Closing Date: 21st October, 2026
Description:
Description:Senior Administrative Law Judge
Office of Administrative Hearings
Social & Health Services Division
Work Arrangement: This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule. In person attendance is required for certain supervisory duties and hearing responsibilities.
Internal Recruitment Only: This recruitment is open to current OAH employees only. External applicants will not be considered
Appointment Type: This is a permanent position.
The Opportunity:
The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is seeking a Senior Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to lead a team of ALJs in our Social and Health Services Division. This position reports to the Olympia, Tacoma, or Spokane OAH facility and is eligible for part-time telework, as there are some in-person hearings and supervisory responsibilities. If teleworking, the alternate worksite must be in Washington State.
The position of Senior Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) is critical to the successful completion of the OAH mission. A Senior ALJ contributes to the mission by supervising a team of Pro Tem, Line, and Lead ALJs. This primarily includes training and coaching direct reports, assigning resources and mentors to ALJs, and overseeing work assignments, schedules and leave requests. The Senior ALJ monitors and prioritizes their own workload, and the cases assigned to direct reports in support of the agency's mission and goals. The Senior ALJ assists the Division Chief ALJ (DIVC) in overseeing caseloads, communicating with stakeholders and employees, and filling in for the DIVC in their absence, as assigned. The Senior ALJ also completes pre-hearing work, conducts hearings that are fair in appearance and substance, and issues well-reasoned decisions within the agency's timeliness standards.
This position oversees a team of ALJs holding hearings for the following caseloads:
Division of Child Support (DCS)
The Division of Child Support (DCS) is a program within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). An ALJ holds a hearing to establish child support or modify an existing administrative child support order. These are typically telephonic hearings with minimal travel required. A Claims Officer/Attorney represents DCS. The non-custodial or custodial parent files a request for hearing that DCS forwards to OAH. OAH issues an initial order in Address Disclosure cases and a final order in all other matters. All orders are within 21 days of the close of record.
Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
DCYF is a cabinet-level agency focused on the well-being of children and supporting families. ALJs hold hearings on licensing and issues affecting children (i.e. foster care, daycare, childcare assistance, child protective services, etc). The ALJ will issue an initial order except in vendor overpayments and juvenile cases where the order is final. DCYF is represented by an Assistant Attorney General and appellants are often represented by counsel. Typically orders are due within 60 days from the close of record except adoption support orders and vendor overpayment orders are due 16 days from the close of record, background check and childcare assistance cases are due within 55 days from the close of record and in a juvenile parole revocation the ALJ must rule orally on the record and issue a written decision within 48 hours. These hearings are typically telephonic but parties may request an in-person hearing so some travel is required.
Health Care Authority (HCA)
HCA is a state agency with overall responsibility for providing medical coverage and services. HCA or its designee determines eligibility for health care coverage, eligibility for medical services, long-term care, and in-home care services, which are funded, in part, through Medicaid. An ALJ holds hearings to determine an appellant's financial and functional eligibility for coverage and services, participation rates for long-term care, and the amount of in-home care hours. HCA is represented by an HCA Legal Services Advisor or administrative hearing specialist through the Department of Social and Health Services or other contracting agency, while appellants are self-represented or represented by a family member most often. Hearings may be telephonic or in-person and are typically 60 minutes to three hours long. Some travel may be involved. HCA orders are initial decisions and are expected to be issued within 21, 30, or 60 days of the close of record or OAH's receipt of the request for hearing, depending on the program.
Licensing (LIC)
Licensing is a program within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). ALJs hold a prehearing conference and hearing regarding vulnerable individuals in adult family homes and/or residential homes with issues relating to abuse and neglect by the individual provider or the facility. The alleged individual and/or facility files the request for appeal with OAH. The Department is represented by a Legal Benefits Attorney/Adviser and the Appellants are often represented by counsel. An initial order is issued within 60 days of the close of record except for the resident and client protection program where the initial order is due within 120 days of the request for hearing. A final order is issued in an assisted living facility license case within 60 days of the close of record. These hearings are typically telephonic but parties may request an in-person hearing so some travel is required.
Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)
The MAGI caseload is a subset of the HCA caseload, and primarily consists of appeals from denials of Washington Apple Health benefits. These denials are primarily due to the appellant exceeding the maximum income level for eligibility. Appeals regarding the Apple Health Expansion and Reentry programs are also heard on the MAGI caseload. HCA is represented by an Administrative Hearings Specialist, while the appellants are self-represented or represented by a family member most often. The ALJ first holds a prehearing conference to set a case schedule, including an evidentiary hearing date. Evidentiary hearings take place via Teams, and are generally one to two hours in duration, depending on complexity. The ALJ then issues an initial order within 60 days of OAH's receipt of the hearing request.
Public Assistance (PA)
The Public Assistance (PA) caseload is administered by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Nearly one out of every four Washington residents turns to the Department for assistance with cash, food, child support, disability determination, transition to employment, and other services known as “benefits” programs. ALJs hold hearings to make determinations including but not limited to: general eligibility, overpayments, and the correctness of departmental actions such as reduction, suspension, or termination of benefits. In PA cases, the department is represented by administrative hearings specialists. Hearings are scheduled for 60 minutes or more depending on the case type, involvement of interpreter services, and the complexity of the subject matter. There are a wide variety of PA programs; thus, PA decisions can be either initial or final orders (depending on the applicable regulations). ALJs are required to issue PA decisions as soon as possible but no later than 16, 30, or 60 days of the close of record, unless an earlier decision is required by regulation.
WA Cares - The WA Cares Fund is a public long-term care insurance program. It provides working Washingtonians a way to earn access to long-term care benefits that will available to eligible individuals when they need them. DSHS is responsible for registering long-term care providers and assessing whether individuals (called “beneficiaries”) are functionally eligible for long-term care services and supports. These cases are not considered “public assistance” cases. DSHS is represented by an administrative hearings coordinator, while appellants are self-represented or represented by a family member most often. Hearings may be telephonic or by video conference call and are typically 60 minutes to three hours long. Orders are initial decisions and are expected to be issued within 30 days of the close of record.
About the Agency:
The 1981 Legislature created the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) to offer Washingtonians an independent, fair, and neutral forum to hold administrative hearings on disputed matters referred by state and local government agencies. Operating out of field offices in Olympia, Tacoma, and Spokane Valley there are currently 230 employees, including 120 administrative law judges who preside over administrative hearings involving unemployment insurance benefits, child support, food assistance, medical benefits, business and professional licensing, and more. OAH conducts hearings for more than 30 agencies and 160 programs. Our referring agencies include the Employment Security Department (ESD), Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Health Care Authority (HCA), Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and others.
For more information about OAH, please visit ou
The Division of Child Support (DCS) is a program within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). An ALJ holds a hearing to establish child support or modify an existing administrative child support order. These are typically telephonic hearings with minimal travel required. A Claims Officer/Attorney represents DCS. The non-custodial or custodial parent files a request for hearing that DCS forwards to OAH. OAH issues an initial order in Address Disclosure cases and a final order in all other matters. All orders are within 21 days of the close of record.
Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
DCYF is a cabinet-level agency focused on the well-being of children and supporting families. ALJs hold hearings on licensing and issues affecting children (i.e. foster care, daycare, childcare assistance, child protective services, etc). The ALJ will issue an initial order except in vendor overpayments and juvenile cases where the order is final. DCYF is represented by an Assistant Attorney General and appellants are often represented by counsel. Typically orders are due within 60 days from the close of record except adoption support orders and vendor overpayment orders are due 16 days from the close of record, background check and childcare assistance cases are due within 55 days from the close of record and in a juvenile parole revocation the ALJ must rule orally on the record and issue a written decision within 48 hours. These hearings are typically telephonic but parties may request an in-person hearing so some travel is required.
