Description:
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has a career opportunity within the Office of Administrative Hearings.
The Office of Administrative Hearings adjudicates contested case hearings in accordance with the Montana Administrative Procedure Act and a wide variety of other state and federal statutes, rules, regulations and policies, for programs administered by the department.
This position is responsible for conducting fair and impartial contested case hearings to adjudicate cases that involve significant discovery and often require the position to rule on discovery disputes between parties, diverse and unique factual and legal issues, often with limited legal precent, and require the position to perform complex legal analysis of the facts presented and the legal authority at issue. At least some of the parties in each case are usually represented by counsel. The subject matter of the cases ranges from child support establishment and enforcement to complex eligibility determination for and disqualification from public assistance programs that require disposition of several different issues or issues of first impression, to denial of licensure for various programs and facilities by the department.
Why Join DPHHS
Our mission at DPHHS is to serve Montanans in their communities to improve and protect the health, safety, and well-being, and to empower independence. By joining our department, you will have the opportunity to perform meaningful work in public service to our state and its residents.
The State of Montana's comprehensive benefits package includes healthcare coverage, retirement plans, paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, work/life balance, and eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. In addition, DPHHS is the largest state agency with a wide range of advancement opportunities whether you are joining the workforce or have several years of experience.
Qualifications
Qualifications for this Career Opportunity

• Knowledge of constitutional law, family law, consumer protection, the Montana Administrative Procedures Act, the Rules of Evidence, and Rules of Civil Procedure,
• General knowledge of federal and state statutes, rules, regulations, policies.
• Knowledge of statutory interpretations principles, legal research methods, and conflicts of laws within federal and state authority structure.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including public speaking.
• Ability to exercise sound independent decision-making authority
• Ability to interact with diverse groups, state and federal officers, staff, and subject matter experts.
• Ability to effectively manage assigned workload.
• Meet minimum qualifications:
• Juris Doctorate or a bachelor's degree in a relevant field with 3 years of hearings-related experience required.
• Four years of progressively responsible experience in legal writing, conducting legal research, litigation, administrative law, administrative hearings processes and procedures, and adjudication of contested cases.
• Other combinations of directly related education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

How to Apply
To be considered for a DPHHS position, submit the following required documents with your application on the State of Montana Careers website. When submitting the required documents, you must check the "relevant document" box to ensure your attachments are uploaded correctly to your application for this position.

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• References

Successful applicants will be subject to background checks relevant to the position and must pass reference checks before an offer will be extended. DPHHS is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For a copy of the full job description or if you need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, contact DPHHS Human Resources listed below.
Additional Information
This position may be eligible for partial telework within the state of Montana. Specific conditions will be provided by the supervisor and must adhere to state policy.
This position may be eligible for a statutory 4% an hour base pay increase effective July 1, 2024.
This position may be eligible for moving and relocation reimbursement. Specific conditions will be provided by the supervisor and must adhere to DPHHS policy.
This position is open until filled with frequent screening of applicants.