UC Senior Administrative Hearing Officer

About the Role

The Senior Unemployment Compensation Administrative Hearing Officer conducts administrative law unemployment insurance hearings, including complex areas such as Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Extended Unemployment Compensation, Tax, and Trade. The officer explains hearing procedures to employers and unemployed workers in plain language, provides high‑level customer service, and ensures fair and efficient resolution of appeals.

Responsibilities

• Conduct administrative law hearings for both the Commission’s Lower Authority & Higher Authority, overseeing testimony, administering oaths, and managing witness order.
• Directly question witnesses, preside over direct testimony and cross‑examination, and assist parties when appropriate.
• Apply policies and procedures, rule on motions, objections, and evidence admissibility.
• Provide evening telephone and/or in‑person hearing coverage as needed to support operational requirements.
• Follow the “no surprise” rule by communicating issues up the leadership chain.
• Prepare for hearings by reviewing all materials in the ODJFS Director’s file, identifying and contacting registered parties, and addressing relevant issues.
• Coordinate scheduling and continuances, and authorize issuance of subpoenas.
• Conduct legal research and review evidence submitted on appeal.
• Mentor UC Administrative Hearing Officers.
• Speak to external customers and partners about the Commission.
• Understand and follow agency policies and procedures.
• Process and resolve issues in systems such as MyOhio, RCExpress, OJI, Buckeye UI, and Clear2There.
• Ensure protection and security of confidential federal data.

Requirements

• Admission to the Ohio Bar pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 4705.016.
• Experience as a UC Administrative Hearing Officer (63951) or at least six months of equivalent legal experience.

Skills

• Basic documentation and computer literacy.
• Attorney/Legal, clerical & data entry, communications, and customer service.
• Board and commission compliance, policy direction, and law professional skills.
• Active learning, attention to detail, building trust, conflict management, critical thinking, cultural awareness, customer focus, decision making, establishing relationships, ethics and values, flexibility, listening, organizing and planning, problem solving, reasoning, responsiveness, teamwork, verbal and written communication, confidentiality, proofreading.

Location

Rhodes State Officer Tower – 30 E. Broad Street, 31st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215.

Travel

Occasional travel required for training purposes and required program‑area meetings.

Schedule

Standard workdays are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., with possible evening coverage. The position is classified as part‑time, with an expectation of 39 hours per week.

Pay

State of Ohio E1 Pay Schedule, Pay Range 15. Starting salary is the minimum of the range (Step 1) at $44.38 per hour ($92,310 annually). Progression steps:

• Step 1 – $44.38/hr ($92,310)
• Step 2 – $46.88/hr ($97,510)
• Step 3 – $49.52/hr ($103,002)
• Step 4 – $52.24/hr ($108,659)
• Step 5 – $55.15/hr ($114,712)
• Step 6 – $58.16/hr ($120,973)
• Step 7 – $60.55/hr ($125,944)
• Step 8 – $63.41/hr ($131,893)

Agency Overview

The Ohio Unemployment Compensation Review Commission is an independent agency composed of three members appointed by the Governor, along with attorney hearing officers and administrative support staff. The Commission delivers timely and fair de novo hearings on unemployment insurance decisions appealed by claimants and employers. It may affirm, reverse, remand, or modify ODJFS decisions, operating with a commitment to fairness, integrity, efficiency, and consistency.