Chief Deputy Workers' Compensation Commissioner

State of Iowa • Des Moines - 50313 - Polk County, IA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

This role is an opportunity to help define the future of how Iowa delivers fair, timely, and consistent workers’ compensation decisions. The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) is seeking a Chief Deputy Workers’ Compensation Commissioner (Public Service Manager 2) to serve as a key partner to the Commissioner in leading one of the state’s most critical adjudicative systems. This position offers a rare opportunity to influence how a division operates and evolves, lead a highly skilled judicial team, help shape policy, process, and long-term direction, and play a central role in ensuring due process for Iowans. If you are an experienced attorney looking to expand your impact beyond individual cases, and into leadership, systems, and public service, this role offers that next step. DIAL protects the health, safety, and well-being of Iowans through education, regulation, and due process. The Workers’ Compensation Division plays a vital role in ensuring fair and efficient resolution of claims that impact workers, employers, and communities across the state. Unlike many leadership roles, this position is not confined to a fixed structure. This is a newly defined role, offering the ability to help shape responsibilities, priorities, and team direction. You will serve as a trusted advisor and operational leader, working closely with the Commissioner. You will have meaningful influence on process improvement, policy development, and system performance. Your leadership will directly impact timeliness, consistency, and quality of decisions statewide. This is an opportunity for someone who wants to build, lead, and leave a lasting mark.

Requirements

• Licensed attorney in the State of Iowa
• Experience in administrative law, litigation, or adjudication (workers’ compensation experience is a plus, not a requirement)
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, or influence others
• Strong legal analysis, writing, and decision-making skills
• Ability to navigate complexity, ambiguity, and evolving priorities
• A mindset focused on public service, fairness, and continuous improvement
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university and experience equal to six years of full-time management-level work in finance, human resources, engineering, law, social work, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation.
• Ten years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, social work, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation.
• Six years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, social work, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation; and a combination of a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.
• Four years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, social work, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation; a combination of a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and a combination of a total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in a public-service-related area (e.g., public or business administration, social work, law, education, engineering) equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Public Service Manager 1 or comparable specific management-level position.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Iowa.

Nice To Haves

• workers’ compensation experience is a plus, not a requirement

Responsibilities

• Oversee hearing operations and ensure timely, high-quality case resolution
• Conduct hearings, rule on motions, evaluate evidence, and issue decisions
• Ensure consistency, clarity, and legal soundness across all decisions
• Supervise and support a team of Deputy Commissioners, professional staff, and support staff
• Provide coaching, guidance, and quality oversight
• Establish clear expectations and promote consistency in legal reasoning and decision-making
• Manage case flow, workload distribution, and performance metrics
• Identify process improvements and implement more efficient systems
• Help modernize and enhance case management and hearing processes
• Partner with the Commissioner to evaluate division performance and future needs
• Contribute to policy development, procedural updates, and training initiatives
• Provide insight based on legal trends, case data, and operational outcomes
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including legal professionals and state partners
• Represent the division in workgroups, committees, and public-facing settings
• Provide expertise on administrative law and adjudicative practices

Benefits

• Work That Matters – Impact decisions that affect workers and employers across the state
• Leadership Opportunity – Shape a division and influence long-term direction
• Professional Growth – Expand into executive-level leadership and strategy
• Stability & Purpose – Serve Iowans through meaningful public service

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager