State of Maryland

A Hearing Examiner III Employment and Training is the lead level of work conducting administrative hearings in the lower appeals unit, Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.  Employees in this classification assign, review and approve the work of and train lower-level Hearing Examiners, Employment and Training.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a designated administrator.  The work requires employees to travel throughout the State to conduct hearings and may require being away from home several evenings per week.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Hearing Examiner III Employment and Training is differentiated from the Hearing Examiner II Employment and Training in that the Hearing Examiner III Employment and Training assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Hearing Examiners Employment and Training while the Hearing Examiner II Employment and Training performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Assigns and reviews the work of lower-level Hearing Examiners, Employment and Training;

Trains lower-level Hearing Examiners, Employment and Training;

Receives and evaluates appeals related to the various services and functions of the department;

Schedules hearings in accordance with federal and/or departmental guidelines;

Performs research in connection with the preparation of hearings;

Conducts hearings at appropriate locations and assures that mechanical facilities for recording are operating properly;

Reviews all pertinent facts surrounding the hearing;

Makes decisions based on judgment in accordance with policy, procedure, rules, laws and opinions;

Prepares summary of all decisions and outlines the issues;

Interviews claimants, employees and their representatives to obtain additional facts or to receive conflicting evidence;

Explains and interprets laws, regulations and procedures where appropriate;

Testifies in court on cases referred to appeal;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of rules and procedures governing trial, court, administrative and grievance hearings;

Knowledge of the procedures, methods and scope of the system of judicial review;

Knowledge of various research, investigative and statistical techniques used in the development, preparation, formulation and presentation of data;

Knowledge of principles of supervision;

Ability to obtain and organize the relevant facts, information and evidence pertaining to a given case;

Ability to analyze and evaluate evidence from a legal and administrative viewpoint;

Ability to prepare and conduct hearings;

Ability to make decisions and recommendations on the most practical method of correcting inequitable situations;

Ability to prepare and present opinions;

Ability to prepare and present hearing summaries and decisions;

Ability to provide technical guidance and direction to less experienced Hearing Examiners Employment and Training.

Education:   A Juris Doctor degree or equivalent degree from an accredited law school.

Experience: Four years of experience researching and presenting cases for court trial or formal governmental hearing or conducting those hearings and rendering the resultant decisions.

Notes: 

1. Candidates may substitute admission to the bar of any State or federal jurisdiction for two years of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in judge advocate classification or judge advocate specialty codes in the general attorney field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required education. 

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G- Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.