Commercial Fisheries Permit Hearing Officer 2 (PCN 113063)

Job Description

This position is open to ALL APPLICANTS.


The Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission is recruiting for Commercial Fisheries Permit Hearing Officer 2 located in Juneau!
What you will be doing:
The primary duty of this position is managing the Adjudications Section of the CFEC. Duties include conducting administrative hearings, researching governing law and CFEC precedence, making determinations, issuing orders, and writing decisions. This position also directs CFEC records management as the primary Records Officer and supervises one paralegal in a dual Records Officer structure to securely control document access, manage retention, and ensure all information sharing strictly complies with federal and state regulatory standards. Adjudications also manages and implements Alaska’s demerit point system and hears administrative appeals on the same.

Our mission, values, and culture:
The CFEC Adjudications section is dedicated to providing fair, impartial, and timely administrative reviews of commercial fishing permit determinations. By resolving complex disputes with consistency, the Adjudications Section safeguards the integrity of Alaska's limited entry system and promotes the long-term conservation and economic health of the state's fisheries. Grounded in the core values of due process, integrity, consistency, and accountability, the Hearing Officer plays a pivotal role in advancing this mission. Serving in a dual capacity as a Hearing Officer and the primary Records Officer, the incumbent ensures the agency’s adjudicative processes and records management systems meet governing legal standards. Ultimately, this position exists to protect the agency from legal vulnerabilities, guarantee equitable due process for Alaska's permit holders, and uphold the public trust through transparent, highly secure, and strictly compliant records administration.

Benefits of joining our team:
Joining the CFEC team offers the unique opportunity to directly protect the economic health of Alaska's commercial fisheries by guaranteeing fair, impartial due process for our permit holders. You will work in a highly impactful, collaborative environment where your dual leadership in legal adjudication and records management fundamentally safeguards the integrity and transparency of the agency.

The working environment you can expect:
This position is located at the CFEC headquarters within the Jordan Creek mall in Juneau, offering convenient indoor space to walk during inclement weather along with an on-site restaurant and several offices/shops. While the CFEC team maintains professional standards and works to ensure our program management and permit holder services are of the highest quality, the daily office environment is casual and relaxed.

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

• Critical Thinking: Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of various solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and challenges. Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; Analyzes information and makes accurate inferences and draws accurate conclusions.
• Writing: Uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Communicates information (e.g., facts, ideas, precedence, laws, and messaging) in a succinct and organized manner. Generates written material for varied audiences including technical and legal material intended for professional audiences and general non-technical material intended for the general public and/or minor permit holders.
• Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence: Knowledge of state and federal law (e.g., regulations, statutes, and case law), executive orders, court procedures, precedents, legal practices, legal forms and formats, and the political process.
• Oral Communication: Expresses information (e.g., ideas and facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (e.g., technical, sensitive, controversial). Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens to others and responds appropriately to nonverbal clues.
• Foundational understanding of commercial fishing and the regulatory process: Awareness of the processes and challenges of commercial fishing. Working knowledge of state regulatory and administrative adjudicative processes.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of statutes and regulations pertaining to commercial fishing and the CFEC.
• Thorough knowledge of the rules of evidence, legal terminology, and administrative or quasi-judicial hearing procedures.
• Ability to evaluate, interpret and apply complex laws, rules and regulations. Ability to interview individuals to obtain factual information, analyze evidence, and draw logical conclusions.
• Ability to conduct quasi-judicial hearings.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in a clear and concise manner.

To view the general description and example of duties for a Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission Permit Hearing Officer 2, please go to the following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/Alaska/classspecs.

Minimum Qualifications

This is an exempt position – see specific job posting for additional information.

Additional Required Information

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Documents requested at time of application:
Cover letter -
•The cover letter should demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and abilities as it relates to this position as well as address the position-specific competencies.

Documents requested at time of interview:
At the time of an interview, applicants must submit the following documents:

• Transcripts, if being used to meet minimum qualifications.
• Three professional and/or personal references, with current contact information (name and current daytime phone number).

EDUCATION
To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competencies, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required with each application. (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or provided at the time of interview; if not, transcripts will be required before employment.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Omission of required documentation listed will result in an incomplete application and you will not receive further consideration.

WORK EXPERIENCE
If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.

NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

MULTIPLE VACANCIES
This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.

EEO STATEMENT
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at: P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

NOTICE
If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure your email address is correct on your application and that the spam filter will permit email from the ‘govermentjobs.com’ domains. For information on allowing emails from the ‘governmentjobs.com’ domains, visit the Lost Password Help page located at https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword.

WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE
Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are located in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.

