Jobs and Careers

Administrative Appeals Judge (Exempt)

State of Washington

Washington, United StatesRemotefull_timeVerifiedPosted 15 Jun 2026

💰 $141,837/yr($125,000/yr – $141,837/yr)

About the role

Posting number: 2026-ELUHO-006

Department: Environmental & Land Use Hearing Office

Job classification: EXEMPT

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Administration, Code Enforcement, Court Administration, Environmental Services, Legal, Law Enforcement, Management, Executive Management, Land Use, Community and Social Services

Summary

Application review will begin June 29, 2026, and continue weekly until filled. The hiring manager reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any time. It will be in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5p.m, however the schedule can be adjusted with approval.

Location: This position requires some travel for meetings, conferences, and hearings, however we offer flexibility to work remotely.

This is a unique opportunity to be a judge for Washington State’s quasi-judicial environmental boards. With your experience you will help the Pollution Control Hearings Board and Shorelines Hearings Board issue decisions on important environmental matters impacting Washington’s natural resources, citizens, communities, and economies.

ELUHO Offers:

A highly diverse case portfolio of environmental legal issues
Cutting edge cases with legal issues of first impression
Opportunity to work directly with top environmental lawyers across the state and nation
Mentorship by experienced environmental attorneys
Opportunity to gain experience as an impartial mediator and judge
Camaraderie in a supportive team atmosphere
Training and development opportunities
Comprehensive compensation packages, including benefits and paid leave
The fulfillment of public service
A healthy work/life balance

About us:
The Environmental and Land Use Hearings Office (ELUHO) is a small state agency that supports three independent, quasi-judicial boards: the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB), the Shorelines Hearings Board (SHB), and the Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB). Together, ELUHO and the boards strive to provide an easily accessible forum for independent, expeditious, and efficient review of various state agency and local government environmental and land use decisions.

The Pollution Control Hearings Board was created in 1970 and reviews environmental permitting and enforcement decisions. Respondents to Board cases include the Department of Ecology, local air pollution control authorities, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and local agencies such as ports and municipalities. There are over 40 separate environmental statutes that are appealable to the Pollution Control Hearings Board. Jurisdictional areas include water and air pollution, water resources, hydraulic project approvals, forest practices, toxic pollution, oil spills and hazardous waste, dairy nutrient management, floodplain management, solid waste, surface mining, greenhouse gas emissions – cap and invest, derelict vessels, and several other areas.

The SHB was established in 1971 and reviews permitting and enforcement decisions of local governments and the Department of Ecology under the Shoreline Management Act.

The boards’ appeal processes provide citizens with accessible administrative review of agency environmental decisions made by the state and non-state agencies. The boards issue decisions setting forth legal analyses of claims, and if a case goes to hearing, the boards issue findings of fact and conclusions of law that inform all parties of the reasons for the decision. Most cases before the PCHB and SHB are reviewed de novo. Parties can appeal board decisions to the courts.

ELUHO values diversity and provides a workplace inclusive of different cultures, backgrounds, and ideas. We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees and their families. We support healthy lifestyles and a healthy work/life balance, and we aim to provide employees with professional development opportunities.

What you will do as an Administrative Appeals Judge:
As an Administrative Appeals Judge, you will play a critical role in supporting the PCHB and SHB. You will preside over prehearing conferences and hearings to ensure fairness as well as issue legally sound procedural decisions. As presiding officer, you will be responsible for the overall case management of assigned cases.

Administrative Appeals Judges conduct legal research, provide high quality and time