Appeals Referee

Are you eager to start the next chapter in your professional career? The Department of Labor & Industry, Unemployment Compensation Board of Review is eager to welcome an ambitious Appeals Referee to complete the team at the Philadelphia office. This position hears and decides first level appeals and, when requested, serves as a hearing officer for second level appeals. Join us in providing this critical public service for the citizens of Pennsylvania.

An Appeals Referee has the responsibility to schedule and conduct hearings and draft and issue decisions on appeals cases in a timely and impartial manner. This includes presiding over hearings and following rules of evidence, due process standards, and standard administrative practice to move the proceedings to conclusion. Such actions involve administering oaths, assisting parties without representation in developing the record, informing parties to appeals about policies, procedures, and rights, and analyzing and evaluating testimony and other evidence. You will have the opportunity to train, advise, and oversee activities by subordinate staff facilitating appeals processing within the office. Work also includes a variety of administrative duties such as supervising clerical staff, preparing performance reviews, and processing leave requests.

Additional duties to include but not limited to:

• Interpreting policy and procedure from the UC Law and regulations
• Resolving conflicting testimony
• Assessing witness credibility
• Ruling on requests for subpoena issuance
• Scheduling and conducting pre-hearing conferences when appropriate
• Regularly holding hearings in other counties, assisting other Referee offices

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• Work hours may be negotiable.
• 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.

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.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• This posting requires submission of a copy of your college transcript(s). Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You may upload your document as an attachment during the application process. You must still complete the application and answer the supplemental questions. All documents MUST be uploaded prior to the submission of your application.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

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.employment.pa.gov/Additional%20Info/Pages/default.aspx and click the Veterans' Preference tab or contact us at ra-cs-vetpreference@pa.gov.

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.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.