[Hiring] Assistant Division Chief Administrative Law Judge @State of Washington

Role Description

OAH is currently looking to fill a new Assistant Division Chief ALJ (ADC) position in our new Social & Health Services (SHS) Division. The ADC serves as a key operational leader within their assigned division and partners with the Division Chief ALJ to:

• Advance divisional priorities
• Improve operational effectiveness
• Promote excellence in administrative adjudication

The position provides leadership through collaboration, influence, and delegated authority rather than formal supervisory responsibility. The ADC coordinates division-wide initiatives, leads continuous improvement efforts, develops operational resources and best practices, facilitates communication among internal and external stakeholders, and supports the implementation of strategic organizational priorities.

The position serves as a trusted advisor to the Division Chief, providing operational analysis, recommendations, and leadership that strengthen consistency, efficiency, innovation, and service delivery across the division.

In addition to maintaining a reduced judicial caseload, the ADC:

• Leads special projects
• Supports organizational change initiatives
• Serves as the Division Chief's designee for assigned operational responsibilities

The caseloads that are adjudicated by this division include:

• Division of Child Support
• Department of Children, Youth & Families
• Health Care Authority
• Licensing
• Modified Adjusted Gross Income
• Public Assistance
• WA Cares

Qualifications

• Active or judicial membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association
• Comprehensive knowledge of administrative law principles, hearing procedures, judicial ethics, applicable statutes, administrative rules, and due process requirements necessary to conduct hearings and advise others on adjudicative practices (RCW 34.12.030(1))

Requirements

• Facilitating collaboration and leading organizational and/or divisional initiatives through influence
• Analyzing issues, identifying root causes, evaluating alternatives, and developing practical recommendations
• Building productive working relationships, fostering collaboration, and facilitating discussion on complex issues
• Facilitating meetings, delivering presentations and training, communicating complex information, and adapting communication styles to diverse audiences

Benefits

• Work that is important and makes a difference
• In-house training and professional development opportunities
• Healthy work/life balance, including remote work options
• Comprehensive benefits package

Company Description

The 1981 Legislature created the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) to offer Washingtonians an independent, fair, and neutral forum to hold administrative hearings on disputed matters referred by state and local government agencies. Operating out of field offices in Olympia, Tacoma, and Spokane Valley, there are currently 230 employees, including 120 administrative law judges who preside over administrative hearings involving:

• Unemployment insurance benefits
• Child support
• Food assistance
• Medical benefits
• Business and professional licensing

OAH conducts hearings for more than 30 agencies and 160 programs. Our referring agencies include:

• Employment Security Department (ESD)
• Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
• Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
• Health Care Authority (HCA)
• Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB)
• Department of Financial Institutions (DFI)
• Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)

For more information about OAH, please visit our website at oah.wa.gov.