Hearing Officer 1 (NY HELPS)

NYS Office of Children and Family Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The NYS Office of Children and Family Services seeks a Hearing Officer in the Bureau of Special Hearings within the Division of Legal Affairs. You will conduct administrative hearings related to SCR, child care licensing, foster care removals, adoption eligibility, subsidies, KinGap, and family type homes.

Responsibilities include conducting thorough hearings, developing the record, managing electronic evidence, and issuing subpoenas.

Qualifications

• 12 months as Assistant Hearing Officer or equivalent experience.
• Admission to the NYS Bar and 24 months of trial or quasi-judicial legal experience.
• Current NY State Bar registration in good standing.

Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough hearings in a fair, impartial and orderly manner.
• Ensure the record is fully developed and maintained.
• Manage electronic evidence and conduct Webex hearings.
• Issue subpoenas and rule on objections during hearings.
• Render or recommend decisions with findings of all relevant facts and well-supported conclusions.

Skills

Impartiality

Evidence management

Webex/virtual hearings

Subpoenas

Legal writing

Education

NYS Bar admission

Licensed NY attorney with return to practice

Tools

Webex

Job description

Duties Description

The Hearing Officer, in the Bureau of Special Hearings within the Division of Legal Affairs, will conduct administrative hearings related to the State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (“SCR”), child care/daycare program licensing, foster care removals, adoption eligibility, adoption subsidies, KinGap, and family type homes.

Duties Description

The Hearing Officer, in the Bureau of Special Hearings within the Division of Legal Affairs, will conduct administrative hearings related to the State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (“SCR”), child care/daycare program licensing, foster care removals, adoption eligibility, adoption subsidies, KinGap, and family type homes.

The Hearing Officer Will

• Conduct thorough hearings in a manner that is fair, impartial and orderly.
• Ensure that the record is fully developed and properly maintained.
• Manage electronic evidence and operate virtual hearings via Webex.
• Issue subpoenas and rule on objections with respect to the conduct of the hearing, including any objection to the introduction of evidence.
• Render or recommend decisions. Decisions must contain findings of all relevant facts that result in the conclusions of law. Conclusions must be well researched, logically presented and supported by appropriate references to cases, statutes and regulations.

Additional duties will be discussed in greater detail during the interview.

Minimum Qualifications

Transfer: One year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in this title or in a title eligible for 70.1 or 52.6 transfer.

Open to the Public: This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide program (NY HELPS). For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, if the candidate meets the below NY HELPS minimum qualifications.

NY HELPS Non-Competitive Minimum Qualifications

Hearing Officer (Grade 25): 12 months as an Assistant Hearing Officer, or Admission to the NYS Bar and 24 months of subsequent satisfactory legal experience in the trial of issues in courts of record or in the conduct or trial of adversary proceedings, quasi-judicial in nature, before a governmental department or agency.

NOTE: Admission to the New York State Bar and current registration to practice law in New York State is required for continued employment. Disbarment or loss of registration shall result in termination or suspension of employment.

This position may be designated 55 b/c and is subject to verification of applicant eligibility.

Additional Comments

Please specify in your cover letter and/or resume how you meet the minimum qualifications (as described above) when responding to this posting. Non-specific submissions may be disqualified from further consideration if the information you provide does not meet the minimum qualifications.

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. Upon one year of permanent appointment, it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Background Investigation Requirements

• All prospective employees will be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC), which includes State and federal Criminal History Record Checks. All convictions must be reported; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, or any falsified or omitted information on the prospective appointee’s employment application, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Prospective employees will be fingerprinted in order to obtain a record of their criminal history information, and may be required to pay any necessary fees.
• All prospective employees will be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees will be required to pay any necessary fees.
• For Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) prospective appointees will be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s) if applicable.

The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is an equal opportunity employer. OCFS does not discriminate based upon age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, military or veteran status, sex, disability (including pregnancy-related conditions), predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital status, or status as a victim of domestic violence, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice and recognize that diversity in our workforce is critical to fulfilling our mission. We are committed to the diversity of our staff and encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply. In furtherance of Executive Order 31 and OCFS’s mission to have a diverse workforce, all people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment of inclusion that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned, and lived expertise, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our staff. Applicants of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.