Manager, Workers Compensation

Cuyahoga County, OH • Cleveland, OH

69d

About The Position

This is a professional managerial position with responsibility to strategize, plan, develop, and manage Workers' Compensation programs for employees of the Cuyahoga County Executive and Non-Executive Agencies. The incumbent supervises subordinate personnel and exercises considerable judgment to interpret and apply policies. This position is also imbued with authority to settle disputed claims and litigated matters.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of experience in human resources, labor and employment, occupational health and safety, workers compensation, or related field; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Plans, develops, maintains, and manages Cuyahoga County's Workers' Compensation program in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Establishes and implements workers' compensation standards, policies, and procedures; recommends and implements goals and objectives.
• Direct and manage the caseload of workers' compensation claims.
• Determines claim trajectory and strategy based on review of Third Party Administrator (TPA) and Managed Care Organization (MCO) recommendations, claim records and investigation documents.
• Requests appeals and objections; requests independent medical examinations and functional capacities; authorizes surveillance and communicates with the Bureau of Workers' Compensation's (BWC) Fraud Division.
• Attends hearings at the Industrial Commission and in court as the County's representative; strategizes with attorneys to develop case plans; works with attorneys to negotiate claim settlements.
• Collaborates with the BWC, TPA, and MCO to maintain a low Experience Modification Rate (EMR).
• Reviews and analyzes claim records and investigation documents to determine validity and compensability; participates in settlement negotiations; recommends loss control strategies.
• Develops strategies to handle specific cases in consultation with appropriate parties.
• Certifies and denies claims based on review of TPA and MCO recommendations, claim records and investigation documents.
• Manages Alternative Work Program; communicates and strategizes with department leadership to identify AWP solutions throughout the County and with external partners.
• Maintains functional work assessments; monitors employees' progress and evaluates changes in job assignments in collaboration with the MCO.
• Manages On-Site Physical Therapy Program; monitors employees' progress and evaluates changes in job assignments in collaboration with the MCO.
• Manages and assigns work to subordinate employees, trains in work procedures, evaluates employee performance, assists in selection and promotion.
• Responsible for employee discipline, including removal.
• Collaborates with the Environmental Health and Safety group to investigate workplace accidents, incidents and injuries, and to implement safety education programs for workers and managers.
• Manages the Workers' Compensation program budget.
• Approves payments to the BWC.
• Secures and manages grants through the BWC and other agencies.
• Serves as subject matter expert in procurement efforts, including for the TPA and MCO contracts, and monitors vendor performance.
• Oversees the maintenance of all required workers' compensation records.
• Responsible for preparing and filing required reports, including to the BWC, OSHA, and the applicable Safety Council.
• Develops and reports quality assurance, quality control, and performance metrics to demonstrate positive outcomes.
• Supports peer Human Resources programs in the areas of ADA accommodation, disability separation, FMLA, return-to-work.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree