INTERNAL POSTING: Senior Administrative Hearing Officer - Columbia

About Us

Business is booming in South Carolina! Are you ready to be a part of developing and connecting the next generation of workers in this state? Year after year, experts pick our state as one of the best in the country for doing business. Just last year, South Carolina announced more than 8,000 new jobs and $9.12 billion in capital investment. Entrepreneurs are flocking to cities like Greenville, Charleston, Columbia, and Rock Hill to start and grow their businesses. And our hospitality industry is primed to take off as travelers from around the world continue to discover the beauty and accessibility of South Carolina’s mountains and coast.

Job Responsibilities

About Us

Business is booming in South Carolina! Are you ready to be a part of developing and connecting the next generation of workers in this state? Year after year, experts pick our state as one of the best in the country for doing business. Just last year, South Carolina announced more than 8,000 new jobs and $9.12 billion in capital investment. Entrepreneurs are flocking to cities like Greenville, Charleston, Columbia, and Rock Hill to start and grow their businesses. And our hospitality industry is primed to take off as travelers from around the world continue to discover the beauty and accessibility of South Carolina’s mountains and coast.

Here at the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), we are laser-focused on connecting every jobseeker who comes through our doors with their next great career opportunity! Are you looking for a meaningful position at an agency brimming with optimism and camaraderie that also offers job security, affordable health insurance, great retirement benefits, and work-life balance? If so, continue reading to discover your chance to make a difference at DEW!

• INTERNAL POSTING - only current DEW employees will be considered.

Job Description

Do you have experience in listening to appeals and exercising good judgment to make sound decisions? Join our team at DEW!

Our Senior Administrative Hearing Officer serves within the Appellate division. Appeals provides independent reviews of unemployment benefits eligibility determinations. This is accomplished through administrative hearings and ensuring agency actions comply with state and federal rules governing unemployment.

The Senior Administrative Hearing Officer performs EPMS, training, ruling on subpoenas, and providing daily feedback in addition to performing regular hearing officer duties. They must work effectively with individual claimants, employers, professionals, and employees. They will receive and develop evidence, make rulings, and draft and render decisions in such cases. They preside over quasi-judicial administrative hearings for unemployment compensation, complex UI Tax, trade, SOD, and labor cases that are in dispute. Responsibilities include composing and issuing decisions in compliance with South Carolina Code of Laws, federal regulations, and statutes.

An ideal candidate will be able to independently supervise a team of administrative hearing officers. They will be able to prepare hearing records, perform legal research pertinent to cases assigned, preside over quasi-judicial hearings for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, tax/status, and other cases that are in dispute. They have knowledge of docket claim management and UI benefits and tax laws, rules of evidence, administrative procedures, and other related law. They will be able to work effectively with claimants, employers, professionals, and employees; conduct administrative hearings, receive, and develop evidence, make rulings, and render decisions; apply and explain the provisions of the SC Code; operate audio equipment, personal computers, and various software.

Key Responsibilities

• Review case file prior to hearing to ensure proper issues are scheduled and parties are notified.
• Conduct hearings to process appeals in accordance with DEW policy, law, and regulation.
• Make professional and easily understood decisions, reviewing decisions before completion to correct errors and address ancillary issues.
• Receive and develop evidence, make rulings, and draft and render decisions in such cases.
• Conduct hearings in a manner that meets DOL quality criteria, including meeting the minimum score and adhering to critical due process elements such as fairness, impartiality, and an attempt to obtain reasonably available competent evidence necessary to resolve the issues in a case.
• Independently supervise and provide regular feedback and training to a team of administrative hearing officers.
• Review and rule on subpoena applications.

Minimum And Additional Requirements

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree and five (5) years' experience in unemployment insurance, legal or quasi-judicial areas or a Juris Doctor degree with one (1) year experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Juris Doctor degree.

Additional Comments

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Please complete the State application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.