either party.
• Facilitate the committee's private deliberation and assist the committee secretary in preparing a clear, accurate recommendation.
• Ensure the committee's final recommendations are submitted to the final and binding decision-maker within the seven-calendar-day window required by policy.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of grievance proceedings, records, and deliberations consistent with the private and confidential nature of the grievance process.
• Coordinate scheduling and logistics for assigned hearings with the Human Resources office.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Demonstrated experience presiding over, facilitating, or adjudicating formal hearings, grievances, arbitrations, or comparable due-process proceedings.
• Working knowledge of employee relations, progressive discipline, and grievance or dispute-resolution processes in a higher education, public sector, or unionized environment.
• Demonstrated ability to remain neutral, manage competing viewpoints, and maintain composure in emotionally charged or adversarial settings.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize testimony and evidence into clear findings.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a hearing officer, mediator, arbitrator, or grievance committee chair in an administrative setting.
• Familiarity with Utah public higher education personnel policy and practice.
• Formal training or certification in mediation, alternative dispute resolution, or administrative hearings.

Benefits

This is a non-benefited, as-needed engagement; the position does not accrue College leave or benefits.

Pay

Compensated on a per-hearing or hourly basis as negotiated with Human Resources.

Schedule

Hours vary based on the number and complexity of grievances assigned; engagements are scheduled as needed.