For applicant password assistance please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword

Contact Information

For specific information in reference to the position please contact the hiring manager:
Mele Maake, Executive Director, Commercial Fisheries Entry CommissionPhone: (907) 790-6944mele.maake@alaska.gov

Careers with the State of Alaska offer MANY benefits
The following information describes typical benefits available to employees of the State of Alaska. Actual benefits received may differ by bargaining unit or branch of government, position type, or be prorated for other than full time work.

For a quick breakdown of the insurance, health, and retirement benefits available for State Employees you can view an orientation video from Division of Retirement and Benefits. (Please note this video is specifically designed for new State Employees.)

Insurance Benefits

• Health insurance, which includes employer contributions toward medical/vision/dental
  • The following employee groups are under AlaskaCare Benefits administered by the State: See https://drb.alaska.gov/help/plans.html for additional information.
    • AVTEC
    • Confidential
    • Correctional Officers
    • Marine Engineers
    • Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
    • Supervisory
    • Unlicensed Vessel Personnel/Inland Boatman's Union
    • Exempt employees (not covered by collective bargaining)
  • The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts. Contact the appropriate Union for additional information.
    • General Government
    • Labor, Trades and Crafts
    • Public Safety Employees Association
    • Masters, Mates & Pilots
• Employer paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available (amount depends on Bargaining Unit)

Optional Insurance Benefits

• Group-based insurance premiums for
  • Term life (employee, spouse or qualified same sex partner, and dependents)
  • Long-term and short-term disability
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment
  • Long-term care (self and eligible family members)
  • Supplemental Survivor Benefits
• Employee-funded flexible spending accounts for tax savings on eligible health care or dependent care expenses

Retirement Benefits

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Teachers' Retirement System (TRS)
• Matching employer contribution into a defined contribution program (new employees)
• Employer contribution into a defined benefit or defined contribution program (current employees)
• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan in lieu of contributions to Social Security
• Option to enroll in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program
• Note: The Defined Contribution Plan, Supplemental Annuity Plan and Deferred Compensation Program offer a variety of investment options

See https://drb.alaska.gov/retiree/ for additional information
Paid Leave & Other Benefits

• Personal leave with an accrual rate increase based on time served
• Twelve (12) paid holidays a year

01 In this role, CFEC precedent is the foundation of your decisions. However, because statutes and CFEC commissioners have changed over time, you will inevitably encounter situations where precedent varies over the years, leaving you without definitive direction. How would you handle drafting a decision when faced with discordant historical rulings? Furthermore, in light of the Hearing Officer’s inability to discuss an active case with the Board of Commissioners, how could you address this discordant precedent to encourage the Commissioners to establish clear direction for the future? 02 This position requires a unique balance between acting as a Hearing Officer and serving as the agency's primary Records Officer. Can you describe a time when you had to manage competing priorities—such as strict statutory deadlines for legal decisions on one hand, and critical records compliance duties on the other? How did you ensure neither fell through the cracks, and how did you utilize your support staff or team to help carry the load? 03 Administrative hearings can occasionally become tense, especially when an individual feels their commercial fishing privileges are in jeopardy. Walk us through your approach to conducting a quasi-judicial hearing. What specific strategies do you use to maintain a professional, impartial, and orderly environment when a participant becomes argumentative or refuses to accept the limitations of the hearing? 04 As the primary Records Officer, you will supervise a paralegal in a collaborative, 'dual Records Officer' structure to securely control document access and manage retention. Given that our office culture is relaxed but our standard for legal and administrative work product is high, what is your strategy for delegating compliance tasks and ensuring your team's output strictly meets federal and state regulatory standards? 05 As a Hearing Officer, you will regularly issue decisions that reverse or modify initial determinations made by our Licensing Department. Do you think it would be helpful for Licensing staff to understand the legal reasoning behind these reversals and the specific CFEC precedent that has been set or applied? If so, how would you approach sharing the final commission decision with your coworkers in Licensing to ensure they understand CFEC precedent and can confidently apply it to future cases where appropriate, while maintaining a supportive and collaborative team environment? 06 Working in state government often means operating within a fragmented technical environment. You will frequently need to pull from legacy databases, physical archives, and discordant digital systems to find the facts of a case and permit holder history, while simultaneously ensuring that sensitive information is securely shared and protected. Can you describe your experience managing and protecting information in a disjointed systems environment? How do you ensure accuracy and data security when the systems themselves don't communicate well with each other or where other agencies control portions of systems we use? 07 As the primary Records Officer, you are responsible for protecting highly confidential permit holder data. Imagine you receive a subpoena from a private attorney demanding the release of a fisherman's confidential records for a civil lawsuit. A week later, you receive a formal court order signed by a judge demanding the same type of confidential information for a different case. Walk us through how you would respond to each of these demands. Legally and administratively, is there a difference in how you process a subpoena versus a court order?

Required Question