Office of Inspector General (OIG)
2200 North Central Avenue Phoenix Arizona 85004

Salary: $73447.42 - $81608.38

Grade: 23

Closing Date: October 3 2025

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 ; or click on the linkhereto view Our DES video. Come Join the DES Team!

DES is seeking an experienced and highly motivated professional to serve as a Chief Hearing Officer (Presiding Administrative Law Judge - PALJ) responsible for supervising a team of Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) and/or legal support staff who handle Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Public Assistance (PA) cases. This role involves overseeing all aspects of team management including conducting performance evaluations (MAP) implementing corrective actions when necessary and supporting staff well-being. The PALJ also monitors case assignments through workflow queues and automated reports ensuring timely and accurate processing by coordinating closely with support personnel. Strong leadership organizational and communication skills along with a solid understanding of administrative law and public benefit programs are essential for success in this role.

This position will offer the ability to work remotely within Arizona based upon the departments business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility autonomy and trust. Across our many agencies boards and commissions many State employees participate in the States 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:
Supervise ALJs and support staff; hire and select new employees; assign evaluate and approve work products; train coach counsel and discipline. Track productivity of ALJs and support staff through reports.
Oversee and manage the appeal and hearing processes to ensure compliance with due process statutory and regulatory requirements and timeliness and quality standards mandated by federal and state administering authorities.
Lead coordinate or participate in special projects assigned by upper management and attend meetings.
Work with the ASA management team to solve systemic problems and to design and implement new policies procedures and processes to maximize efficiency quality and timeliness.
Conduct hearings in person or on telephone asking questions making a record making evidentiary rulings controlling the course of the hearing and issue legally correct decisions based upon legal research.
Provide information to parties about the hearing process assist them effectively using that process investigate and respond to customer complaints.
Follow up to ensure that decisions are implemented.

Knowledge of:
Federal and state laws and regulations departmental policy and precedential decisions for 20 or more different programs.
Due process rules of evidence rules of administrative procedure rules of judicial ethics and legal research methods.
ASAs Appeals Processing System word processing Clear2There email electronic calendar program databases OnBase and use of a computer to process a paperless environment.
Extensive knowledge of personnel rules DES personnel policy and management and
supervisory methods practices and principles.
Principles of English grammar and composition.

Skills In:
Writing clearly concisely and persuasively with proper English grammar.
Conducting thorough legal research.
Relating to customers and working on a team project.
Interacting interpersonally with people from a wide variety of cultural and socioeconomic
backgrounds.
Reading interpreting and extrapolating from a variety of data and statistical reports.
Planning organizing prioritizing and executing many competing duties and activities.
Supervising directing controlling evaluating and motivating subordinate staff.
Conducting and controlling hearings interrogating witnesses ruling on motions
and objections.

Ability to:
Applying complex legal principles to factual situations and in clearly and simply
explaining how the principles have been applied.
Remember large amounts of complex facts and information.
Think logically to articulate complex arguments and to resolve conflicts between
competing information.
Concentrate and focus on complex and sometimes conflicting information expressed
orally or in writing from a variety of sources.
Use manual dexterity to operate computer equipment and other office machines and to
use computer software to execute various workflow processes.
Quickly and logically organize information and to present the organized information
orally in a sustained and controlled process.
Hear spoken testimony or other information.
Sit uninterrupted for long periods.
Implement time management and project management techniques.

This ideal candidate for this position will have:

Bar License in good standing from any state bar.
2 years experience practicing law
Experience as a hearing officer as an administrative law judge or in representing parties in administrative hearings

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business then the following requirements apply:Drivers License Requirements.
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 agencys ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.

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 programhere. 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 receive additional information about the available insurance plans enrollment instructions submission deadlines and effective dates.

For questions about this career opportunity please contact Shannon Anguiano by (text/call) at or.

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 or Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.