Division Chief Administrative Law Judge (Child & Family Care Division)

This position has oversight for agency-wide caseload operations on the following caseloads: Division of Child Support (DCS), Licensing, and Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF).
Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Ensure established performance management policies and best practices are followed by Senior ALJs.
• Conduct fair and impartial hearings for all parties in assigned cases.
• Plan for Human Resource, Information Technology, Facilities, and Case Management System needs by collaborating with your management team and appropriate Headquarters units to responsibly allocate resources.
• Work a sometimes unpredictable schedule that may include more than 40 hours per week and travel statewide away from the official duty station with occasional overnight trips as required.
• Effectively communicate the goals and outcomes of successful change, ensure that stakeholders have awareness of the need for change, and that training and systems are put in place to support people through change and sustain new processes.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned caseload stakeholders, proactively develop and maintain a stakeholder management plan that includes building and maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders while maintaining appropriate independence.
• Champion strategic initiatives and projects involving assigned caseloads and support other initiatives across the agency.
• Provide leadership and management for CFC Division, with direct supervision of 3 Senior Administrative Law Judges, and oversight of Lead, Line, and Pro-Tem ALJs.
• Coach and mentor direct reports and others, ensuring employees receive appropriate training, including mandatory training.
• Make and clearly communicate well-informed operational decisions for assigned caseloads, involving SMEs and the other DIVCs as appropriate.
• In collaboration with the Deputy Chief, Senior ALJs, Legal Administrative Managers, and other offices/units as appropriate, manage performance, workload, and cultural issues that arise.
• In alignment with the agency’s strategic plan, provide agency-wide leadership and management for assigned caseloads.
• Review and evaluate current caseload performance data and develop meaningful performance measures.
• Interact with the public, employees, stakeholders, support staff and other ALJs professionally.
• Meet deadlines regardless of time pressure and stressful circumstances.
• Establish policies and procedures in coordination with peers, stakeholders, Deputy, and Chief ALJ.
• Comply and enforce all OAH policies, administrative and court rules, state ethics laws, and the OAH Code of Ethics.
• Ensure appropriate coverage for in-office management presence and support of teleworkers.
• Serve as Subject Matter Expert (SME) in responding to rulemaking and legislative activities impacting the caseload.
• Maintain reliable, regular attendance, with minimal unplanned absences, and be readily available to coworkers.
• Identify, lead and/or participate in process improvements, application enhancements, projects and strategic initiatives for assigned caseloads, both within OAH as well as between OAH and external stakeholders.
• Regularly analyze data and prepare reports to inform stakeholders on the “state of the caseload.”
• Foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture of innovation, trust, and respect that welcomes feedback and collaboration, both within the assigned field office and between all other OAH offices and business units.
• Facilitate clear communication between the CFC Division and Headquarters units and/or other divisions.
• Protect privileged and confidential information.
• Effectively communicate across assigned caseload teams, while adjusting management skills to meet the needs of differing audiences.

Required Education & Experience:

• Five or more years' experience as a licensed attorney or judge
• Active or Judicial membership with the Washington State Bar Association or another state's bar association
• One year of experience leading a team of legal professionals
• Demonstrated knowledge of administrative law and procedures
• Juris Doctor degree

• Ability to delegate to trusted individuals within appropriate scope of authority and responsibility
• Ability to exercise good judgment by making sound, timely and well-informed decisions based on factual data
• Demonstrated behavior of accepting personal responsibility for quality and timeliness of work
• Organized approach to work that ensures appropriate prioritization of tasks
• Ability to adjust your preferred communication and/or management style to effectively meet the agency's mission and strategic goals
• Ability to travel frequently within the state, to include occasional overnight stays
• Demonstrated knowledge of administrative law and procedures
• Self-awareness of your strengths and weaknesses
• Ability to effectively use word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database and email software
• Proficient with computer applications such as a web-based case management system, and other technology such as digital recorders
• Ability to remain calm and communicate effectively under pressure
• Effective listening, verbal, and written communication skills; choosing language appropriate to the audience, speaking and writing in "plain talk"
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, and exhibits professional ethics and integrity
• Proven ability to work with multiple stakeholders to achieve a common goal
• Pattern of exhibiting initiative by taking on responsibilities and challenges

• Lead others through change and understand impacts
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, management, communication, decision-making skills and high ethical standards
• Be open, honest, and respectful in communicating with others
• Substantial experience leading teams of legal professionals
• Practice personal accountability and lead by example
• Create transparency in the decision-making process
• Demonstrated willingness to:
  • Listen and consider input from others (employees, stakeholders, case participants) who may have competing interests and viewpoints
  • Create transparency in the decision-making process
  • Practice personal accountability and lead by example
  • Be open, honest, and respectful in communicating with others
  • Lead others through change and understand impacts
  • Contribute to, and ultimately align with and support the decisions made by the Executive Management Team in support of our mission and goals
• Contribute to, and ultimately align with and support the decisions made by the Executive Management Team in support of our mission and goals
• Listen and consider input from others (employees, stakeholders, case participants) who may have competing interests and viewpoints