UC Senior Administrative Hearing Officer

About the role

The Review Commission is composed of three members appointed by the Governor and a team of attorney hearing officers and administrative support staff. The Commission is independent of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) for purposes of delivering timely and fair hearings on unemployment insurance matters. The Commission conducts fair due process hearings on ODJFS unemployment insurance decisions appealed by claimants and employers. After a review of the facts, the Commission may affirm, reverse, remand, or modify ODJFS decisions. The Commission holds "de novo" or full hearings on appeal, offering customers a new review of disputed unemployment insurance issues in a fair and efficient manner. We aspire to conduct business with consistency and to preserve the honor, dignity, and respect of those we serve. We will conduct our agency's business with Fairness, Integrity, Efficiency and Consistency.

What You Will Do

• Conduct administrative law unemployment insurance hearings, including hearings in complex areas of unemployment law (e.g. Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Extended Unemployment Compensation, Tax, Trade, etc.), for both the Commission's Lower Authority & Higher Authority
• Explain hearing procedures to both employers & unemployed workers clearly & in plain language, advise parties of their rights & answer questions about hearing procedure
• Oversee taking of testimony, including administering oaths, determining which witnesses to take testimony & the order of testimony, directly questioning each witness, presiding over each party's additional direct testimony & cross-examination, assisting each party in cross-examination when appropriate, applying policies & procedures, ruling on motions & objections & determining admissibility of evidence
• Provide the highest levels of customer service & professionalism while conducting hearings even when encountering irate or hostile customers
• Provide evening telephone &/or in-person hearing coverage as assigned/as needed to support operational needs
• Follow the "no surprise" rule to communicate issues up the leadership chain
• Prepare in advance of unemployment insurance hearings, including reviewing all materials in the ODJFS Director's file & additional documents & exhibits submitted by parties, ensuring that all registered parties are correctly identified & contacted for the hearing, ensuring that all relevant issues are addressed in the hearing, communicating & working with parties regarding scheduling & continuances, authorizing issuance of subpoenas
• Conduct legal research
• Review evidence submitted on appeal
• Mentor UC Administrative Hearing Officers
• Speak to external customers & partners about the Commission
• Understand & follow policies & procedures
• Process & resolve issues in systems (e.g., MyOhio, RCExpress, OJI, Buckeye UI, Clear2There)
• Ensure the protection & security of confidential federal data

Schedule & Location

• Schedule: Full-time, standard workdays are Monday through Friday, hours between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., may be required to work evenings
• Location: Rhodes State Office Tower - 30 E. Broad Street 31st FL, Columbus, OH 43215
• Travel: For training purposes and required Program Area meetings, occasional travel will be required

Minimum Qualifications

• Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 4705.01
• Experience as UC Administrative Hearing Officer, 63951 or 6 months of equivalent legal experience

Pay

This position is in the State of Ohio's E1 Pay Schedule, Pay Range 15. Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be the minimum salary of that pay range (step 1, currently $44.38 per hour). These ranges provide a standardized pathway for pay increases. With continued employment, new hires move to the next step in the range after 6 months and annually thereafter. Cost of Living Adjustments increase wages in these ranges each fiscal year.

Pay Range 15Step 1Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 5Step 6Step 7Step 8 Hourly$44.38$46.88$49.52$52.24$55.15$58.16$60.55$63.41 Annual$92,310$97,510$103,002$108,659$114,712$120,973$125,944$131,893 Months of EmploymentAt Hire6 Months18 Months30 Months42 Months54 Months66 Months78 Months