Lead Hearings Officer SNAP Hearings Unit

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Please note:

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Office of Appeals

The Office of Appeals at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) serves an essential function for the agency as the CDHS executive director's designee for reviewing initial decisions in administrative cases concerning benefits and services administered by CDHS. The Office of Appeals reviews initial decisions issued by its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Hearings Unit as well as the Office of Administrative Courts to issue final agency decisions on behalf of the executive director.

The SNAP Hearings Unit operates under the general supervision of the Chief Adjudicator of the Office of Appeals as a discrete group responsible for its own caseload apart from the rest of Office of Appeals. The Unit exists to provide high-quality, independent administrative due process for individuals’ appeals related to SNAP-only actions generated from the 64 counties in Colorado. Hearings Officers conduct state-level fair hearings to review County actions affecting SNAP household benefits, and issue initial decisions to affirm, reverse, modify, or remand those actions.

This work ensures SNAP households receive due process and efficient administration of benefits.

Please Note:

These working arrangements are subject to change.

The Lead Hearings Officer presides over administrative hearings on review of adverse actions concerning household SNAP benefits. This work includes, but is not limited to:

• Receiving testimony and documentary evidence;
• Resolving evidentiary issues;
• Ruling onparties’ motions and objections;
• Issuing procedural ordersas needed; and
• Writing formal, dispositive Initial Decisions containing Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and case outcomes.

The Lead Hearings Officer also acts as a unit supervisor. This work includes, but is not limited to:

• Direct supervision of two Hearings Officers II and one Administrative Assistant II;
• Overseeing daily operations;
• Managing caseload distribution and assignments,
• Reviewing work quality, and
• Providing formal performance evaluations.

Nine (9) years of relevant experience presiding over administrative hearings or conducting legal adjudication, interpreting complex state and federal regulations, drafting administrative decisions, with a minimum of 1 (one) year providing supervisory or work lead direction.

OR

A combination of related education and/or relevant experience presiding over administrative hearings or conducting legal adjudication, interpreting complex state and federal regulations, drafting administrative decisions, equal to nine (9) years
, with a minimum of 1 (one) year providing supervisory or work lead direction.

• Juris doctorate.
• Relevant years of experience in public service working with Federal, State and/or County agencies.
• Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring, or leading administrative law judges, hearings officers, or other legal staff.
• Knowledge of and experience with federal and state SNAP regulations.
• Knowledge of and experience with due process principles and administrative hearing procedure.
• Demonstrated ability to display professional conduct at all times.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Experience developing peer review standards, quality assurance frameworks, and standardized decision templates.

• Standard background check and reference check required
• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Travel in-state will be required
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:
  • Disclose that information on the application.
  • Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.
  • Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

CDHS Selection Process Explanation

Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine…