Maritime Claims Administrator (HRC4) In-Training

State of Washington•Thurston County – Lacey, WA

18h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a skilled and experienced Human Resource (HR) professional to serve as a lead HR Consultant and technical specialist for Employee Health Programs within Washington State Ferries (WSF). Under the direction of the Employee Health Program Manager, this position provides advanced consultation and independent decision-making related to employee medical status, maritime injury claims, return-to-work outcomes, workplace safety, collective bargaining agreements, and state and federal employment laws within a complex 24/7 maritime environment. This position administers and oversees Maintenance and Cure and on-the-job injury claims for WSF vessel workers, supports litigation and risk mitigation activities, and partners closely with management, HR, Safety, labor representatives, and medical providers to promote employee recovery, operational continuity, and legally compliant claim administration.

Requirements

Human Resources, Occupational Health, and Case Management Professional experience providing consultation and guidance on complex or sensitive employee matters in fields such as human resources, occupational health, disability management, workers’ compensation, return-to-work coordination, leave administration, employee relations, healthcare coordination, or risk management.
Experience independently managing claims, cases, assignments, or processes related to workers’ compensation, occupational health, accommodations, leave administration, return-to-work coordination, or related programs requiring organization, prioritization, follow-through, confidentiality, and coordination among multiple stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to independently manage competing priorities, adapt to changing operational demands, maintain accuracy and attention to detail, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Experience reviewing, interpreting, analyzing, and applying laws, regulations, policies, procedures, collective bargaining agreements, medical documentation, operational requirements, or program guidance to support compliant and effective decision-making.
Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, critical thinking, research, and analytical skills to resolve complex or sensitive issues while balancing operational needs, employee support, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance.
Experience communicating professionally and effectively, both verbally and in writing, with employees, supervisors, management, labor partners, medical providers, attorneys, and other stakeholders regarding sensitive, confidential, or emotionally charged matters.
Demonstrated ability to establish collaborative working relationships, foster trust and credibility, support teamwork, and communicate complex information clearly and respectfully.
Demonstrated interpersonal and conflict resolution skills to support individuals navigating sensitive, stressful, or emotionally charged situations involving workplace injuries, medical issues, employee benefits, or operational impacts.
Demonstrated proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite applications, Microsoft Teams, databases, spreadsheets, electronic records systems, Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), claims management systems, case management systems, financial systems, or similar operational tracking systems.
Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth. Take action to learn, develop, and apply new knowledge, skills, feedback, and experiences to improve individual and organizational effectiveness.
Willingness to take action to meet the needs of others while demonstrating professionalism, empathy, respect, and equity principles when interacting with employees, coworkers, management, labor partners, medical providers, or stakeholders.
Experience working in a maritime, transportation, operational, safety-sensitive, unionized, healthcare, public sector, or other highly regulated environment.
Experience reviewing and interpreting medical documentation, including Activity Prescription Forms, chart notes, treatment referrals, healthcare billing information, International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, work restrictions, and related occupational health documentation to support claims administration, return-to-work coordination, treatment evaluation, operational planning, or employee support services.
Experience coordinating employee benefits, healthcare billing, treatment authorization, provider communication, claim payments, or related financial and administrative processes requiring accuracy, regulatory compliance, confidentiality, and independent judgment.
Demonstrated ability to provide technical guidance, mentoring, onboarding support, knowledge transfer, or training to staff, coworkers, or stakeholders to support consistency, operational continuity, and workforce development in a complex and compliance-driven environment.
Demonstrated strategic thinking and systems awareness skills, including the ability to identify operational trends, anticipate downstream impacts, evaluate organizational risk, recommend process improvements, and support organizational and program objectives.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, healthcare billing or ICD and CPT coding systems.
Experience using financial, claims management, or operational tracking systems such as TRAINS 4.0, Purchase Card Management System (PCMS), or similar systems.
Experience administering or coordinating maritime injury claims, Maintenance and Cure obligations, workers’ compensation claims, occupational injury programs, or return-to-work services.
Experience interpreting and applying maritime law, collective bargaining agreements, occupational health standards, disability-related laws, leave laws, civil service rules, or public sector employment policies.
Experience conducting quality reviews, case audits, operational assessments, or process improvement initiatives related to claims administration, employee health programs, or return-to-work coordination.
Experience developing procedures, operational guidance documents, training materials, onboarding resources, or succession planning tools.
Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), Certified Disability Management Specialist (CDMS), or related certification.
Experience administering Maintenance and Cure claims, managing occupational injury claims, or working in a medical provider environment supporting care coordination, insurance billing, or claims-related services.

Responsibilities

Provide advanced-level consultation and technical guidance regarding maritime injury claims administration, Maintenance and Cure obligations, and return-to-work coordination.
Independently administer and oversee maintenance and cure claims.
Review, analyze, and interpret medical documentation; determine treatment status, work capacity, return-to-work options, and whether proposed care is curative in nature.
Exercise independent judgment in evaluating treatment requests, referrals, claim activity, work restrictions, and return-to-work considerations.
Determine the initiation, continuation, suspension, and closure of maintenance payments.
Coordinate and communicate employee work status updates; support operational continuity and compliance.
Maintain consistent and proactive communication with injured employees and ensure employees understand claim requirements, treatment expectations, and benefit status.
Identify barriers to return-to-work and collaborate with operational leadership, HR, Safety, labor partners, and employees to explore medically appropriate and operationally feasible return-to-work strategies.
Coordinate with medical providers, bill reviewers, Payroll, Accounting and Financial Services, and agency partners to support timely authorization and payment of approved curative treatment and employee benefits.