WORKERS' COMPENSATION MEDIATION SPECIALIST - 65506

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.

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:

• Facilitates negotiations in Workers Compensation disputes and effectively manages high conflict situations.
• Identifies and implements the best approach to mediate a resolution for each claim.
• Analyzes claims to develop or identify creative strategies to lead parties to dispute resolution.
• Applies relevant law to the facts of each case.
• Assesses the credibility of the parties to the dispute.
• Manages assigned work activities to adhere to bureau and statutory deadlines.
• Coaches or mentors co-workers on best practices in mediation techniques.
• Communicates with other programs within the Workers Compensation Bureau to exchange information and make referrals.
• Verifies the accuracy of information on submitted forms.
• Maintains the integrity and confidentiality of information in accordance with government requirements.
• Researches bureau database for claims history.
• Questions parties for clarification of a workers compensation claim or explanation of an involved party's position on an issue.
• Reviews pertinent case facts from documentation for each case. Compares information gathered during the investigation to requirements of the law to support resolution.
• Participates in Bureau's outreach program as requested. Acts as liaison to the general public and private sector.
• Satisfies statutory education and training requirements.
• Stays up-to-date on emerging areas of the law and current trends in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
• Complies and enters detailed notes into database for each claim.
• Prepares mediated settlement agreements and impasse reports
• Organizes and manages file contents for electronic data storage.
• Prepares and submits statistical reports on claim activity

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree; and experience equivalent to five 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.

Required Experience:

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 Tennessee's 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 State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.