Workers' Compensation Risk Manager

USA DeBusk•Deer Park, TX

7d•Remote

About The Position

USA DeBusk is seeking a Workers' Compensation Risk Manager to manage the Company’s workers’ compensation claims program and support insurance and risk-financing initiatives under the direction of the SVP of Risk & HSE Strategy. The role combines hands-on claim management, defense coordination, medical and return-to-work oversight, and financial analysis to reduce claim exposure and the Company’s total cost of risk. The manager translates executive strategy into consistent claim-handling practices, maintains accountability among internal and external partners, and makes recommendations on significant claims and insurance decisions. The role partners with HSE, Operations, Human Resources, and Finance; executive program oversight remains with the SVP of Risk & HSE Strategy, while day-to-day field safety management remains with HSE and Operations. The position oversees claims from initial notice through closure, including investigation support, documentation, escalation, coordination with carriers, third-party administrators, defense counsel, medical providers, and internal teams. It reviews complex and significant claims, recommends defense and settlement strategies, supports medical management and return-to-work efforts, and manages smaller injuries directly when permitted under approved in-house criteria. It also supports insurance renewals, underwriting, loss reviews, risk-financing analysis, and cost-of-risk reduction initiatives. Significant settlements, material strategy changes, insurance placements, financing commitments, and vendor engagements require approval under Company requirements. The manager does not independently provide legal advice. The role may be performed 100% remotely. The employee must maintain reliable connectivity and a private workspace suitable for confidential discussions, be available during agreed business hours with flexibility for multiple time zones, participate in virtual reviews and meetings, and use approved systems for communication and secure record management. Periodic travel is required for in-person meetings on a monthly and/or quarterly basis.

Requirements

Associate degree in risk management, insurance, business, finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
At least 15 years of progressively responsible workers’ compensation claims or risk-management experience, including multi-state claim administration and management of complex or litigated claims.
Working knowledge of workers’ compensation claim practices, jurisdictional differences, compensability analysis, medical management, return-to-work programs, reserve evaluation, and settlement practices.
Experience working with carriers, third-party administrators, defense counsel, brokers, medical providers, and internal business leaders.
Ability to interpret loss runs, claim development, reserves, exposure data, and insurance program costs.
Proficiency with Excel and claims-management or risk-information systems; strong technology skills, including Microsoft Suite and legal documentation systems.
Strong investigative judgment, negotiation, written communication, organization, and follow-through.
Ability to manage competing priorities independently in a remote setting.
Any professional licenses required for assigned duties must be obtained and maintained, as applicable.
Maintain reliable connectivity and a private workspace suitable for confidential discussions.
Be available during agreed business hours, with flexibility for multiple time zones.
Periodic travel for in-person meetings on a monthly and/or quarterly basis.
Willingness and ability to perform computer-based tasks while sitting or standing at a computer-based workstation for prolonged periods.
Ability to make general decisions requiring judgment and perform activities requiring sustained concentration.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in risk management, insurance, business, finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Experience managing claims in industrial services, construction, energy, or other operations with significant workers’ compensation exposure and moderate auto liability exposure.
Experience supporting casualty renewals, large-deductible or self-insured retention programs, loss-sensitive arrangements, captives, or other alternative risk structures.
Workers’ Compensation Professional (WCP), Associate in Risk Management (ARM), Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Associate in Claims (AIC), or comparable credential.

Responsibilities

Implement the Company’s workers’ compensation strategy and establish consistent claim investigation, evaluation, management, defense, and resolution practices across operating jurisdictions.
Manage claims from initial notice through closure, including intake, investigation support to HSE, documentation, follow-up, and escalation of significant developments.
Review significant, complex, questionable, litigated, and high-value claims; recommend defense and settlement strategies to the SVP of Risk & HSE Strategy and coordinate approved actions with authorized claim professionals and counsel.
Coordinate claim strategy with carrier adjusters, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, defense counsel, medical providers, Operations, HSE, Human Resources, and Finance.
Evaluate compensability, causation, pre-existing conditions, medical evidence, and other exposure factors in consultation with adjusters and counsel.
Coordinate independent medical examinations, medical-record reviews, surveillance, and other investigations when appropriate, authorized, and legally permissible.
Code and submit monthly insurance deductible invoices.
Review third-party administrator loss runs for open and closed claims, maintain a claims listing, and ensure loss runs are consistent with Company records.
Drive timely and legally compliant medical management, transitional duty, return-to-work, and claim-resolution efforts consistent with medical restrictions and applicable requirements.
Review treatment plans, medical bills, utilization, provider performance, and claim duration; coordinate with medical-management resources to address delays, unnecessary costs, and recovery barriers.
Work with Human Resources and Operations to identify transitional assignments, document restrictions and work offers, and monitor sustained return to work.
Participate in reserve reviews and settlement planning; assess claim development and exposure, challenge unsupported assumptions, and recommend changes through authorized adjusters, administrators, or counsel.
Track litigation milestones, defense budgets, settlement opportunities, recoveries, and closure plans; escalate material exposure changes and obtain approvals within delegated authority.
Manage smaller injuries directly under approved in-house handling criteria when permissible, coordinating medical care, follow-up, payments, and return to work with internal partners.
Evaluate matters for in-house handling based on injury severity, expected cost and duration, treatment needs, jurisdictional requirements, policy conditions, and escalation potential; confirm carrier notice or reporting requirements.
Maintain a separate record for every in-house matter, including incident facts, medical documentation, restrictions, payments, authorizations, reporting status, follow-up, and closure rationale; include matters in consolidated loss and cost reporting.
Monitor in-house recovery, medical spending, lost time, disputes, and diagnosis changes; escalate matters exceeding thresholds and coordinate timely carrier or TPA submission with complete records and payment history.
Reconcile in-house expenses with Finance and track carrier payments or reimbursements to prevent duplicate payments; review outcomes and recommend improvements to handling criteria and practices.
Support the SVP of Risk & HSE Strategy in overseeing workers’ compensation, automobile liability, and other applicable casualty insurance and risk-financing programs.
Work with executive management, brokers, carriers, third-party administrators, OCIP carriers, captive or alternative-risk partners, and legal counsel to evaluate coverage structures, deductibles, self-insured retentions, collateral requirements, loss-sensitive programs, and alternative risk-financing opportunities.
Participate in insurance renewals, underwriting presentations, loss reviews, and risk-management discussions; compile and validate loss runs, exposure information, payroll data, claim narratives, and other submission materials.
Analyze loss trends, claim development, reserves, insurance costs, and retained losses, and recommend practical strategies to reduce total cost of risk.
Prepare information and presentations about the Company’s risk-management capabilities for insurers, underwriters, customers, brokers, and other stakeholders.
Maintain confidential medical, employee, insurance, and litigation information using approved systems and access controls; coordinate with Human Resources, counsel, and claim partners to meet reporting, recordkeeping, privacy, and claim-handling requirements.
Use approved Company systems for communication and secure record management, and participate in virtual claim reviews and leadership meetings.
Meet agreed performance targets concerning claim frequency and severity, claim duration, sustained return to work, litigation and medical costs, closure progress, reserve-review quality, vendor accountability, data accuracy, timely reporting and escalation, and contribution to total cost of risk.