OIEC - Early Assistance Advocate for Injured Emplo

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

An Early Assistance Advocate (Ombudsman I) works with senior Ombudsmen who advocate, assist, and educate injured employees of Texas. The Early Assistance Advocate will utilize early intervention strategies to assist injured employees prior to hearings. Travel required: 25%.

Responsibilities

• Educates the injured employee about the workers' compensation dispute process and workers' compensation law/rules
• Advocates for expedient resolution of a claim by assembling evidence (e.g., medical records, causation letters, etc.) needed for insurance carrier determinations and/or in anticipation of benefit proceedings
• Contacts insurance carriers and medical providers to identify and resolve disputes
• Assists with referrals to social services with other state agencies
• Provides assistance in filing claims; assists with obtaining supporting claim documentation from doctors
• Routinely contacts injured employees to provide status updates and discuss upcoming events
• Documents customer contact in computer system
• Answers general customer service questions
• Performs other duties, as assigned

Requirements

• Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university or one year of relevant experience in claims management, insurance, casework, healthcare, social work, law office (paralegal/legal assistant), or workers' compensation
• Relevant experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis
• or graduation from high school or equivalent and two years of experience working for the Office of Injured Employee Counsel
• Candidate must reside in Texas or be able to relocate to Texas by the start date
• If you hold a current law license, you must surrender it upon hire

Skills

This position requires knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

This position requires demonstrated skill in:

• Assisting the public
• Conflict resolution
• Handling and solving problems
• Report writing and records maintenance principles and practices
• Interpreting and explaining laws and regulations
• Data entry and retrieval
• Customer service
• Use of correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling

This position requires the demonstrated ability to:

• Manage multiple, competing priorities
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals and groups including injured employees and fellow staff members
• 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 is available under Senate Bill 1376, 88th Legislature, Regular Session, Section 657.002. Documentation must be attached before military preference can be granted, and all personal and/or sensitive information (e.g., Social Security Number, DOB) must be redacted from any attached documents.

To receive military employment preference, 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, Veteran’s 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.