WORKERS' COMPENSATION OMBUDSMEN - 65524

Executive Service

Who we are and what we do:

The Tennessee Bureau of Workers Compensation is the regulatory agency over the workers compensation system in Tennessee. Employers who are subject to the Workers Compensation Act, insurers, and medical providers are regulated by the Bureau. We work with employers, injured workers, and claims professionals to educate the public about workers compensation benefits and resolve workers compensation benefit disputes.

We work with employers, injured workers, and claims professionals to educate the public about workers compensation benefits and resolve workers compensation benefit disputes.

How you make a difference in this role:

In this role, you will help families recover from workplace injuries helping injured workers receive medical benefits, maintain their incomes, and return to work. You will help employers maintain productivity, morale, and a productive workforce. You will help insurance companies more efficiently process claims and reduce the impact conflict has on the workers compensation system.

Job Overview:

The Bureau of Workers Compensation is looking for a bachelor graduate with five years of full-time professional level experience in workers compensation, alternative dispute resolution, vocational and/or disability assessment, insurance claim management, or labor and industrial relations to evaluate and resolve disputed issues in workers compensation claims through telephonic and in-person mediation.

You will have an opportunity to grow and develop your skills, gain work experience and serve others.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as a representative of the MOST program in the office and as a liaison with injured workers, employers, insurance companies, TPAs, attorneys, other BWC offices, and the administration to ensure effective communications with each.
• Assist pro se litigants with understanding actions they can take to protect their rights, resolving disputes, and obtaining information available under the workers compensation law.
• Refer customers to other Bureau work units, state agencies, or charities to aid in areas outside the purview of the MOST program.
• Assist the MOST Director with documenting their work and with creating reports to submit to the BWC Administrator
• Attend and actively participate in scheduled meetings with the Director and team leaders by phone or TEAMS to discuss issues common to the program and resolve any inconsistencies, problem areas, or identify opportunities for growth and/or improvement.
• Attend and participate in statutory annual training.
• Collaborate with all programs of the bureau to improve communication.
• Assist mediators, court staff, or regional offices as needed.

Required Experience:

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelors degree; and experience equivalent to two years of full-time work in one or a combination of the following: administering insurance or workers compensation claims; or conducting mediations; or providing professional health care or vocational rehabilitation services to clients.

Substitution of Education for Experience: Additional qualifying experience as described above may substitute for the required education to a minimum of four years.

Substitution of Experience for Education: Graduate course work credit received from an accredited college or university with emphasis in business administration and management, criminal justice, labor/industrial relations, health care administration, insurance and risk management, law, occupational therapy, physical therapy, medicine, paralegal studies, political science, and/or public administration may substitute for the required experience on a month-for-month basis to a maximum of two years (e.g., 36 quarter hours in one or a combination of the above listed fields may substitute for one year of the required experience with the exception of law, in which 28 quarter hours may substitute for one year of the required experience).

OR

Graduation from an approved school of law with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree and experience equivalent to two years of full-time work in one or a combination of the following: administering insurance or workers compensation claims; advising or representing clients through legal arbitration; or providing professional health care or vocational rehabilitation services for clients.

Substitution of Experience for Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a masters degree with emphasis in business administration and management, criminal justice, labor/industrial relations, health care administration, insurance and risk management, occupational therapy, physical therapy, paralegal studies, political science, and/or public administration; and experience equivalent to two years of full-time work in one or a combination of the following: administering insurance or workers compensation claims; advising or representing clients through legal arbitration; or providing professional health care or vocational rehabilitation services for clients.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessees Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the States policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that persons race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veterans status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.