OIEC - Advocate for Injured Employees (Ombudsman IV) - Austin

About the role

The Office of Injured Employee Counsel (OIEC) is hiring an Advocate for Injured Employees (ombudsman) in Austin. This position assists and educates injured employees of Texas, works under limited supervision, and travels 25% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Assists the injured employee one-on-one throughout the dispute resolution process
• Answers questions from the injured employee
• Reviews claims for medical and income benefits
• Studies the case background on each claim
• Gathers and evaluates information (including medical records and letters from doctors)
• Reports and refers complaints
• Tracks and provides information and claim status
• Aids in preparing the injured employee for mediations and formal hearings
• Provides routine updates to OIEC clients about the status of their claim
• Educates the injured employee about the workers' compensation dispute process and law/rules
• Assists with referrals to social services with other state agencies
• Aids in filing claims
• Aids in 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

Qualifications

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

Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of Microsoft Word and Outlook
• Demonstrated skill in conflict resolution, assisting the public, handling and solving problems, interpreting and explaining laws and regulations, data entry and retrieval, using correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling
• Military/Veteran Information: Preference given to veterans, surviving spouses of veterans, orphans of veterans, spouses of members of the US Armed Forces/Texas National Guard serving on Active Duty, and veterans with disability and as the primary income for household.

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

Pay

Salary range: $50,000 - $70,000 annually

Schedule

Full-time, 40 hours per week

Required Documents

• Complete Employment history (month and year), including job title, name of employer, manager's name and phone number
• Duties and responsibilities
• Educational Certifications
• Licenses
• Supplemental questions

How to Apply

You may apply through CAPPS Career Center or Work in Texas (WIT).