DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

Office of Inspector General 
2200 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85006

Salary: $68,830.63 - $84,000.00

Grade: 22

Closing Date: November 26, 2024

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES) we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals who are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come Join the DES Team!

DES is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as a Hearing Officer 3. This position will be responsible for handling appeals in over 35 different programs. The position will provide a fair and impartial due process proceeding, at which most parties are unrepresented by attorneys, which includes, but is not limited to: taking testimony and evidence, making a complete legal record and ensuring that due process rights are afforded to all parties.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords flexibility, autonomy and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, commissions, many State employees participate in the State's Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona, unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Conduct multiple telephonic or in person hearings each day in cases of original jurisdiction, asking questions, making evidentiary rulings, and controlling the course of the hearing.
• Make rules on subpoenas, postponements, withdrawals or defaults.
• Review case files and/or hearing record in preparation for hearing or for appellate review of lower authority hearings and decisions.
• Ensure proper legal notice to the parties of the time, date and place of hearing, and ensure the proper issues are noticed and the proper legal citations are given in the Notice of Hearing.
• Timely draft and edit final decisions applying Federal and Arizona law to the facts adduced at the hearing, either for the hearing officer's own signature or for further review and signature by the Appeals Board members.
• Perform legal research to properly conduct hearings and compose and edit decisions within federally mandated time limits.
• Respond immediately to questions, complaints and requests for information from interested parties. Department representatives and the public.
• In cases of supervisor absence, make decisions regarding leave requests, daily workflow and priorities of case adjudication, office-operating procedures, supplies and operating needs, and/or work on special assignments and attend needed training.

Knowledge of:

• Extensive knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations, departmental policy, and precedential decisions for more than 35 different programs.
• Must be aware of up to date federal and state laws, rules, regulations, policies, interpretations, and court decisions.
• Extensive working knowledge of the rules of evidence, rules of administrative procedure, rules of judicial and legal ethics.
• State personnel regulations, purchasing procedures and personnel evaluation regulations.
• Extensive knowledge of administrative hearing procedure for the conduct and review of hearings.
• Human behavior and psychology.
• Appeals case tracking program, word processing software, digital imaging software and other computer programs.
• Computer operation, Internet legal research, and operational knowledge of legal research search engines.

Skills In:
• Excellent time management and project management skills in order to conduct a high volume of highly charged hearings and prioritize work to process maximum number of cases within tightly prescribed time frames.
• Composing a quasi-judicial decision by determining what evidence is necessary to support the decision, and which evidence is not relevant, material, or dispositive to the issues presented.
• Analyzing, weighing and appraising facts and applying legal authority and legal principles.
• Conducting complex quasi-judicial, de novo and supplemental administrative hearings.
• Writing clearly and plainly without specialized terminology about complex legal issues.
• Diplomatically controlling conflict situations through persuasion and force of personality.

Ability to:
• Listen for long periods and process large amounts of factual material related by a variety of individuals.
• Speak and communicate orally for extended periods.
• Operate a variety of business machines including telephone, computer and a variety of computer software programs.
• Sit uninterrupted for long periods.
• Quickly read and comprehend large volumes of printed material.
• Analyze complex information and to synthesize complex information from various sources.
• Focus without distraction on complex, detailed tasks for long periods.
• Observe details and nuances of human behavior and demeanor.

This ideal candidate for this position will have:

• Five years practice of law.
• Graduation from an accredited undergraduate university or college.
• Graduation from an accredited law school.
• Membership and maintains good standing with Bar Association
• Computer training from DES, Westlaw, Lexis, Case managements systems, Outsource computer training
• Participation in Bar Association sponsored continuing legal education programs.

• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• This position may require driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
• Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact us Frank Topor at 480-536-3791 or OODHRstaffing@azdes.gov.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting Frank Topor at 480-536-3791 or OODHRStaffing@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.