Office of Inspector General (OIG)
2255 West Ina Road Tucson, Arizona 85741

Salary: $55,001-$60,000 

Grade: 22

Closing Date: April 6, 2025

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 a Legal Support Unit Supervisor. This position supervises legal support units, which process appeals from more than 47 programs in DES. Directly supervises legal assistants, legal secretaries and customer service representatives. The position is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the case tracking database and is assigned to special projects that impact the Office of Appeals and Appellate Services Administration's (ASA) budget and operations. The position will ensure successful daily management of the Office of Appeals Public Assistance (PA) Team and Unemployment Insurance (UI) work flow and assist in the development of significant projects (e.g. continuous paperless appeals management initiatives and enhancements to existing programs). These major projects affect the daily operations for processing appeals in Arizona, because of these changes, this position interfaces with the professional staff, both Presiding Administrative Law Judges (PALJ) and Administrative Law Judges (ALJ), on a daily basis to discuss file creation issues. This position will interact with other divisions within DES, the Attorney General's Office, other State agencies, and private vendors on behalf of ASA to meet federal and state mandated requirements. Due to the needs of the business this position has in-office requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Plans, coordinates, supervises work and professional conduct of legal assistant docket officers, pre-hearing officers, legal secretaries and customer representatives. Provides daily assessments of staffing needs commensurate with workload requirements. Selects and hires new employees; assigns, elevates and approves work product, trains, coaches, counsels, evaluates and disciplines subordinate staff
• Assists the Presiding Administrative Law Judge with the ongoing development and implementation of program reorganization plans, workload processing and prioritizing, and special projects. Monitors and prepares reports 15 regarding workload to meet federal and state requirements. Attends meetings, prepares summaries and presentations
• Represent ASA in major technology improvement projects; act as Project Manager (e.g., enhancements to work-flow (Paperless Initiative), integration of appeals into the paperless environment, and liaison between 15 divisions, programs, and other State agencies. Trains ASA staff in new technology procedures. Assist with development of instructional manuals for implementation of new technology
• Continuously interface and collaborate with management from other DES divisions and programs (e.g., Office of Accounts Receivable and Collections, Family Assistance Administration, Office of Special Investigations, and 15 the Attorney General's Office etc.) and other agencies (e.g., AHCCCS) to provide information regarding PA and ASA appeals process to resolve complex legal issues in claims, from call center referrals, and from ALJs
• Resolution of complex problems requires legal research and analytical abilities to identify issues and pertinent legal documents for hearings

Knowledge of:
• Planning, organizing and directing comprehensive administrative services, database systems and fiscal management
• Rules of evidence, rules of administrative procedure, rules of judicial and legal ethics.
• State personnel and evaluation regulations
• Project planning software and resources
• Supervision and management practices
• Concepts, terminology, principles, and procedures of American law
• Intentional Program Violation hearings and investigation practices
• Appeals process (e, g UI, AHCCCS, HEA+, AZTECS)
• Case documentation practices in case management systems {e.g., AZTECS and HEA+)

Skill
• Excellent oral and written communication
• Methods and techniques development
• Use of personal and mainframe computers
• Analytical skills to conduct research, procedure, rules of judicial and legal ethics compile, organize and interpret data
• Make presentations to management and executive staff

Ability
• Direct comprehensive administrative services
• Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing with internal and external customers
• Manage multiple large projects simultaneously
• Complete tasks timely
• Conduct complex analytical and managerial work
• Interact and communicate with diverse populations
• Diffuse difficult situations
• Engage in positive relations with employees and the public
• Build a positive work environment and train employees to grow within DES
• Work under strict daily and weekly deadlines to comply with Federal and State laws for various Public Assistance and Unemployment Insurance Programs
• Implement LEAN program protocols to enhance efficiency and productivity

This ideal candidate for this position will have:

• Paralegal or Legal Assistant Certification from an accredited University, College or Arizona Bar (ABA) accredited Program
• Associate degree from an accredited college or Four years, full-time paralegal work/training on the job
• Experience in management of a support unit in the daily operations of the Office of Appeals
• Knowledge of federal/state procedural, evidentiary and substantive law
• Bilingual preferred

• 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 successfully 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 at OODHRstaffing@azdes.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 OODHRStaffing@azdes.gov.  Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.