Job Description

The Special Education Hearings Division (SEHD) administers impartial due process hearings for students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), New York Education Law 4404(1) and 3602-c, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and 8 NYCRR Parts 200 and 201. The Division adjudicates disputes between parents and the New York City Department of Education concerning the identification, evaluation, educational placement, and provision of a free appropriate public education to students with disabilities. The Division is staffed by Impartial Hearing Officers (IHOs), Special Education Attorneys, and administrative personnel.
Reporting to the OATH SEHD Deputy Commissioner, the Assistant Commissioner will: supervise the Division's directors, administrative staff, and adjudication personnel; oversee daily hearing operations and case flow; and manage the systems through which the Division meets its regulatory timelines and its reporting obligations to oversight bodies. The successful candidate will be a seasoned professional with both legal and executive experience, a proven record of managing teams and fast-paced operations, and the judgment to exercise delegated authority independently.
Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
-Supervise the Division's administrative staff, adjudicators and attorneys, and act on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner in the Deputy Commissioner's absence.
-Supervise the Director of Case Management and Analytics, the Director of Legal Training and Development, and the Director of Administration, including setting priorities, reviewing deliverables, and managing performance.
-Effectuate the Deputy Commissioner's daily assignment of cases to Impartial Hearing Officers, working with the Director of Administration to implement assignment determinations and maintain balanced caseloads across the roster.
-Review and approve monthly caseload reports, Mayor's Management Report data, and quarterly Impartial Hearing Officer performance metrics prepared by the Director of Case Management and Analytics.
-Oversee the Impartial Hearing Officer reappointment cycle, including performance metrics methodology, decision quality review, and the interview process, and make recommendations to the Deputy Commissioner.
-Oversee Division compliance with statutory and regulatory hearing timelines and with reporting obligations arising from court orders, settlements, and oversight bodies.
-Oversee pre- and post-hearing operations, including calendaring, transcript vendor coordination, case closing, and escalation of information technology and case management system issues.
-Manage the Division's unit structure and the assignment of staff to functional units, and monitor unit performance.
-Maintain the Division's Standard Operating Procedures and internal policies in coordination with the Division's directors.
-Conduct initial review of complaints concerning the conduct of Impartial Hearing Officers and make recommendations to the Deputy Commissioner.
-Assist in the recruitment, onboarding, and training of Impartial Hearing Officers and Division staff.
-Represent the Division with the New York City Department of Education, the New York State Education Department, parent advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders as directed by the Deputy Commissioner.
-Assist in Division budget planning and procurement.
-Other related tasks as assigned by the Deputy Commissioner and senior OATH leadership.

Note: Incumbents must remain members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005

Qualifications

Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

Additional Information