Title: Hearings Officer

State Role Title: Hearing Legal Services Officer II

Hiring Range: $82,500 - $92,663

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: Dept of Health

Agency Website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

1. Adjudication Process
• Conduct complex, multi-party administrative hearings and informal fact-finding conferences related to health regulatory issues.
• Ensure that decisions are legally sound, consistent with applicable regulations, laws, and agency policies.
• Analyze and evaluate evidence, oral and written testimony, and other pertinent issues to render fair and impartial decisions.

2. Case Management
• Prepare detailed case decisions, consent orders, and legal documents for review, approval, and signature through the chain of command, including the Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner when applicable.
• Draft findings of fact and law, addressing documentary evidence, testimony, and legal challenges in a clear and legally defensible manner.
• Ensure compliance with due process standards and legal research methods to support decisions.
• Prepare and issue correspondence related to case decisions, as well as ongoing cases, for legislators, government officials, and interested parties.

3. Program Support
• Ensures all supervised programs comply with federal, state, and local laws in addition to VDH policies and procedures
• Provides guidance in developing uniform compliance and enforcement policies and the consistent application of those policies, as needed
• Consistently/effectively supports OEHS compliance and enforcement programs
• Works with Environmental Health Hearings and Legal Officer and local health department to ensure consistent, timely, and effective compliance and enforcement actions
• Prepares administrative hearing documentation and represents VDH at hearings, as needed
• Works with the Environmental Health Hearings and Legal Officer to develop complex case decisions, consent orders, agreements, etc.
• Uses available opportunities and resources to ensure that programs are in line with public health missions, environmental justice initiatives and office/community needs

4. General Assembly Support
• Advises the Environmental Health Hearings and Legal Officer and conducts quality control review on policy and Administrative Process Act issues, interpreting, developing, and commenting on laws, regulations, policies and procedures, agreements, FOIA response and OEHS's activities during the General Assembly
• Represents and speaks for environmental health activities during General Assembly sessions, as needed

5. Other Duties
• Participate in training and professional development activities as required.
• Perform additional duties as assigned, which may include functions in support of an emergency declaration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Considerable knowledge of administrative and health regulatory laws: In-depth understanding of federal, state, and local regulations, including laws related to health care and public health, and relevant administrative procedures, including due process standards, to conduct hearings and issue legally sound decisions.
• Experience in conducting legal research and developing findings based on testimony, documentary evidence, and legal principles to support decisions and recommendations.
• Experience assessing documentary evidence, oral and written testimony, and other pertinent information to determine credibility and relevance in the context of health regulatory issues.
• Experience applying legal principles to complex cases, evaluating competing arguments, and rendering fair and impartial decisions that are consistent with the law and regulations.
• Ability to draft clear, concise, and legally defensible case decisions, consent orders, findings of fact and law, and other legal documents for review and approval.
• Ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and effectively in both written and oral formats; this includes presenting findings, delivering decisions, and preparing correspondence for various stakeholders such as legislators, government officials, and interested parties.
• Strong organization skills to manage multiple cases and tasks concurrently, ensuring that hearings, case preparations, and other duties are handled efficiently and in accordance with deadlines.

Additional Considerations

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Experience in health law, administrative law, or regulatory compliance.
• Familiarity with health-related administrative procedures, penalties, and licensing requirements.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

This is a restricted position that is funded by the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG). for a period until 11/30/2025. The availability of funding is scheduled for review before the grant expiration and periodically thereafter. Continued employment is contingent on the continued availability of funds.

VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position.

Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions.

It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.

If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.

As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!

Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to position-specific questions at the end of this application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration.

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities, or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155.

Contact Information

Name: Rose Sandra Bose

Phone: 804-998-7871

Email: rose.bose@vdh.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.