OIEC - Advocate for Injured Employees (Ombudsman I

OIEC is the state agency that helps injured employees with their Texas workers' compensation claims. The agency assists, educates, and advocates on their behalf. OIEC provides services in 20 offices across the state. Agency services include advocacy, customer service, and dispute assistance through OIEC's Ombudsman Program.

About the role

The Advocate for Injured Employees (ombudsman) is an advocate who assists and educates the injured employees of Texas. Being an ombudsman involves: assisting the injured employee one-on-one throughout the dispute resolution process; answering questions from the injured employee; reviewing claims for medical and income benefits; studying the case background on each claim; gathering and evaluating information (including medical records and letters from doctors); reporting and referring complaints; and tracking and providing information and claim status. Works under limited supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

This position requires travel to other offices to provide coverage. All approved travel expenses will be covered by the agency. Travel Required: 50%-75%

Responsibilities

• Travels to other field office(s) or designated assignments to assist and prepare injured employees in mediations and/or formal hearings (proceedings) and provides routine updates to injured employees about the status of their claims
• Educates the injured employee about the workers compensation dispute process and workers compensation law/rules
• Assists with referrals to social services with other state agencies
• Provides assistance in filing claims
• Assists with obtaining supporting claim documentation from doctors
• Contacts insurance carriers and medical providers to identify and resolve disputes
• Documents customer contact in a computer system
• Answers general customer service questions
• Performs other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
• Three years full-time experience in claims management, insurance, casework, law office (paralegal/legal assistant), healthcare, social work, or workers' compensation
• Note: Education and experience relevant to position requirements may be substituted for one another on a year-for-year basis.
• If you hold a current law license, you must surrender it upon hire.
• Candidate must reside in Texas or be able to relocate to Texas by the start date.
• OIEC does not sponsor or assume sponsorship of an employment visa.

Qualifications

Preferences for this job are:

• Experience with medical terminology, rehabilitation, and disabilities/impairments
• Public speaking, i.e. training, outreach, community speaking, etc.
• Bilingual English and Spanish language skills (oral and written)

Skills

This position requires demonstrated knowledge of:

• Microsoft Word and Outlook

This position requires demonstrated skill in:

• Conflict resolution
• Assisting the public
• Handling and solving problems
• Interpreting and explaining laws and regulations
• Data entry and retrieval
• Use of correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling

This position requires the demonstrated ability to:

• Travel
• Multitask between different cases and meet deadlines
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals and groups
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with all levels of employees and the public

Benefits

• 96 hours of accrued vacation a year
• 96 hours of accrued sick leave a year
• 20+ holidays every year
• Career advancement opportunities
• Free parking
• Free comprehensive medical insurance for full-time employees and 50% off premium costs for dependents (state pays other 50%)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness program

Military/Veteran Information

Military employment preference

Senate Bill 1376, 88th Legislature, Regular Session, Section 657.002 requires State agencies to give military employment preference in employment and retention. Documentation must be attached before military preference can be granted, and all personal and/or sensitive information (i.e. Social Security Number, DOB) must be redacted from any attached documents.

To receive a military employment preference for any position, the following documents are required to be submitted with your application, as applicable:

• Veteran: DD Form 214
• Surviving spouse of a veteran who has not remarried: Marriage Certificate and DD Form 1300 or appropriate documentation
• Orphan of a veteran killed while on active duty: Birth Certificate and DD Form 1300 or appropriate documentation
• Spouse of a member of the US Armed Forces/Texas National Guard serving on Active Duty: Marriage Certificate and copy of spouse's active-duty military orders
• Spouse of a veteran with disability and is the primary income for household: Marriage Certificate, Veterans DD Form 214, and VA Benefits Summary Letter showing disability rating

For help translating your military work experience, including training courses on civilian job terminology, skill sets, and qualifications or requirements, visit www.texasskillstowork.com.