This announcement is for two (2) full-time permanent Hearings Examiner 3 positions.

Make a difference

This position serves as a Health Law Judge (HLJ) and presides over health profession discipline cases and other matters affecting public health before the Department.

In this role, you will support the Department’s mission to protect public health by providing an efficient, fair, impartial, and consistent adjudicative process for all litigants.

As a member of the Adjudicative Services Office, you will conduct judicial proceedings and function as presiding officers in cases where the disciplining authority is either the Secretary of Health or one of the various Boards and Commissions regulating healthcare practitioners.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Facilitate the Litigation Process; Conduct status conferences to create and enforce the case schedule.
• Establish dates for identifying witnesses and exhibits, deadlines for discovery, settlement and dispositive motions, prehearing conferences, and the hearing.
• Facilitate the resolution, analyzing motions and exhibits, hearing oral arguments, conveying timely rulings on motions regarding witnesses and documentary and testimonial evidence.
• Analyze documentary and testimonial evidence to make appropriate factual findings.
• Draft and edit initial and final orders, findings of fact, conclusions of law and sanction language.
• Conduct adjudicative proceedings within the framework of the Administrative Procedures Act, the Uniform Disciplinary Act, and the applicable laws and regulations governing cases before the Department.
• Rule on motions and objections raised and instruct the parties accordingly.
• Issue coherent legal rulings and aid the triers of fact during deliberations in cases brought to Boards and Commissions.
• Review petitions for reconsideration and modification of initial and final orders and conduct emergency summary proceedings.
• Approve or deny settlement agreements and review and issue default orders when appropriate.

The duty station for this position is in Tumwater, WA. This position is eligible for telework or mobile work (subject to organizational needs). It is anticipated that the incumbent will be required to be at the Tumwater duty station for work activities as necessary.

About the DOH 
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) fights to defend the public’s health from threats in a rapidly evolving world. DOH’s programs and services, implemented in collaboration with local health departments and state, federal, tribal, and private partners, touch the lives of all Washingtonians and visitors to the state 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. DOH will continue to evolve and transform public health activities, taking it to the next level through our cornerstone values of Equity, Innovation, and Engagement. Learn more about the DOH and our Transformational Plan for the future of Washington health. 

Why DOH  
We are dedicated to your work-life harmony and offer one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation, designed to support your lifestyle. To learn more about “Why DOH”, visit Work@Health.

Our Ideal Candidate 
Has a strong desire to be part of a collegial team and is also able to work independently. They are humble and able to self-correct, process constructive feedback, and can make timely decisions without sacrificing quality.

Required Qualifications
Experience defined below may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities.

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school

AND

• Admission to the Washington State Bar and in good standing

AND

• Three (3) years of full-time litigation, trial practice or full-time judicial experience in the past seven years. (See definitions below)

*Trial practice is defined as frequent appearances as an attorney in a court of general jurisdiction or an administrative law tribunal.

*Judicial experience is defined as experience as a judge in a court of general jurisdiction or an administrative law tribunal in which the rules of evidence are applied.

Desired Qualifications (A plus if you have any of the following):

• Experience as an Administrative Law Judge.
• Knowledge of the Washington Administrative Procedure Act, Washington State Rules of Evidence, Uniform Disciplinary Act, Chapter 246-08 WAC, Chapter 246-10 WAC and Chapter 246-11 WAC.
• Litigation experience before the Department of Health in the areas listed above (particularly health profession discipline, Public Benefit or Certificate of Need cases).
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office Suite, which includes MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Experience organizing, leading, and presenting information using virtual meeting platform technology.
• Superior communication skills and can effectively express ideas and information verbally and in writing using language appropriate to both the complexity of the topic and the knowledge and aptitude of the intended audience.
• Advanced skills in legal analysis, problem-solving, legal writing, caseload management, cultural competency, customer service orientation, interpersonal and organizational skills, and professional and technical competency.