Worker's Compensation Specialist

The City of Milwaukee is proud to employ a diverse workforce that is committed to providing exemplary service to the City’s residents. If you have a passion for being a part of an inclusive team of public servants, please consider the following opportunity.

The Worker’s Compensation Specialist oversees the administration and contract compliance of the worker’s compensation process for the City of Milwaukee.

Program Administration

• Perform all professional and administrative tasks required to implement the City’s Worker’s Compensation benefit plan, in compliance with the State of Wisconsin’s (WI) Worker’s Compensation Act.
• Assure compliance with applicable Department of Workforce Development (DWD) 102, Chapter 350 and departmental rules and regulations.
• Provide analyses of reports and complex claims and abstract work comp demographics to create analytical reports.
• Assist with processing duty disability retirement records requests from the Employee Retirements Systems (ERS) and processing applications for safety glasses.
• Support safety functions such as helping with safety training and the investigation of safety-related injuries/incidents
• Provide timely and accurate responses pursuant to communication deadlines from the State of WI Department of Workforce Development. 
• Prepare pertinent information to respond to and defend the City of Milwaukee’s interests in worker’s compensation matters.
• Assist with training staff in the operation, methods and procedures of the Worker’s Compensation Section.
• Conduct research and gather data for special projects.

Litigation Support

• Analyze claims and prepare letters to medical and vocational professionals outlining interrogatories for their evaluation reports.
• Analyze claim merits and determine defense strategies; prepare files for review by the City Attorney’s Office.
• Present claim files to the City Attorney in preparation for State hearings; prepare risk analyses to determine case merits and potential defense strategies to limit the City’s financial exposure.
• Assist in drafting settlement agreements.
• Attend worker’s compensation pre-hearings and adjust, negotiate and settle litigated files.

Third-Party Administrator (TPA) Partnership Oversight

• Foster a collaborative partnership with the TPA.
• Monitor claims managed by the TPA for contract and regulatory compliance and direct corrective plans of action to ensure management outcomes and regulatory compliance is achieved.
• Audit TPA payment vouchers for validity and accuracy to mitigate city expenditures.
• Seek TPA reimbursement when applicable.
• Respond to emergent claim-related inquires and provide technical support to the Worker’s Compensation staff (internal and TPA) on complex claim issues.
• Organize and track TPA audit deficiencies.

Bridge to Work (BTW) Program Administration

• Oversee BTW placement and participation of employees and approve BTW employee payroll. Foster solid relationships with city partners to develop long-term alliances to maintain BTW placements for employees.
• Administer light duty positions for injured employees and facilitate employees’ return to work, in partnership with City of Milwaukee departments.
• Promote the BTW program; develop rapport with key personnel to cultivate suitable positions within city departments.
• Facilitate placement of injured workers in temporary light duty assignments outside their employing department; coordinate with the TPA to identify potential BTW candidates.
• Evaluate and match employees’ medical restrictions with BTW positions that accommodate them.
• Maintain a database to track the efficacy of the program and lost time hours conserved.

We welcome qualified individuals with disabilities who are interested in employment and will make reasonable accommodations during the hiring process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

The Worker’s Compensation and Safety Manager must be willing and able to do the following:

• Work beyond standard business hours on occasion to meet departmental needs.
• Perform light physical work, including exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally to lift and move objects, standing, walking, and performing repetitive motions.

1. Bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, health and safety management, occupational health or safety, risk management or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
2. Two years of progressively responsible experience evaluating and adjusting worker’s compensation claims or as a paralegal working in claims litigation.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.

NOTICE: Please do not attach your academic transcripts to your employment application. The hiring department will verify candidates’ education as part of the background screening process prior to extending any job offers.

• Public sector experience.
• Supervisory experience.
• Paralegal experience or claims litigation experience.

TECHNICAL

• Knowledge of worker’s compensation laws related to claims management.
• Ability to learn and apply the Department of Workforce Development's Chapter 102 (“Worker’s Compensation Act”).
• Broad knowledge of human resources management practices.
• Knowledge of governmental best practices.
• Project management knowledge and skills.
• Knowledge of supervisory principles and practices.
• Ability to read and understand complex documents such as laws, policies and technical publications.
• Knowledge of mathematics, statistics and accounting to monitor payments and control losses.
• Knowledge of the capabilities of information technology to improve operations.
• Skill in using computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, database, personal organization and team collaboration software.

COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL

• Written communication skills to compose well-crafted and error free policies, reports and correspondence.
• Verbal skills to clearly convey technical information.
• Presentation skills to represent the department before various audiences.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team-oriented environment with people whose backgrounds may differ from one’s own.
• Negotiation skills.

CRITICAL THINKING AND PROFESSIONALISM

• Ability to analyze and solve complex problems.
• Ability to plan and organize a high-volume workload, manage changing priorities and meet deadlines. 
• Ability to represent the department and the City of Milwaukee with professionalism, honesty and integrity.
• Ability to make independent decisions.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to perform well under pressure and remain calm.
• Skill in critical thinking.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and information security.
• Ability to provide responsible stewardship of City resources.
• Commitment to professional development and staying apprised of best practices in worker’s compensation and safety management.

The current salary range (Pay Range 1GX) is $77,551- $98,703 annually, and the resident incentive salary range for City of Milwaukee residents is $79,877-$101,664 annually. Appointment above the minimum is possible based upon level of experience and other qualifications and is subject to approval.

BENEFITS

The City of Milwaukee provides a comprehensive benefit program that includes the following:

• Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) Defined Benefit Pension Plan
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Health and Dental Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Comprehensive Wellness Program
• Onsite Clinic Services
• Onsite Employee Assistance Program
• Alternative Work Schedules
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Group Life Insurance
• Tuition Benefits
• Paid Vacation
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave and other paid leaves
• Flexible Spending Arrangement
• Commuter Value Pass

For full details of the benefits offered by the City of Milwaukee, please visit https://city.milwaukee.gov/der/benefits.

THE SELECTION PROCESS will be job related and will consist of one or more of the following: an evaluation of education, experience and/or responses to supplemental questions; a written or performance test, a structured interview or other assessment methods. The Department of Employee Relations reserves the right to call only the most qualified candidates to structured interviews and performance examinations. Structured interviews may include written exercises. Selection process component weights will be determined by further analysis of the job.

INITIAL FILING DATE - The selection process will be held as soon as practical after the deadline listed above. Receipt of applications may be discontinued at any time after this date without prior notice. However, recruitment may continue until the needs of the City have been met. Qualified applicants will be notified of the date, time, and place of the selection process components. Unless otherwise required by law, the City of Milwaukee will not provide alternative selection process dates or times. The applicant is responsible for attending all phases of the job selection process at the time and place designated by the City of Milwaukee.

• Applications and further information may be accessed by visiting www.jobapscloud.com/MIL.
• If you would like assistance completing an application, please contact the Department of Employee Relations at (414) 286-3751 or staffinginfo@milwaukee.gov.
• The Department of Employee Relations is located in City Hall, 200 E Wells St, Room 706, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

EEO Code = 102

The City of Milwaukee values and encourages diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.