Deputy Chief Review Judge

Full Job Description

Deputy Chief Review Judge – Commissioner’s Review Office (CRO)

The Employment Security Department (ESD) is seeking a seasoned legal professional and thoughtful leader to serve as the Deputy Chief Review Judge within the Commissioner’s Review Office

The ideal candidate is an experienced adjudicator with exceptional legal judgment, strong analytical skills, and a commitment to impartial, high-quality decision-making.

You thrive in a collaborative environment, mentor others with patience and clarity, and bring a steady, principled approach to complex legal and administrative challenges.

You communicate with precision, navigate ambiguity with confidence, and are dedicated to ensuring fair, timely, and legally sound outcomes for Washington workers and employers.

You value equity, integrity, and public service.

The Deputy Chief Review Judge supports the Chief Review Judge in overseeing the agency’s final-level administrative review of Unemployment Insurance (UI), Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML), and WA Cares Fund cases.

This role ensures that decisions are issued independently, impartially, and in compliance with state and federal requirements—helping ensure that benefits are properly paid and taxes properly assessed.

You will manage an active caseload of complex appeals, issue Commissioner Decisions under your own signature, and help guide the legal direction of the division.

You will also play a key role in budget development, strategic planning, rulemaking, and the selection of precedential decisions that shape statewide adjudication.

Requirements

As the Deputy Chief Review Judge, you will provide legal, operational, and leadership support for the Commissioner’s Review Office.

You will train and mentor Review Judges, evaluate legal decisions, and ensure the quality, consistency, and timeliness of the agency’s appellate work.

You will collaborate closely with internal and external partners—including the Office of Administrative Hearings, the Attorney General’s Office, and ESD program divisions—to resolve issues, improve processes, and uphold the integrity of the adjudicative system.

You will also act for the Chief Review Judge when delegated, overseeing daily case intake, correspondence review, workload assignment, and other operational responsibilities.

Some of what you will do:

To request a detailed position description, click here.

Qualifications

Required:

Four (4) years experience in administrative law, including:

Required equity competencies:

Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies:

Ability to serve as Acting Chief Review Judge when delegated, including daily case sorting, correspondence review, and workload assignment.

Additional Requirements of Employment:

• Must be able to pass Unemployment Insurance (UI) & Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check.

Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy.

Additionally, we ask that you not include photographs or external links within your documents. Any documents uploaded through this platform will be securely transmitted electronically to support application review.

Please submit your Resume and Cover Letter with your Online Application through the "Add Attachments" field.

A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa.

Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.

Additional Information

Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship.

We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities.

Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.

Opportunity for All

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity.

Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Katie Swanson, 360-742-8208 or the Talent Acquisition Team, or Washington Relay Service 711 prior to the recruitment closing.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact careershelp@des.wa.gov or (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960, Washington Relay 711.

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