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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
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POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING |
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Position Number: 50704706 |
Description Activated On: 8/24/2026 3:42:42 PM |
Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. This is a professional, quasi-judicial hearing officer that manages the administration and staff (Human Services Hearing Officers (HSHOs), Attorney Examiners (AE), Human Services Hearing Officer Supervisors (HSHOS), Legal Assistants (LA) and LA Supervisors, and other clerical and administrative staff), within a regional office tasked with processing, preparing, hearing, and adjudicating appeals involving policies and regulations on a broad range of Department of Human Services (DHS) and PA Department of Aging (PDA) administered or funded programs, benefits or services. An employee in this class plans and directs the organization and operation of a program of administrative appeal hearings for clients, program service providers, and injured Departmental employees who dispute decisions and actions taken by the DHS. An employee in this job classification plans, manages, and directs the organization and operation of a regional office. This includes (1) direct supervision, management, and training of the professional, quasi-judicial hearing officer staff (HSHOs and Attorney Examiners), the regional office’s management staff (HSHO Supervisors and Legal Assistant Supervisor), and other administrative staff (region specific, if any); (2) the indirect supervision of professional, quasi-judicial hearing officer staff (HSHOs), and the administrative staff (legal assistants, clerk typists, administrative assistants, administrative officers, and other administrative staff assigned to the region, if any). The Regional Manager is required to conduct a final review for Formal adjudications completed by the sub – contracted vendor for DHS. Work involves supervising Attorney Examiners that conduct formal hearings, hearings officer supervisors that oversee hearing officers responsible for conducting non-formal administrative hearings, and a Legal Assistant Supervisor, who acts as the region’s Site Administrator, and who oversees the legal assistant and clerical staff. Based upon the region, work also involves supervising HSHOs and other administrative professionals responsible for the administrative operation of the Region and/or Bureau. Supervision and training also involves informing and advising subordinate staff concerning new or revised policies and procedures; reviewing the hearing record and completed adjudications for accuracy and conformance to laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; developing work performance standards; evaluating employee performance; and resolving grievances and complaints. Additionally, the Human Services Hearings and Appeals Manager (HSHAM) supervises and manages the administrative appeal hearing process within a regional office. Hearings include, but are not limited to, appeals regarding Level of Care determinations for individuals receiving skilled nursing or other personal care professional services under Medical Assistance and various waiver programs, termination or suspension of Medical Assistance Program Providers, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Act 534 benefits to DHS employees injured on the job, Child Abuse Expunction hearings, Medical Provider audit appeals, Medical Assistance Provider retrospective denial appeals, foster care home application denials and terminations, Child Day Care and Personal Care Home license denials and terminations, and public assistance (SNAP, MA, Cash, and LIHEAP benefits) allowance approvals, denials, reductions, and terminations. Work involves determining and adjusting assignments of hearings and appeals cases based upon human resources and a fluctuating, yet high-volume of incoming cases; and developing, implementing, and monitoring an effective process to ensure that Final Administrative Action Orders are complete, accurate, and timely. The HSHAM also acts as the signatory authority of the hearing officer on many types of appeals, cases and decisions. Work is performed within the broad framework of laws, regulations, policies, and procedures, subject to review by the Hearings and Appeals Bureau Director through conferences, reports, and an evaluation of program accomplishments. The HSHAM may be asked to serve as the “Official In Charge” during the Bureau Director’s absence. The HSHAM provides leadership, coaching, and training. Conducts/oversees labor relations matters. Creates and/or modifies regional procedures to adapt to changes in laws or regulations impacting the Bureau’s practice. Leads regional meetings, statewide meetings, and participates in work groups as assigned. |
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Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor. 1. Plans, organizes, and directs the organization and operation of the hearings and appeals program within an assigned geographic area of the Commonwealth the assigned geographic area, where offices are located in the Northeast Region. 2. Directs and supervises the Human Services Hearing Officer Supervisors (HSHOS) and a Legal Assistant Supervisor/Site Administrator within the assigned region. 3. Directs and supervises Attorney Examiners and HSHOs, engaged in the conduct of administrative hearings regarding the disposition of appeals in a variety of Departmental administrative and program functions. 4. Assists the Hearings and Appeals Bureau Director (Director) in formulating and revising Bureau policies, procedures, and guidelines governing the Bureau’s administration and the scheduling and conducting of administrative hearings. 5. Develops, implements, and monitors an effective process that assures administrative hearings and appeals decisions and orders are complete, accurate, and timely. Responds to complaints, filed by appellants, regarding timely implementation of orders. 6. Reviews case adjudications and orders completed by all Attorney Examiners and HSHOs and revises the decision, as necessary, based on the case record and controlling law, regulations, departmental policies, and procedures. 7. Exercises signatory authority on administrative hearings and appeals decisions and orders, with the exception of those requiring the Director’s signature, such as audit and licensing issues. 8. Presides as a hearing officer at hearings at least once per month to include hearing testimony, ruling on Motions, and writing decisions and orders. Provides guidance and assistance to subordinates in more difficult hearings and appeals cases. Distributes appeals cases to subordinates; and expedites the hearing process and the disposition of appeals cases as required by law. 9. Assembles and edits Monthly Reports as assigned per Bureau Policy. 10. Provides training on policies, procedures, guidelines, rules, and regulations to be applied in the various categories of hearings and appeals cases. 11. Initiates corrective disciplinary action for minor misconduct by employees and recommends major corrective disciplinary actions or dismissals, as appropriate. 12. Prepares employee work performance evaluation reports. 13. Approves/disapproves leave and schedules for personnel. 14. Employees in this class may participate in the performance of their subordinates' work consistent with operational or organizational requirements. 15. Work in partnership with stakeholders to develop and implement scheduling pilots and procedures in accordance with departmental policies and mandates. 16. Manage all appropriate requirements associated with the region’s physical facility and resources. 17. Interfaces with appellants, attorneys, representatives, Departmental agencies and interested parties, when necessary to grant continuances, reschedule hearings, verify withdrawals, and issue subpoenas. Receives and appropriately processes correspondence. 18. Travel as required and as necessary. 18. May be asked to serve as the Official in Charge during the Director’s absence and may be asked to attend meetings for the Director in the Director’s absence. 19. Applies sound analytical/critical thinking skills to all situations. 20. Conducts regional meetings at least quarterly. 21. Maintains a system to track the status of case assignments. 22. Attends and participates in required meetings and/or training sessions as scheduled. Performs other related duties and special projects as assigned by the Bureau Director. 23. Operates videoconferencing equipment, a personal work computer, telephone, FAX machine, copier, calculator and digital recording device; and processes work in BHA’s case management system, as needed, in the performance of their duties and BHA’s operational needs. |
Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature. 1. Reviews and is final signatory for formal adjudications completed w/i the region. 2. Reviews and approves/disapproves recipient adjudications for certain Administrative Law Judges w/i the region. 3. Reviews and is signatory of discipline issues w/i the region. 4. Implements new operational methods and procedures w/i the region. 5. Interviews and hires prospective employees for the region. 6. Creates, manages, and ensures accuracy of BHA reports. 7. Oversees/supervises/responds to/trains regional staff. 8. Delegates appropriate assignments to subordinate staff. 9. Ability to apply the principles and methods of data collection and analysis. 10.Ability to track, monitor, and analyze regional and statewide reports and to adjust the work accordingly. |
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Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License Experience: Licenses, registrations, or certifications: 1. N/A 2. N/A 3. N/A 4. N/A 5. N/A 6. N/A |
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Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
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