The Review Commission (“the 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 claimant 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

As a Senior Unemployment Compensation Administrative Hearing Officer, you will:

• 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, advises parties of their rights & answers questions about hearing procedure: oversees taking of testimony, including administering oaths, determining which witnesses to take testimony & the order or 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: provides 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)
• Ensures the protection & security of confidential federal data.

Schedule: Full-Time

Hours: Standard workdays are Monday through Friday but may be required to work evenings. Hours are between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Location: This position's office location will be at Rhodes State Officer Tower - 30 E. Broad Street 31st FL, Columbus, OH 43215

Travel: For training purposes and required Program Area meetings, occasional travel will be required.

PN(s): 20037595, 20036741

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems ( such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation ( Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

The ideal candidate, at minimum, must have the following:

• Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 4705.01

• 6 experience as UC Administrative Hearing Officer, 63951 or 6 months of equivalent legal experience.

Tips For Your Application

When completing the different sections of this application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this job posting. We cannot give you credit for your Work Experience and Education & Certifications if you do not provide that information in your online application. Information in attached resumes or cover letters must be entered into your application in the appropriate Work Experience or Education & Certification sections to be considered.

Pay Information

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. The current step progression wages are in the table below.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

$44.38

$46.88

$49.52

$52.24

$55.15

$58.16

$60.55

$63.41

$92,310

$97,510

$103,002

$108,659

$114,712

$120,973

$125,944

$131,893

At Hire

6 Months

18 Months

30 Months

42 Months

54 Months

66 Months

78 Months

ADA Notice

If you require an accommodation based on a disability for any step of the selection process, please contact ada_public@jfs.ohio.gov

Background check information

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Some positions may require drug testing and/or fingerprinting. Criminal convictions do not necessarily disqualify candidates from consideration.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.