Risk Management Administrator

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

The Human Resources Department is currently accepting applications for Risk Management Administrator. This position is responsible for organizing, implementing, and directing operations for the County’s Workers Compensation program, for the third-party administrator contract which oversees claims, and for the County’s Department of Transportation Drug and Alcohol Testing program. The Risk Management Administrator will also be responsible for coordinating activities with other divisions or departments and for providing highly responsible technical support to Human Resources leadership staff. 

The ideal candidate will possess the ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with all levels of County staff, members of the public, and other stakeholders integral to the assigned programs and will demonstrate skills in supervision, program management, research, and negotiations. The individual selected for this position must have a high level of understanding of worker's compensation practices and policies and must be able to develop clear, concise written reports and materials, present complex information, and identify and develop recommendations for policy and procedure changes when new legislation is adopted.

This classification serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority and has no specific term and no right to continuous employment (unclassified - at will).

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department. Click here to view Management benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

(Unclassified)

To plan, organize, and direct the activities of the 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 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.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

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.

Note: Relevant, equivalent experience (performing the same or similar job requiring similar knowledge, skills, and abilities) may be substituted for the required education as determined by the Human Resources Department. Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

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.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over),  marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.