The University of New Mexico is seeking an Administrative Hearing Officer to lead a diverse team in the administration of the University’s hearing procedures. Reporting to the President of the University, the Administrative Hearing Officer serves as an independent authority to administer hearing procedures to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, University policies and procedures in the adjudication of cases related to personnel issues, student conduct violations, allegations of discrimination, Title IX violations, and related matters.

The Administrative Hearing Officer is responsible for directing and coordinating the resolution of complex cases, drafting comprehensive reports and responses, and making decisions as a representative of the institution. The Administrative Hearing Officer provides valuable insights and recommendations to University leadership and campus partners, identifying opportunities to enhance institutional policies, processes, and procedures.

Duties and Responsibilities Include:

• Independently conducts fair and impartial adjudicatory and administrative hearings on a range of institutional administrative cases, ensuring compliance with relevant laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Holds conferences with the parties for discussion of the process and simplification of the issues by consent of the parties,
• Oversees the logistical aspects of the hearing process, including scheduling, information collection, and training of hearing panel members. Facilitates clear communication by disseminating updates to panel members and other involved parties.
• Collects and reviews evidence and rules on exceptions, motions, objections, witness credibility, and the admissibility of evidence, ensuring a fair and equitable process.
• Analyzes and determines facts pertaining to alleged violations, compiling comprehensive reports of findings for University leadership, external agencies, and internal campus partners.
• Facilitates post-hearing evaluations to identify opportunities for systemic improvements and enhancements to existing processes or policies.
• Participates in various University planning and policy-making committees, offering recommendations for the development of University policies and procedures.

See the Position Description for additional information.

• Employees in this job title are subject to the terms and conditions of an employment contract. Employment contracts are typically subject to review and renewal on an annual basis.
• Employees who provide services or work in patient care or clinical areas are required to be in compliance with the University's influenza vaccination requirement.
• Successful candidate who is not a member of the NM State Bar is required to obtain a temporary Public Employee Limited License issued by the NM Supreme Court.
• Must maintain licensure and bar membership.

Juris Doctorate; at least 5 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified. Certification/Licensure: Member of NM State Bar or member in good standing of State Bar of another state or District of Columbia and in possession of a Public Employee Limited License issued by the NM Supreme Court.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

• Strong understanding of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, and government regulations.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to assess complex information to effectively define and resolve problems.
• Experience administering administrative hearings or legal proceedings with the ability to make administrative and procedural decisions and judgement on sensitive and confidential matters.
• Experience working in higher education, preferable at a large, publicly funded University.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both orally and in writing, and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to use independent judgment and to manage and impart confidential information.
• Ability to determine facts, interpret and apply policy, legal or regulatory requirements and document findings in a clear, concise manner.
• Experience supervising employees and ability to create a work environment that motivate employees to resolving issues and make sound decisions.
• Completion of trauma informed investigatory/hearing process training.

Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.