OIEC - Early Assistance Advocate for Injured Employees (Ombudsman I) - Denton

Do you have a passion for public service and enjoy making a difference? The Office of Injured Employee Counsel (OIEC) is the state agency that helps injured employees with their Texas workers' compensation claims. The agency assists, educates, and advocates on their behalf through advocacy, customer service, and dispute assistance via the Ombudsman Program, with services available in 20 offices across the state.

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

About the role

An Early Assistance Advocate (Ombudsman I) works with senior Ombudsmen to advocate, assist, and educate injured employees of Texas. The role involves early intervention strategies to assist injured employees prior to hearings, including one-on-one assistance, answering questions, reviewing claims for medical and income benefits, analyzing case backgrounds, gathering and evaluating information (e.g., medical records, doctor letters), preparing responses for Designated Doctor examinations, and implementing strategies for early claim resolution.

Travel required: 25%

Responsibilities

• Educates injured employees about the workers' compensation dispute process and relevant laws/rules
• Advocates for expedient claim resolution by assembling evidence (e.g., medical records, causation letters) for insurance carrier determinations or benefit proceedings
• Contacts insurance carriers and medical providers to identify and resolve disputes
• Assists with referrals to social services through other state agencies
• Provides assistance in filing claims and obtaining supporting documentation from doctors
• Routinely contacts injured employees to provide status updates and discuss upcoming events
• Documents customer contact in the 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 experience in claims management, insurance, casework, healthcare, social work, law office (paralegal/legal assistant), or workers' compensation
• Relevant experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis
• Alternatively: High school graduation or equivalent plus two years of experience working for the Office of Injured Employee Counsel
• Must reside in Texas or relocate by the start date
• If you hold a current law license, you must surrender it upon hire
• OIEC does not sponsor or assume sponsorship of an employment visa

Skills

Knowledge of:

• Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

Demonstrated skill in:

• Assisting the public
• Conflict resolution
• Problem-solving
• Report writing and records maintenance
• Interpreting and explaining laws and regulations
• Data entry and retrieval
• Customer service
• Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling

Demonstrated ability to:

• Manage multiple, competing priorities
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse individuals and groups
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with all levels of employees and the public

Additional Information

Military employment preference is available under Senate Bill 1376, 88th Legislature. Required documentation for military preference includes:

• Veteran: DD Form 214
• Surviving spouse of a veteran who has not remarried: Marriage Certificate and DD Form 1300 or equivalent
• Orphan of a veteran killed on active duty: Birth Certificate and DD Form 1300 or equivalent
• Spouse of active-duty military/Texas National Guard: Marriage Certificate and copy of spouse’s active-duty orders
• Spouse of a veteran with a disability (primary income for household): Marriage Certificate, DD Form 214, and VA Benefits Summary Letter showing disability rating

For help translating military experience to civilian terms, visit www.texasskillstowork.com. Applicable Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes include: 27A, 250X, LGL10, 4421, 4402, 4430, 51JX, 92J0.

Former Foster Youth Preference: Individuals under the permanent managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services on the day preceding their 18th birthday are entitled to employment preference if aged 25 or younger (Tex. Gov’t Code, Section 672.002).

Criminal background checks will be conducted on all final candidates. A relevant criminal conviction may disqualify an applicant.