Benefits:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Free RTD transit - EcoPass
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

Minimum qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited law school;
• Five years experience practicing law

(legal experience acquired after admission to the bar), two years of which must have included experience in the appropriate work assignment (administrative law); shall have been licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado for five years.

Responsibilities:

Substantive Case Review:

• Determine if case findings are supported by the record.
• Determine whether the legal conclusions of ALJs and Hearings Officers are lawful.
• Comprehensively review the case file, Findings of Fact, and Conclusions of Law to complete a substantive analysis of the Initial Decision to determine a Final Agency Decision that applies legal rules, and principles, and applies rule interpretations to evidence.
• Determine whether ultimate conclusions of fact are legally sound and draft Final Agency Decisions accordingly.

Communicate Final Agency Decision, Complete Entries in the Database, and Provide Final Agency Decision case file to the District Court and/or Attorney General’s Office if requested:

• This position ensures that notices to appellants/respondents of the Final Agency Action are completed within the required time frame. This position must ensure all notices include the required/necessary information.
• This position ensures all files associated with the case/Final Agency Decision are included in the file provided to the District Court. This position provides all documents to the District Court by the deadline specified.

Manage Data, Reporting & Budget:

• Develop systems and processes to ensure the Office of Appeals data is accurate and reliable, Work with the Business Innovation and Technology Section and the Governor’s Office of Information Technology to remedy data problems as they arise,
• Assess whether the case management system used by OOA should be updated or changed.

Job description:

The current schedule will be a hybrid work arrangement (remote work and report on-site 2 days per week). This may change without prior notification based on business demands.

This position manages two Units within the Office of Appeals and issues Final Agency Decisions as an ALJ. This position manages a team of six: the Staff Adjudicator, the Legal Assistant, and the Program Assistant for the Final Agency Decision Unit (FAD-OOA); the two Hearings Officers and an Administrative Assistant for the SNAP Hearings Unit (SHU).

The Office of Appeals (OOA) work unit is made of two subunits: the SNAP Hearings Unit (SHU) and the Final Agency Decision side of the Office of Appeals (FAD-OOA). The FAD-OOA Unit is responsible for sending all Initial and Final Agency Decisions to the parties in a case as well as the appropriate State program area. The Chief Adjudicator, on behalf of the OOA, must stay apprised of trends and changes in the law as well as analyze programmatic and policy issues for proper application.

The FAD-OOA Unit must analyze the law and Department interpretations and apply those to the reviews of each Initial Agency Decision to ultimately reach a Final Agency Decision. The OOA also maintains data regarding the caseload and must provide data to support program areas within the Colorado Department of Human Services and when required, to the Federal Government (ex. Food Assistance case data). The OOA acts as the gatekeeper for all Initial Decisions to ensure consistency with historical Department interpretations and applications of promulgated rules and with applicable law.

The Chief Adjudicator serves in a consulting function, inter alia, to the Chief Legal Director, and to the program areas within the Department when necessary and/or when requested. The OOA, when requested, provides training at program area-sponsored events, rule reviews, legal consultations, and procedural advice to clients. The SHU processes incoming appeals, sends the required notice regarding hearing dates and times and any necessary procedural orders, conducts evidentiary hearings for SNAP appeals, and issues Initial Agency Decisions. The FAD-OAA reviews case files or conducts paper reviews and may decide to remand cases to the Office of Administrative Courts and/or SHU, and/or it issues Final Agency Decisions that affirm, modify, or reverse Initial Decisions.

Team overview:

This position manages two Units within the Office of Appeals and issues Final Agency Decisions as an ALJ. The two Units managed are the SNAP Hearings Unit (SHU) and the Final Agency Decision side of the Office of Appeals (FAD-OOA). The SHU processes incoming appeals, conducts evidentiary hearings, and issues Initial Agency Decisions for SNAP appeals. The FAD-OOA Unit is responsible for issuing Final Agency Decisions for all CDHS program areas. This position must ensure that both Units are running properly and issuing notices, orders, and decisions in compliance with applicable law.

As an adjudicator, this position will work independently to review case files and draft legally supported Final Agency Decisions and procedural orders.

About the Colorado Department of Human Services:

CDHS connects people with assistance, resources and support for living independently in our state at every stage of their lives. We serve Coloradans through bold and innovative health and human services. Colorado has a state-supervised and county-administered human services system. Under this system, county departments are the main provider of direct services to Colorado’s families, children and adults. Many of CDHS's programs, benefits and services — such as food and heating assistance and child welfare — are administered by county human services departments.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $91,272.00 - $135,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Denver, CO 80236: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Denver, CO 80236