DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

Office of Inspector General (OIG)
2200 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004

Salary: $110,000-$120,000 

Grade: 26

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES) we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals who are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come Join the DES Team!

DES is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as an Administrative Counsel of Appellate Services Administration (ASA). Are you a seasoned attorney and a proven leader ready to transform and elevate a team of legal professionals? This position isn't just a management role; it's an opportunity to inspire, develop, and guide a strong and diverse team of attorneys, driving them towards unparalleled productivity, collaborative success, and a renewed focus on client-centric service.

As the Administrator, you'll tackle the unique challenge of managing a robust legal team, fostering an environment where they not only excel in their current roles but also eagerly embrace new substantive areas of law. Your leadership will ensure timely hearings and well-crafted, clear decisions that even non-legal audiences can easily understand. You'll champion process improvements, cultivate a culture of collaboration, and empower your team to earnestly seek ways to enhance customer/client experience by sharing knowledge and supporting one another. This pivotal role offers the flexibility of intermittent remote work within Arizona, based on DES's business needs and your consistent achievement of performance goals. The State of Arizona values a work culture that promotes flexibility, autonomy, and trust, with many employees benefiting from our Remote Work Program.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords flexibility, autonomy and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, commissions, many State employees participate in the State's Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona, unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Transformative Leadership: Directly supervise, direct, coach, and develop a team of attorneys, implementing 360-degree reviews to foster growth and address challenges effectively. You'll be the architect of their increased productivity and willingness to master new legal areas.
• Strategic Oversight: Provide comprehensive managerial oversight of ASA, ensuring active engagement and compliance with all federal, state, and local reporting requirements.
• Program Mastery: Develop a comprehensive understanding of the major DES programs that ASA conducts initial and secondary appeals for, leveraging data analytics to drive informed decision-making.
• Operational Excellence: Oversee and directly handle all personnel matters, including hiring, discipline, and performance evaluations, with a focus on team development and performance. You'll also oversee and direct the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and work processes, ensuring they support timely hearings and clear decisions.
• Fiscal Stewardship: Manage ASA budget expenditures to ensure the efficient use of all resources.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate and/or directly respond to complaints or inquiries from supervisors, hearing parties, federal oversight agencies, and other stakeholders, ensuring clear and prompt communication.
• Legal & Policy Innovation: Propose, analyze, and implement changes to statutes, administrative rules, policies, and procedures, driving continuous improvement within the legal framework.
• Quality Assurance & Clarity: Ensure the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of all appeal decisions issued by ASA, specifically focusing on clarity and accessibility for all audiences.
• Enhanced Communication: Oversee and direct external communication from ASA, including legislative inquiries and requests from federal and other state agencies.
• Collaborative Environment: Coordinate communication among and regularly visit various ASA units and offices to foster efficiency, collaboration, and consistent performance aligned with ASA's mission.
• Systemic Improvement: Identify and address systemic issues through root cause analysis, proposing and implementing technological solutions, including system modernization, to enhance overall efficiency and client experience.

Knowledge of:
• Federal and state laws, regulations, administrative rules, policies, interpretations, sub-regulatory guidance and court decisions in major DES programs over which ASA has jurisdiction.
• Applicable legal authority dealing with rules of evidence, administrative law, hearing procedure, and judicial and legal ethics.
• English grammar and composition
• Human psychology, body language and behavior
• Theory, principles and methods of supervision
• Theory and practice of public management
• DES and state government organization and operation
• Personnel rules, policies and procedures

Skill in:
• Analyzing complex issues, weighing facts, applying legal authorities, principles, and precedent
• Writing clearly, simply and effectively about complex matters
• Leading, guiding, coaching and motivating employees
• Planning, organizing and delegating work assignments
• Evaluating performance and providing discipline and recognition
• Drafting statutes and administrative rules
• Making oral presentations about legal or managerial issues
• Reading, understanding and interpreting lengthy and complex documents
• Interpreting statistical and financial reports and data

Ability to:
• Unite diverse groups with disparate interests in working as a team toward common goals
• Communicate diplomatically, clearly and simply concerning complex issues with diverse groups of people
• Reason logically and deductively
• Listen attentively to complex matters for an extended period
• Objectively evaluate and resolve competing points of view
• Inspire loyalty and trust in co-workers and subordinates

This ideal candidate for this position will have:

• Seven or more years of direct experience in the practice of law. This can be litigation experience or before an administrative tribunal.
• Five or more years employment experience as a supervisor or manager with preference for large subject matter diverse team leadership experience.
• Employment experience with the following: Unemployment Insurance, Supplemental Nutrition, Cash Assistance, Medical Assistance, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Developmental Disabilities.
• Direct experience drafting and editing legal pleading and other memoranda.

• Licensure by the State Bar of Arizona; Be in good standing without any pending disciplinary actions or inquiries.
• This position may require driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).
• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify.

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
• Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact us Benson Walker at 480-318-4150 OODHRstaffing.gov.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting Benson Walker at 480-318-4150 or OODHRstaffing@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.