County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under direction of the County Administrator’s Office, this position administers the County of Alameda's Risk Management and Insurance Program; recommends to the County Administrator and to the Board of Supervisors solutions to mitigate County risk exposures and provide protection against fortuitous loss to County of Alameda assets (i.e., people, property, financial, environmental, and continuation of County operations).

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This is a single position class located in the County Administrator's Office. The incumbent reports directly to the County Administrator or a designee. The incumbent directs the work of staff in the design, development and implementation of the County of Alameda’s Risk Management, Safety and Insurance programs (including accident prevention and employee wellness programs) and workers’ compensation program. This position is distinguished from the next lower level classifications, within Risk Management, in that the latter has overall responsibility for managing and directing the department’s operations.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Directs the identification and analysis of risk exposures to determine appropriate risk control and risk financing alternatives for the County of Alameda and its employees.

2. Directs and oversees the establishment of criteria for self-funding mechanisms and the negotiation, purchasing and maintenance of insurance and other risk financing products.

3. Recommends appropriate risk management related solutions to the County Administrator and to the Board of Supervisors which reduce County risk exposures; minimize the total cost of risk to the County, and that protect the County against fortuitous loss to its assets (i.e. people, property, financial, environmental, and continuation of County operations).

4. Reviews current laws and regulations, analyzes and makes recommendation on proposed legislation involving, workers’ compensation, liability claims, insurance programs, occupational safety and environmental compliance, and special exposure insurance programs.

5. Identifies all exposures or potential exposures that could result in a financial loss to the County.

6. Represents the County in dealing with risk management, loss prevention, employee health, occupational safety and environmental compliance, and workers’ compensation before State and federal agencies.

7. Discusses and defines problem areas, evaluates, recommends, and assists with implementation of solutions to complex issues and problems.

8. Reviews and interprets actuarial reports and makes recommendations for reserve funding of self-insured programs.

9. Keeps an inventory of all insurable valuables owned by the County.

10. Develops a procedure for the review of all contracts involving the County to minimize the risk exposure.

11. Administers claims adjustment programs and/or coordinates and supervises claims adjustment and loss prevention programs administered by other departments.

12. Keeps statistical records of all losses.

13. Prepares the budget for all insurance and risk programs, including direct expenditures, assigned reserves, and unassigned reserves.

14. Makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning appointment of insurance brokers of record.

15. Assists the insurance broker in negotiating coverage for the County.

16. Makes periodic reports to the County Administrator and the Board regarding the overall Risk Management Program.

17. Serves as advisor to departments/agencies and provides direction and assistance in developing programs aimed at risk control and loss reduction.

18. Develops safety and loss control programs and necessary training programs to minimize risk.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will possess a combination of higher education and progressively responsible professional level experience that would provide the knowledge and skills relevant to the position. (Each candidate’s education and experience will be considered as it closely relates to the duties and responsibilities of the position.)

Typically, equivalent to: possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, accounting, finance, risk management, insurance or related field.

AND

The equivalent of six (6) years of progressively responsible professional full-time experience in risk management (at least two years of which involved staff supervision); that included general liability, property and workers’ compensation claims management or insurance brokerage, and/or actuarial analysis. (At the discretion of the Human Resource Services Department, advanced degrees may be considered in substitution for a number of the required years of experience.)

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above minimum qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Example of Duties" section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Risk Management, Insurance, Occupational Health and Safety, Claims, Workers’ Compensation, Risk Control, Risk Financing, Wellness and Legal programs and procedures.
• General liability, employment liability, automobile, property, environmental liability and other insurance or self-insurance program development and administration.
• Common contract and business law principles, governmental claims, and risk management principles and practices.
• Methods of risk identification and measurement.
• Techniques of public liability, medical malpractice, property damage and workers' compensation claims negotiations, and audit procedures.
• Program development methods, implementation, and evaluation.
• Methods of dealing with brokers and the insurance marketplace.
• All phases of loss prevention.
• Calculations and management decisions on risk insurance underwriting.
• Techniques of administrative and budgetary analysis, including internal service fund management.
• Principles and practices of public administration.
• Computer competence in word-processing, spreadsheets, and data base systems.
• Actuarial studies.

Ability to:

• Demonstrate commitment to the County’s mission, credo, and goals.
• Envision, strategize and innovate while working with change.
• Collaborate with other agencies and departments to meet overall countywide needs while leveraging financial and other resources.
• Utilize business acumen to build a strong organization that delivers results.
• Utilize interpersonal skills to communicate effectively, both orally and writing.
• Promote personal and professional growth for self and others.
• Provide the highest level of service delivery to diverse customers.
• Work effectively as a member and leader of diverse teams.
• Demonstrate mathematical and analytical skills.
• Make decisions.
• Analyze and problem solve.
• Exercise management control.
• Provide leadership.
• Be flexible.
• Plan and organize.
• Adapt to stress.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

RMP:nw Rev.9/l/76
RMP:wmm Rev.9/l6/77
RP:ab Rev.7/86
Csc date: 7/23/86
co: updated 6/14/00
Old doc#.: 0085h.wpf /Oldspecs
New doc. #: 0475.doc Newspecs
RE:pf – Rev. 5/29/01
Csc date: 8/1/01
TE:po Revise/Retitle
[old title: Risk Manager]
CSC Date: 8/16/2006
SG:jf Revised 1/11/2018
CSC Date: 2/14/18

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.