Placer County

(Unclassified)

To plan, organize, and direct the activities of General Liability within the Risk Management division of the County Executive’s Office or Workers' Compensation program within the Human Resources department; to coordinate activities with other divisions or departments.

The Administrator level recognizes positions that provide full first-line, direct supervision to employees within a work section and/or assumes substantive and significant programmatic responsibility in a defined area or specialty.

Receives general direction from assigned management staff.

Exercises direct supervision over professional, technical or clerical personnel.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

When assigned to General Liability:

• Administer the County's general liability activities including claims administration, administration of the self-insurance funds, safety program and loss prevention, loss control, and insurance management; settle claims within authorized limit as appropriate; recommend settlement or rejection as appropriate.
• Administer and provide investigation services related to liability claims.
• Recommend and implement section goals and objectives; establish performance standards and methods for general liability program administration and investigation services; develop and implement policies and procedures.
• Plan, develop and oversee the work of staff and third party administrators involved in general liability administration and investigation services.
• Evaluate operations and activities of assigned unit; implement improvements and modifications; prepare various reports on operations and activities.
• Perform inspections of County facilities; recommend improvements, procedural changes and purchases to correct identified safety problems.
• Review and approve all safety equipment requisitions submitted for procurement.
• Conduct investigations of employee and public injuries, and hazardous exposures.
• May act as Secretary to the County Safety Board.
• Represent the County at meetings and administrative hearings.
• Participate in budget preparation and administration; prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations, including funding levels for the County's general liability insurance program; submit justifications for staff, supplies, and equipment; monitor and control expenditures.
• Participate in the selection of staff; coordinate staff training; conduct performance evaluations; recommend discipline; implement discipline procedures as directed.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

When assigned to Worker's Compensation:

• Oversee the administration of Workers' Compensation claims by third party administrator (TPA) including but not limited to: daily check register quality review; quarterly claims audits; selection of outside service providers to be included in pre-approved panel and specific selection of defense attorney for case assignment. Monitor TPA for contract compliance.
• Review changes in applicable Workers' Compensation rules, statutes, regulations and case law to assess their impact on the County's program and processes and provide recommendations.
• Act as an internal consultant to County departments on Workers' Compensation issues, providing information and assistance; facilitate communication between Departments, TPA, employees and the designated medical provider.
• Monitor return to work efforts and work closely with departments and TPA regarding program effectiveness.
• Conduct regular meetings with larger departments to review loss trends, root causes and ideas for loss reduction.
• Regularly participate in new employee orientation and department liaison meetings to explain program, roles and responsibilities.
• Work closely with County safety manager on matters related to OSHA and participate in safety meetings with larger departments.
• Review and submit all settlement requests to assigned HR Manager. Monitor all settlements requiring Board of Supervisors approval; assure that TPA communications for matters requiring approval by the Board of Supervisors are complete and accurate; and present requests for approval to Board of Supervisors.
• Perform analysis of statistical data with periodic reports to HR Manager, as requested.
• Represent the County at meetings and administrative hearings.
• Oversee, develop and administer Human Resource Department initiatives to improve the health and wellness of employees.
• Oversee the administration of fitness for duty evaluations and reasonable suspicion testing.
• Oversee administration of the County’s Department of Transportation Drug and Alcohol Testing program to ensure compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s requirements for County safety-sensitive positions.
• Evaluate operations and activities of assigned unit; implement improvements and modifications; prepare various reports on operations and activities.
• Participate in budget preparation and administration; prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations, including funding levels for the worker’s compensation program; submit justifications for staff, supplies, and equipment; monitor and control expenditures.
• Participate in the selection of staff; coordinate staff training; conduct performance evaluations; recommend discipline; implement discipline procedures as directed.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible experience in safety, insurance, workers compensation or public entity liability administration or claims adjustment, including two years of supervisory responsibility.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in business or public administration, risk management or a related field.

Required License or Certificate:

• Some positions may be required to possess an Insurance Adjustor's license issued by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs.
• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of liability or workers compensation program administration, including government tort claims procedures under California law.
• Principles and practices of investigative techniques, evidence preservation and accident reconstruction.
• Pertinent local, State and Federal rules, regulations and laws relating to general liability, workers compensation and employee safety and health.
• Medical and technical terminology associated with Worker's Compensation.
• General risk management concepts, policy development and implementation.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• Principles and practices of research, analysis and management.
• Budgeting procedures and techniques, including administration of special funds.
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluations.
• Principles and practices of work safety.

Ability to:

• Organize, implement and direct general liability or workers compensation and investigation services operations/activities.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and problem solve operational and technical policy and procedures.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel or twist while performing field investigations; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone, and communicate through written means; and lift light weight.
• Interpret and explain pertinent County and Department policies and procedures.
• Perform the most complex work of the unit.
• Assist in the development and monitoring of an assigned program budget.
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures related to assigned operations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff.