Assistant Commissioner of Special Education Hearings Division

About the Role

The City of New York's Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) operates as the nation's largest administrative tribunal, conducting over 250,000 hearings annually. OATH serves as an independent administrative law court handling cases from most city agencies and commissions. It includes the Center for Creative Conflict Resolution, providing mediation and restorative justice services, and the Administrative Judicial Institute, which supports education and research for administrative judges.

The Special Education Hearings Division (SEHD) adjudicates impartial due process hearings related to students with disabilities, complying with IDEA, New York Education Law, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and related regulations. This Division resolves disputes involving the NYC Department of Education and parents regarding identification, evaluation, placement, and delivery of free appropriate public education for disabled students. The team includes Impartial Hearing Officers, special education attorneys, and administrative staff.

Primary Duties

• Lead and oversee the SEHD's administrative personnel, adjudicators, and attorneys, acting on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner if absent.
• Manage directors of case management, legal training, and administration by setting priorities, reviewing outputs, and overseeing performance.
• Support the daily caseload assignments to Impartial Hearing Officers, maintaining balanced workloads.
• Approve reports on caseload statistics, Mayor’s Management data, and adjudicator performance metrics monthly and quarterly.
• Supervise the reappointment process of Impartial Hearing Officers including performance reviews and interviews; provide recommendations.
• Ensure the Division meets statutory hearing timelines and complies with court or settlement reporting obligations.
• Administer hearing-related operations such as scheduling, transcript coordination, case closure, and IT issue escalation.
• Organize staff assignments within Divisional units and monitor their effectiveness.
• Maintain and update Standard Operating Procedures and internal policies collaboratively with directors.
• Evaluate complaints against Impartial Hearing Officers and advise the Deputy Commissioner.
• Assist with recruitment, onboarding, and training of new staff and hearing officers.
• Represent SEHD in interactions with NYC Department of Education, State Education Department, parent groups, and other stakeholders as assigned.
• Contribute to budget planning and procurement efforts.
• Perform additional duties as delegated by senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Active membership in the New York State Bar required throughout employment.
• Minimum of four years of legal experience post-bar admission, with at least 18 months in supervising attorneys, or performing complex legal or managerial tasks.
• Preferred experience includes at least two years in special education, education law, disability or civil rights law.
• Certification or eligibility as an impartial hearing officer by the NY State Education Department desirable.
• Knowledge of federal and state statutes and legal rulings related to IDEA and Section 504.
• Proven leadership managing adjudicators, judges, or similar tribunal staff.
• Experience managing court or tribunal operations including case flow, calendaring, and case management systems.
• Competency in utilizing data and performance metrics for operational management.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Volunteer experience in public service programs like AmeriCorps or Peace Corps is a plus.

Additional Information

• This position offers a salary range of $165,000 to $175,000 annually.
• New York City residency required is waived for this role.
• Potential eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness and state repayment programs exists.
• The City of New York is committed to equal opportunity employment and prohibits discrimination based on legally protected characteristics.