ESD APPEALS REFEREE 1

State-of-Nevad; Las Vegas (NV); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Nevada in Las Vegas seeks an ESD Appeals Referee 1 to adjudicate unemployment insurance issues in a regulatory setting. You will interpret federal and state laws, conduct hearings, and issue written decisions with impartiality and clarity.

The role requires analyzing complex facts, weighing testimony, and communicating with claimants, employers, attorneys, and representatives while maintaining objectivity in emotionally charged situations. A degree and relevant experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus two years of professional unemployment insurance experience or equivalent.
• Experience interpreting and applying federal and state laws, regulations, and policies; able to write concise, logical decisions.
• Ability to interview, weigh evidence, and formulate findings of fact.

Responsibilities

• Conduct hearings or case reviews and elicit testimony from claimants, employers, attorneys, and representatives.
• Prepare clear, concise, grammatically correct written decisions or technical documentation.
• Schedule hearings based on case complexity and record needs; identify information gaps and formulate questions.

Skills

Legal interpretation

Evidence rules

Clear communication

Impartial decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in public or business administration, social science, English or related field

Job description

The Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) is hiring for an ESD Appeals Referee 1 in Las Vegas, NV. The position performs professional work involving the adjudication of unemployment insurance issues, administrative hearings, or related case determinations within a regulatory or quasi-judicial environment. Incumbents interpret and apply federal and State laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to resolve disputes, make determinations, and issue written decisions. Work requires analyzing complex factual situations, evaluating testimony and evidence, and applying legal standards, precedents, and program requirements to reach impartial and defensible conclusions. Incumbents conduct hearings or case reviews; communicate with claimants, employers, attorneys, and representatives; and prepare clear, concise, and grammatically correct written decisions or technical documentation. The role requires maintaining objectivity in emotionally charged situations, assessing credibility, and managing interactions with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Additional responsibilities include scheduling hearings based on case complexity, identifying necessary information, and formulating appropriate questions to develop the record. The ideal candidate will have working knowledge of applicable federal and State laws, program policies, English grammar and composition, and general knowledge of rules of evidence, hearsay, and due process. They will have experience in interpreting laws and precedents, evaluating reliability of information, interviewing, and maintaining control of hearings. The incumbent will have excellent verbal and written communication, the ability to prioritize, the ability to make unbiased decisions, and the ability to tactfully present information.

Employment Security Division (ESD) Appeals Referees conduct fair and impartial quasi-judicial hearings related to unemployment insurance benefits, experience rating rulings and employer tax liability cases; make decisions affecting benefit payments, effective dates of eligibility and tax liability for past, present and future employees of a business; affirm, modify or reverse any overpayment already established and impose disqualifications when claimants make willful misrepresentation of facts; elicit and record testimony, accept documentation, and make findings of fact; weigh the validity of issues and evidence presented at the hearing; research and interpret related laws, case law, regulations, policies and procedures applicable to the issues; and make appropriate decisions.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public or business administration, social science, English or related field and two years of professional experience in a unemployment insurance program which included making determinations or adjudicating issues through interpretation and application of federal and State laws, regulations and procedures; analysis of policy, precedents and current circumstances; and writing concise, logical, grammatically correct, and understandable decisions or technical documentation; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Incumbents perform the full range of duties described above under supervision of an ESD Appeals Referee II. Work is assigned according to caseload standards or status and is reviewed through case reviews and evaluation by an ESD Appeals Referee II, subsequent appeals and Board of Review action.

Working knowledge of:

• interpretation and application of federal and State laws and regulations related to the assignment; program policies and procedures applicable to the assigned hearings areas; English grammar and composition.
• General knowledge of: standard rules of evidence, hearsay evidence, and due process.

Ability to:

• make appropriate decisions based on an analysis of policy, precedents, and current circumstances;
• read and interpret laws, regulations, policies, procedures, legal documents and/or medical reports;
• effectively communicate with persons from a variety of social, economic and educational levels, both verbally and in writing;
• establish priorities which accurately reflect the relative importance of job responsibilities;
• maintain an unbiased attitude and deal objectively with individuals in emotionally charged situations;
• evaluate information and truthfulness of testimony;
• present information in a tactful manner;
• schedule hearings based on complexity, anticipated length of hearing, and disputed facts;
• determine needed information and phrase questions accordingly.

Skill in:

• relating and interpreting laws and precedents to specific issues under review;
• writing concise, logical, grammatically correct, and understandable decisions;
• recognizing degrees of truth and reliability in evaluating information;
• dealing effectively with hostile or emotional people;
• interviewing to elicit specific information or facts;
• maintaining control and focus of a hearing or meeting.