Legal Career Center

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Claim Services, a department in Compliance and Risk Services, protects the University from the financial impact of accidental loss.  It provides services to all University schools, colleges, and administrative units in the areas of risk financing, workers’ compensation, discrimination complaint investigation, risk consulting, and claims management, compliance support, and strategic loss control.

Claims occur most frequently in the areas of workers’ compensation, automobile, general liability, employment practices, and professional liability, with lower frequency in marine protection and indemnity and first party property claims. The Claim Services staff manages claims in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

We have an outstanding opportunity for a Senior Return-to-Work Specialist.

Under the direction of the Director of Claim Services, the Senior Return-to-Work Specialist coordinates return-to-work services for injured workers in accordance with program policy, procedures, and state regulations.  The Senior Return-to-Work Specialist accomplishes their mission by finding matches between light duty work within University departments and injured workers’ medical restrictions to minimize time loss on workers’ compensation claims, including collaboration with the attending providers, injured workers, supervisors and managers, Human Resources staff, L&I claim managers, and others to reduce or avoid time lime loss. The Senior Return-to-Work Specialist serves as a claim reviewer and subject matter expert on the appropriateness of the return-to-work components of all workers’ compensation matters.

The Senior Return-to-Work Specialist assists the Claims Services Program staff in the management of claims and lawsuits managed by the Office by facilitating the gathering, disbursement, and management of various records or other claims support. The position assists the University and its covered affiliates in the management of claims and litigation by collaborating with a wide variety of University and non-University stakeholders. The Senior Return-to-Work Specialist engages with University departments regularly and proactively by helping to create alternative work opportunities and encouraging modified duty programs.

Depending on unit needs, the Senior Return-to-Work Specialist may supervise Return-To-Work program support staff. The Senior Return-to-Work Specialist will be expected to proactively design and implement procedural improvements. The Senior Return-to-Work Specialist is a critical part of the risk management function at the University and its Medical Centers.

This position requires a pro-active approach to the dynamic and evolving environment at the University of Washington and its ever-changing workforce and workers’ compensation needs. The Senior Return-to-Work Specialist will be expected to reach out to University leadership to develop a strategy to familiarize stakeholders with the University’s return-to-work workers’ compensation program.
  
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Assists the University in return-to-work of injured workers by collaborating with University employees, supervisors, managers, Human Resources, L&I, providers, Disability Services, other administrative units, and vocational rehabilitation counselors on complex workers’ compensation claims.  

•Contacts injured workers, supervisors, managers, and medical providers to place injured workers in light duty roles within their medical restrictions while they recover from job related injuries
•Reviews the medical and return-to-work aspects of workers’ compensation claims and communicates changes in restrictions to appropriate University staff on a regular and continuous basis
•Assists departments in obtaining light duty reimbursement incentives from L&I
•Reviews and monitors protests, appeals, and litigation involving L&I decisions on the University’s claims
•Contacts physicians, vocational counselors, and other providers to determine restrictions, treatment plans, or other medical issues necessary to assist with an employee’s return-to-work
•Consults with the Department of Labor and Industries’ claims staff to evaluate workers’ compensation claims and discuss return-to-work options
•Prepares and disseminates trend information for key departments on a regular basis
•Conducts regular claim reviews with L&I claim staff
•Responds to information requests from University staff, L&I, and others
•Manages development and implementation of job modifications funded by L&I
•Maintains accurate, detailed and confidential records of claims communication
•Maintains data consistent with data integrity standards in Claim Services

Reviewer of and subject matter expert on the appropriateness of the return-to-work components of all workers’ compensation claims.

•Maintains a caseload of workers’ compensation claims
•Keeps up to date with L&I guidelines for compensable injuries and available medical treatments
•Proactively and aggressively seeks return-to-work options for UW injured workers

Other Duties

•Works with University departments proactively by helping to create alternative work opportunities and encouraging modified duty programs.
•Assist the Claims Services Program staff in gathering, disbursement, and management of various records or other support in the handling of various claims and litigation matters.
•Supervises Workers’ Compensation Claims Program Coordinator.
•Communicates with the Department of Labor and Industries, the Attorney General’s Office, Special Assistant Attorneys General, University schools, colleges and divisions, and consulting professionals. Makes presentations to audiences of various sizes on claim trends and risk management.
•Identifies and recommends policy changes related to worker injury and return-to-work.
•Serves on relevant University committees as appropriate and as requested.
•Provides training and knowledge transfer to others in Claim Services and to other University audiences as appropriate.
•Works on special projects or teams at the request of the Director of Claim Services.

Requirements include:

•Bachelor’s degree and/or a minimum of five years of experience in one or more of the following, preferably in Washington: managing the return-to-work function of an employer; managing workers’ compensation claims; vocational rehabilitation consulting
•Excellent written and oral communication skill, with ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences
•Ability to analyze, interpret, and apply complex rules and regulations toward effective problem solving
•Ability to develop and deliver presentations for broad audiences
•Ability to effectively and efficiently use computer systems and databases
•Demonstrated customer service skills
•Superior negotiation and brokering skills
•Strong planning and organization skills

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

Desired:

•Disability expertise and/or certification(s)
•Experience in Occupational Medicine
•Management experience
•Familiarity with L&I’s Claims and Account System
•WA Workers’ Compensation Claims Certification
•AIC, CPCU
•Experience with in-house workers’ compensation claims program

Working Environmental Conditions

•Position has option for hybrid telework arrangement


As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.

Application Process:

The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.