UI Hearing Specialist

For over 25 years, G&A Partners has been helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses, take better care of their employees, and enjoy a higher quality of life by providing proven HR solutions and technology. A growing, Houston-based professional services firm, G&A Partners is currently seeking a UI Hearing Specialist to join its team at the corporate office or G&A satellite office .

A competitive compensation and benefits package is available to include health benefits and 401(k), recognition awards and bonuses and the opportunity to work for a highly respected and award-winning company.

Summary

The Unemployment Insurance (UI) Hearing Representative functions as the primary contact for the notification about, preparation of, and representative for G&A Partners clients at state workforce agency unemployment hearings. This position acts as the primary contact between the customer, state unemployment agencies, and the Unemployment Claims Management (UCM) team for representation at the hearing.

The Hearing Representative is responsible for receiving and analyzing information to determine essential needs to develop a credible case on the merits of the claim protest. The Hearing Representative will properly prepare clients to participate in UI benefits hearings. The Hearing Representative will have a working knowledge of the respective states UI laws, regulations, case law and administrative hearing procedures.

The Hearing Representative is expected to learn the nuances of a Professional Employer Organization and how that functionality relates to UCM.

This position requires extensive knowledge of unemployment regulations and administrative hearing procedures. Phone and/or email contact is extensive with clients. Representation at unemployment hearings will primarily be via phone. In-person unemployment hearings, if required, will be based on location, and COVID19 restrictions.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement:

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Analyzes individual case information by reviewing data accessed through the PC, document images and through discussions with potential client witnesses
• Determines and discusses strengths and weaknesses of individual unemployment compensation cases with potential client witnesses.
• Analyzes information and documents submitted at the claim fact-finding level and determine how known and any new facts or rebuttal may impact a case.
• Prepares client witnesses for participation in the administrative hearing process (primarily hearings by telephone).
• Acts on the information during the hearing process via direct and cross-examination of witnesses and claimants, entering exhibits into the administrative record, raising objections, etc.
• Cross-trains and handles other UCM team functions not limited to initial level claims fact-finding and claims response, analysis of claim determinations and recommendations on appeals to hearings, composing and filing briefs for second- level review appeals in states where applicable.

Other Duties:

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Applies state unemployment insurance regulations and statutes to cases.
• Makes decisions and applies solutions to issues.

Education:

• J.D., LL.M; or certificated paralegal/advanced paralegal (ABA accredited program) is preferred.
• A bachelor's degree (B.A.) with documented courses in legal education, or an Associate of Arts degree (A.A.) or equivalent from a two-year college with documented courses in legal education or a minimum of two years of unemployment or administrative hearings experience with a large employer or multi-state third-party UCM administrator is required.

Skills & Experience:

• Previous office experience emphasizing organization of work duties and performing job functions independently is required.
• Previous experience with Unemployment Insurance and the Unemployment Claims process.
• Experience dealing with dated material and/or strict adherence to guidelines is required.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office PC applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook is required.
• Ability to type 35 WPM is required.

G&A Partners as an Equal Opportunity Employer considers all applicants and prohibits discrimination of any type on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances. Our management team is dedicated to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment based on any of these characteristics. We are committed to this policy and achieving a diverse workforce with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs and general treatment during employment.