Admission to the New York State bar and either: five years of experience in the general practice of law, of which two years must have been in the trial of issues in courts of record; or five years of experience in the general practice of law, two of which must have been in the conduct or preparation and trial of adversary proceedings before or within a public tribunal; or an equivalent combination of the foregoing experience and training.
Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to initiate and maintain relationships across a diverse set of stakeholders.
• Must be a team player and able to work collaboratively with and through others
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and public speaking skills, both practiced and impromptu
• A solid understanding of how people and organizations embrace the ideology of change and navigate the change process
• Ability to clearly articulate messages to a variety of audiences
• Ability to influence others and move toward a common vision or shift change
• Resilient and tenacious with a propensity to persevere
• Forward-looking with a holistic approach
• Ability to work effectively at all levels in an organization

The Principal UI Referee will supervise a team of Senior UI Referees in locations across the state and will act as Training and Quality Assurance Coordinator. As Training and Quality Assurance Coordinator, the individual will monitor and manage the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board’s internal Quality Assurance Program which was implemented following decades of federal court monitoring. The person in this position will report to the Chief Unemployment Insurance Referee, will work in cooperation with the other Principal UI Referees, and will be critical in ensuring that the UIAB continues to consistently hold fair hearings, render fair decisions, and otherwise provide excellent service to its customers, thereby avoiding future risk of litigation. The incumbent will also serve on the Executive Management Team and regularly communicate with the Chair of the Board. This position is federally funded and supports the New York State Unemployment Insurance Program.
Standard Duties:

• Represent UIAB professionally in all interactions with stakeholders and the public.

• Train and supervise Senior UI Referees who conduct hearings, and conduct audits pursuant to Federal Quality Review and UIAB’s internal Quality Assurance Program.

• Foster the development of Senior UI Referees as leaders of their own teams who ensure adherence to production and quality standards and the policies and decisions of UIAB executive management.

• Training and oversight of Principal and Senior UI Referees who conduct audits of hearing cases each quarter to promote consistent application of the due process standards set by the Quality Assurance Program.

• Work with the management team to develop and facilitate training that ensures judicial staff have requisite legal knowledge and ability to maintain compliance with federal and state due process standards.

• Assess the data collected from audits, appeals, and statistical reports. Identify patterns of performance and skill deficits. Make recommendations to the Chief UI Referee about necessary training, coaching or for improvements to overall procedures and processes.
• Assess any needs or improvements in Quality Assurance Program and make recommendations for revisions to Chief UI Referee.

• Train Senior UI Referees in how to assess the hearing analytical skill levels of their teams.

• Develop statewide training and coaching protocols for supervisors that address deficiencies and promote a continued high level of skill of UI Referees in conducting hearings and writing decisions.

• Design and conduct group exercises and skill training workshops for UI Referees.