Health Care Authority (HCA)
HCA is a state agency with overall responsibility for providing medical coverage and services. HCA or its designee determines eligibility for health care coverage, eligibility for medical services, long-term care, and in-home care services, which are funded, in part, through Medicaid. An ALJ holds hearings to determine an appellant's financial and functional eligibility for coverage and services, participation rates for long-term care, and the amount of in-home care hours. HCA is represented by an HCA Legal Services Advisor or administrative hearing specialist through the Department of Social and Health Services or other contracting agency, while appellants are self-represented or represented by a family member most often. Hearings may be telephonic or in-person and are typically 60 minutes to three hours long. Some travel may be involved. HCA orders are initial decisions and are expected to be issued within 21, 30, or 60 days of the close of record or OAH's receipt of the request for hearing, depending on the program.
Licensing (LIC)
Licensing is a program within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). ALJs hold a prehearing conference and hearing regarding vulnerable individuals in adult family homes and/or residential homes with issues relating to abuse and neglect by the individual provider or the facility. The alleged individual and/or facility files the request for appeal with OAH. The Department is represented by a Legal Benefits Attorney/Adviser and the Appellants are often represented by counsel. An initial order is issued within 60 days of the close of record except for the resident and client protection program where the initial order is due within 120 days of the request for hearing. A final order is issued in an assisted living facility license case within 60 days of the close of record. These hearings are typically telephonic but parties may request an in-person hearing so some travel is required.
Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)
The MAGI caseload is a subset of the HCA caseload, and primarily consists of appeals from denials of Washington Apple Health benefits. These denials are primarily due to the appellant exceeding the maximum income level for eligibility. Appeals regarding the Apple Health Expansion and Reentry programs are also heard on the MAGI caseload. HCA is represented by an Administrative Hearings Specialist, while the appellants are self-represented or represented by a family member most often. The ALJ first holds a prehearing conference to set a case schedule, including an evidentiary hearing date. Evidentiary hearings take place via Teams, and are generally one to two hours in duration, depending on complexity. The ALJ then issues an initial order within 60 days of OAH's receipt of the hearing request.
Public Assistance (PA)
The Public Assistance (PA) caseload is administered by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Nearly one out of every four Washington residents turns to the Department for assistance with cash, food, child support, disability determination, transition to employment, and other services known as “benefits” programs. ALJs hold hearings to make determinations including but not limited to: general eligibility, overpayments, and the correctness of departmental actions such as reduction, suspension, or termination of benefits. In PA cases, the department is represented by administrative hearings specialists. Hearings are scheduled for 60 minutes or more depending on the case type, involvement of interpreter services, and the complexity of the subject matter. There are a wide variety of PA programs; thus, PA decisions can be either initial or final orders (depending on the applicable regulations). ALJs are required to issue PA decisions as soon as possible but no later than 16, 30, or 60 days of the close of record, unless an earlier decision is required by regulation.
WA Cares - The WA Cares Fund is a public long-term care insurance program. It provides working Washingtonians a way to earn access to long-term care benefits that will available to eligible individuals when they need them. DSHS is responsible for registering long-term care providers and assessing whether individuals (called “beneficiaries”) are functionally eligible for long-term care services and supports. These cases are not considered “public assistance” cases. DSHS is represented by an administrative hearings coordinator, while appellants are self-represented or represented by a family member most often. Hearings may be telephonic or by video conference call and are typically 60 minutes to three hours long. Orders are initial decisions and are expected to be issued within 30 days of the close of record.
About the Agency:
The 1981 Legislature created the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) to offer Washingtonians an independent, fair, and neutral forum to hold administrative hearings on disputed matters referred by state and local government agencies. Operating out of field offices in Olympia, Tacoma, and Spokane Valley there are currently 230 employees, including 120 administrative law judges who preside over administrative hearings involving unemployment insurance benefits, child support, food assistance, medical benefits, business and professional licensing, and more. OAH conducts hearings for more than 30 agencies and 160 programs. Our referring agencies include the Employment Security Department (ESD), Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Health Care Authority (HCA), Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and others.
For more information about OAH, please visit ou
