Workers Compensation Hearing Officer ; PCN

Overview

This recruitment is exempt from the Hiring Freeze (Administrative Order 358).

ATTENTION ALASKA RESIDENTS!

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers Compensation, is recruiting for a Workers Compensation Hearing Officer 1/2 located in Anchorage. No Cover Letter Required.

This position is in the General Government Unit (GGU) at a Range 22/24.

Workers’ Compensation Hearing Officers serve as designated chairs on Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board hearing panels, exercising independent judgment under the general direction of the Chief of Adjudications. They preside over formal, quasi-judicial hearings; manage evidentiary and procedural matters; rule on admissibility; and apply and interpret Alaska statutes, regulations, and case law. Hearing Officers analyze complex legal and factual issues, assess lay and expert testimony, and deliberate with panel members to resolve contested claims and petitions.

They author detailed, well-reasoned decisions and orders that reflect the majority of the panel and are legally sufficient to withstand appellate review. Hearing Officers also conduct pre-hearings, facilitate settlement discussions and mediations, and evaluate settlement agreements for legal adequacy and fairness.

This is a flexibly staffed position and may be filled at the Hearing Officer 1 or 2 level based on qualifications. Individuals hired at the lower level are assigned increasingly complex matters and may be promoted to the higher level upon demonstrating proficiency and meeting minimum qualifications.

Alaska’s Workers’ Compensation system functions as an administrative court, designed to deliver timely, fair, and predictable resolution of disputes involving workplace injuries. Hearing Officers play a central role in safeguarding due process, ensuring statutory compliance, and maintaining public confidence in the adjudicatory system.

This position offers a rare opportunity to serve in a high-impact adjudicatory role while maintaining work-life balance. Workers’ compensation law is a sophisticated and evolving practice area that blends statutory interpretation, evidentiary analysis, and administrative procedure. Hearing Officers engage in meaningful public service by resolving disputes that directly affect injured workers and employers across Alaska. The position supports professional growth through increasingly complex adjudicatory work and long-term career stability.

Flexible scheduling and telework options may be available based on operational needs.

This position is based in a professional office environment in midtown, with convenient access to amenities and ample free parking. Work primarily involves legal analysis, hearings, and decision writing, with limited travel as required.

We are interested in candidates who possess some or all of the following position specific competencies:

• Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence:
  Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court and administrative procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, and government regulations and agency rules.
• Integrity/Honesty:
  Demonstrates sound judgment, impartiality, and ethical decision-making; maintains independence and fairness in adjudicatory proceedings.
• Interpersonal
  
  Skills:
  
  Communicates professionally and respectfully with parties, attorneys, witnesses, and colleagues; manages high-conflict or emotionally charged proceedings with tact and composure.
• Writing:
  Produces clear, well-organized, and persuasive written decisions; effectively communicates complex legal reasoning to diverse audiences.

To view the general description and example of duties for the position, please go to the following link:

Workers Compensation Hearing Officer Level 1:
A Juris Doctor from a college of law accredited by the American Bar Association.

Workers Compensation Hearing Officer Level 2:
A Juris Doctor from a college of law accredited by the American Bar Association.

AND: EITHER

• One year of experience as a Workers' Compensation Hearing Officer 1 with the…