Manager of Appeals - Staff Attorney Supervisor - Paid Leave

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; Saint Paul (MN); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative division within state government is seeking Appeals Managers to lead critical operations for a new Paid Leave program. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape processes and systems from the ground up, ensuring fair and efficient decision-making for Minnesota workers. As part of a dynamic team, you will manage appeals operations, provide legal guidance, and uphold high standards of quality and compliance. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a start-up environment, this position is perfect for you.

Benefits

Telework eligibility

Flexible work hours

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in legal analysis and compliance review is essential.
• Strong leadership skills to manage a diverse team.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 12-25 employees in Appeals operations.
• Provide legal advice and ensure compliance with statutes.

Skills

Leadership

Legal Analysis

Team Management

Compliance Review

Communication Skills

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

About the Paid Leave Division:

Paid Leave is a new program launching in 2026. The program will provide partial wage replacement to Minnesota workers who are out of work due to a qualifying condition, such as a severe health condition that prevents them from working, or when they need time to care for a family member or a new child.

We are building a program that will be easy for every Minnesotan to use. We are engaging the people who depend on us—workers, employers, caregivers, and insurers—to learn from them and build the program around their needs. We are using modern service delivery and product practices to deliver the program.

The Paid Leave team has high standards and an unrelenting commitment to serving Minnesotans. It is a start-up environment without legacy systems or preconceived ways of working, so we have a unique opportunity to create human-centric processes and systems to deliver this new benefit to Minnesotans.

Position Purpose:

This posting is for two (2) Appeals Manager positions for Paid Leave who will hold critical roles in our organization. Understanding that these roles will work in tandem and serve to back each other, please indicate whether you have a preference for a position.

• Appeals Manager, Pre-Hearing Operations: This Appeals Manager will manage a team that performs first-look intake of appeals to determine jurisdiction, legal question, and complexity. This role manages the team in drafting and issuing orders, subpoenas, and manages the preparation of cases for scheduled hearings.
• Appeals Manager, Hearing Operations: This Appeals Manager will manage a team of Paid Leave judges that hold de novo due process evidentiary hearings for Paid Leave applicants and employers. This role ensures high quality, prompt decision-making, legal accuracy, and makes sure participants receive a fair hearing experience.

These positions will collaborate dynamically with each other and understand that team cohesion is critical for success. As an Appeals Manager, you may personally handle sensitive cases for the unit (including holding hearings and issuing a decision based on the facts and the law). You will be assisting in the creation of the Appeals team and unit policies and procedures. The Appeals unit will deliver successful appeals capabilities that meet all statutory and legal requirements. Once live, you will manage the day-to-day activities of your team, ensuring timely decision-making with an eye towards efficiency, quality, and ensuring due process. You’ll also play a key role in reviewing hearings and decisions for quality and legal accuracy. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Appeals, you’re vital to the overall success of our division.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead with Integrity: Provide leadership and development to a team of twelve (12) to twenty-five (25) employees, including Paid Leave judges who are attorneys, legal analysts, and administrative staff.
• Own and Develop Appeals Operations: We are building our division from the ground up. Design, build, and lead pre-hearing operations, including assessing incoming appeals for jurisdiction, analyzing cases for order decisions, preparation of case files for hearing, and scheduling hearings OR hearing operations, including training Paid Leave judges on how to conduct due process, evidentiary hearings, write cogent, legally correct decisions, and review reconsideration requests for performance integrity.
• Legal Advice: Provide legal advice to Appeals unit team, supporting consistent interpretation of applicable statutes and rules related to Paid Leave.
• Quality and Compliance: Review hearings and draft decisions to ensure quality, consistency, and compliance.
• Start-up Spirit: We’re a start-up within state government; you are excited to play a key role in developing the organization, processes, and systems required to deliver the appeals capabilities for Paid Leave.

This position is telework eligible. Staff are provided with the tools and equipment to be successful in a virtual work environment. Please note, the telework policy could change with notice based on business needs.