Industrial Commission District Hearing Officer - PN 20066001 - Portsmouth

About the role

Hearing Officers conduct hearings in person and online from one of the IC’s twelve office locations throughout the state. Collectively, Hearing Officers conduct over 87,000 hearings annually. Each Hearing Officer independently manages their own caseload and is responsible for writing decisions for all hearings they conduct.

Under general supervision in assigned Regions/Districts, Hearing Officers prepare for, conduct, and issue orders from administrative hearings on Workers’ Compensation claims. This includes hearing claims on the issues of allowance, payment of compensation, payment of medical bills, determination of percentage of permanent partial disability, and any other contested claim matter except those over which the Industrial Commission (IC) or its Staff Hearing Officers have original jurisdiction. Hearing Officers ensure all proceedings are conducted in a fair and legal manner, perform legal research into difficult questions regarding Workers’ Compensation, and participate in depositions.

Additional responsibilities include completing miscellaneous assignments made by the Regional Managers or any member of the IC, providing training to new Hearing Officers and Legal Interns, and conducting second-level hearings in the absence of Staff Hearing Officers.

Responsibilities

• Prepare for, conduct, and issue orders from administrative hearings on Workers’ Compensation claims.
• Hear claims on allowance, payment of compensation, payment of medical bills, determination of percentage of permanent partial disability, and other contested matters.
• Ensure all proceedings are conducted in a fair and legal manner.
• Perform legal research into difficult questions regarding Workers’ Compensation law.
• Participate in depositions.
• Complete assignments made by Regional Managers or IC members.
• Provide training to new Hearing Officers and Legal Interns.
• Conduct second-level hearings in the absence of Staff Hearing Officers.

Requirements

• Admission to the Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4121.34 ORC.
• Licensed attorney (all district and staff-level Hearing Officers are licensed attorneys).
• Preferably with Ohio workers’ compensation experience.
• Customer-focused with the ability to professionally handle a high volume of work adjudicating first-level administrative hearings.
• Willingness to follow policies and procedures, travel to IC offices, and manage time efficiently.

Skills

• Attorney/Legal Technical Skills: Research, Professional, Regulatory Compliance, Workers’ Compensation Law.
• Professional Skills: Decision Making, Time Management, Written Communication, Ethics, Facilitating Hearings.

Benefits

This is a full-time, classified position with union representation (OCSEA).

Pay

Compensation starts at $41.81 per hour (Step 1).

Schedule

Full-time position with work hours from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Location

Portsmouth District Office, Scioto County, Ohio.

Agency Overview

The Ohio Industrial Commission (IC) serves injured workers and Ohio employers through expeditious and impartial resolution of issues arising from workers’ compensation claims and through the establishment of adjudication policy. While the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is the exclusive provider of workers’ compensation benefits in Ohio, the IC is the state agency responsible for adjudicating all contested claims matters.