Senior Hearings Examiner - Public Service Manager II - Extended

Location: Augusta,Maine,United States

Department of Labor - Paid Family and Medical Leave

Job Class Code: MA29
Grade: 29 (Confidential)
Salary: $68,993 - $97,635
Location: Augusta

Opening Date: July 15, 2024

Closing Date:  August 14, 2024

The State of Maine is in search of a Senior Hearings Examiner for the Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Program, which was created by the Maine Legislature in 2023. The Senior Hearings Examiner will be a key member of the team creating and overseeing one of the largest and most impactful new programs in the State with the objective of delivering a service that Mainers can easily use in their time of need.  This position oversees advanced administrative work involving the operation of the PFML Program’s appeals hearing unit.  Besides considering appeals related to employer fines and employee claim denials, the unit is responsible for the initial screening and adjudication of employer private insurance plan exemptions from the program as well as hearings related to such decisions.   Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, oversight of the adjudication of appeals and supervision of subordinate Hearing Examiners, establishing unit procedures as it relates to appeals process, case management, and documentation, ensuring effective training of hearings examiners in PFML law and rules, conducting quality reviews to ensure consistency of decisions in alignment with policy, and informing and developing agency policy based on precedents set with hearings.  The Senior Hearings Examiner may also conduct more complex appeal hearings. 

Primary responsibilities include:  

• Researches, analyzes, and evaluates a variety of complex legal material in order to identify specific points of law to be addressed in the hearing process and to determine the appropriate hearing venue and length of time necessary for case scheduling.
• Researches, analyzes, and evaluates a variety of complex legal materials, statutes and or legal decisions in order to provide requested information, reports or to make recommendations and provide assistance to the Deputy Director when suggesting possible legislative or regulatory changes.
• May interpret and explain laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to the general public, attorneys, employers, legal support staff, hearings examiners and other bureau and agency staff in order to provide information, clarification, and/or promote understanding.
• Follows up on and resolves constituent issues, problems, and requests for information both orally and in writing as directed by the Deputy Director.
• Drafts orders and other legal documents for the Deputy Director.
• Supervises and reviews administrative hearings examiners’ work to evaluate their performance.
• Provides legal and/or procedural guidance to administrative support staff and provides them with functional supervision and direction.
• Responds to inquiries from attorneys and other interested parties on hearing procedures in order to provide information.
• Researches legal issues for pending cases and coordinates the creation and maintenance of in-house research files in order to develop a repository of information on legal issues.
• Provides agenda items for and may assist in facilitating the Division’s staff meetings.
• Conducts the hiring and training of Hearings Examiners.
• Conducts due process hearings and renders decisions.
• Helps track and analyzes PFML appeals data, as needed for decision making and the planning of workflow. 

Skills or knowledge required:

• Knowledge of legal principles and practice.
• Knowledge of legal documents, court procedures, rules of evidence, and litigation practices.
• Knowledge of applicable state/federal statutes, case law, and regulations.
• Knowledge of legal research procedures, legal terminology, and processes.
• Knowledge of supervisory practices.
• Ability to conduct complex legal research and analyze legal problems.
• Ability to understand, explain and interpret constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations, and case law.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing using Microsoft Office programs.
• The ability to track and analyze appeals data for purposes of planning and decision making. 

Minimum qualifications:

An eight (8) year combination of education, training, and/or experience demonstrating applied knowledge of the adjudicatory hearings process, proficiency in conducting a