Appeals Referee

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Pottsville (Schuylkill County); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Appeals Referee position with the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review in Pottsville, PA offers the opportunity to adjudicate appeals with fairness and clear reasoning. You will conduct hearings, review evidence, and issue timely decisions while upholding due process for workers and employers.

This full-time role may include telework part-time after training and occasional travel to multiple counties.

Qualifications

• Requires JD or admission to PA Bar and 1 year of labor law experience, or 4 years in unemployment compensation with English credits, or an equivalent combination.
• Must meet PA residency requirements and be able to perform essential job functions.

Responsibilities

• Conduct hearings: schedule, manage, and oversee hearings with due process standards.
• Evaluate evidence: analyze testimony and documents to resolve conflicts and assess credibility.
• Draft decisions: prepare clear written findings of fact, issues, and reasoning.
• Provide guidance: explain procedures, rights, and policies to unrepresented parties.
• Supervise staff: oversee clerical support and resolve performance issues.
• Travel for hearings: attend hearings across counties and support other offices.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Legal writing

Oral communication

Travel flexibility

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) or law degree

6 college credits in English composition or related courses

Job description

The Appeals Referee position with the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review offers a meaningful opportunity to support fair decision making for workers and employers. You will play a key part in resolving appeals with accuracy and professionalism while building strong analytical and communication skills to support fair outcomes.

This position is responsible for conducting hearings, reviewing evidence, and issuing fair and timely decisions on appeals cases. Work involves supporting due process by ensuring all parties have the opportunity to be heard and understood. As an Appeals Referee, you will perform the following duties:

• Conduct Hearings: Schedule, manage, and oversee appeals hearings while following due process standards
• Evaluate Evidence: Analyze testimony and documents to resolve conflicting information and determine credibility
• Draft Decisions: Prepare clear written decisions that explain findings of fact, legal issues, and the reasoning behind outcomes
• Provide Guidance: Explain procedures, rights, and policies to unrepresented parties and answer related questions
• Supervise Staff: Oversee clerical support, review performance, and resolve complaints and grievances
• Travel for Hearings: Attend hearings in multiple counties and support other offices as needed

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are negotiable with a 30-minute lunch break, Monday - Friday.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, upon successful completion of the training period. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Pottsville. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.
• Note: This position supports the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review, Reading Referee Office, the selected candidate will work/headquartered at the Pottsville CareerLink at 203 E. Arch Street, Pottsville, PA 17901.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Graduation from an approved school of law and certification of admission to the bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and one year of experience in the practice of labor law; or
• Four years of experience in the determination of unemployment compensation claims, including adjustments, overpayments, and appeals supplemented by 6 college level credits in English composition or other related English courses; or
• Four years of professional experience which involves the application of taxing or benefit-paying provisions of the Unemployment Compensation Law in order to determine compliance, to improve Unemployment Compensation program operations, or to train others in the application of the law supplemented by 6 college level credits in English composition or other related English courses; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training which includes 6 college level credits in English composition or other related English courses.

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.