Chief Administrative Law Judge

Summary

The Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) administers the third level of Medicare appeals and is committed to fair, timely, and impartial adjudication. The Chief Administrative Law Judge (CALJ) leads OMHA's nationwide operations, providing executive leadership, strategic direction, and judicial oversight while ensuring Medicare appeals are adjudicated in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and Departmental policies.

Duties

• The Chief Administrative Law Judge (CALJ) leads OMHA's nationwide Medicare appeals program and is responsible for the overall management and direction of the organization. The CALJ provides executive leadership for headquarters and field operations, oversees Medicare appeals adjudication activities, and ensures Administrative Law Judges conduct fair and impartial hearings and issue decisions in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The CALJ also establishes organizational priorities, performance goals, and operational strategies to support OMHA's mission. The CALJ oversees workforce planning, budget and resource management, and modernization initiatives to improve the efficiency, quality, timeliness, and consistency of Medicare appeals adjudication. In addition, the CALJ serves as the principal advisor to Department leadership on Medicare hearings and appeals matters, represents OMHA and HHS before Federal and external stakeholders, and may personally hear and decide particularly complex, significant, or sensitive cases.

Qualifications

Mandatory Requirements Applicants must: Currently hold a Federal Administrative Law Judge position. Possess and maintain a valid license to practice law and be authorized to practice law under the laws of a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territorial court established under the United States Constitution. Judicial status is acceptable in lieu of "active" status in jurisdictions that prohibit sitting judges from maintaining active bar membership. Being in "good standing" is acceptable in lieu of "active" status in jurisdictions where the licensing authority considers good standing to constitute authorization to practice law. Have served at the AL-2 level or higher for at least one year by the closing date of the announcement. Continue to satisfy all applicable Administrative Law Judge qualification and licensure requirements throughout employment. Executive and Technical Qualifications Applicants should demonstrate: Extensive knowledge of administrative law, adjudication, and the Medicare program. Experience leading large, geographically dispersed organizations. Ability to lead organizational transformation and strategic change. Experience managing human capital, budgets, technology, and operational resources. Demonstrated ability to make legally sound, timely, and defensible decisions. Experience building partnerships and collaborating with senior Federal officials and external stakeholders. Commitment to judicial independence, fairness, integrity, and public service. Recent, significant leadership experience addressing substantial backlogs of complex adjudicatory matters while maintaining timely, high-quality service delivery amid fluctuating case volumes, changing priorities, and resource constraints.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. *To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. *Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.*It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. Failure to provide all required documents and information requested by the closing date will result in your application not being considered. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account at https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account at https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/15/2026.