The Human Resources Department is looking for a Risk Manager to join their team in this new role. The successful candidate will have exceptional management and leadership skills, combined with expertise and experience in the areas of worker’s compensation, training & safety programs, public records management and more. The Risk Manager is responsible for the oversight of a comprehensive risk management and loss control program. Responsibilities also include supporting complex litigation.
The ideal candidate will have over five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in the management of a comprehensive risk management program or insurance underwriting, general liability insurance, and workers’ compensation. A minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience is also critical for success in this position.
This is a full-time, benefited, and overtime exempt position that is not represented by a union.
** A cover letter and resume are required with your online application in order for your application to be considered complete. Incomplete applications will not be considered for this position. Please note that you cannot attach documents to your application after it has been submitted. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your online application, please call our office at (253) 856-4432 and we will do our best to assist you.**
Position: Human Resources Risk Manager
Rate of Pay: $11,625.83- $15,579.75 monthly ($139,510 - $186,957 annually). This position is exempt and therefore not eligible for overtime.
Position Description/Requirements: Under the direction of the Human Resources Director or designee, plan, organize, and manage the daily operation of the assigned risk management functions of Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority’s (PSF) Human Resources Department. Work includes overseeing the workers’ compensation program provided through L&I, overseeing public records administration, training programs for the civilian workforce and regulatory training for all employees, as well as general liability and insurance needs for the organization; serve as the ADA coordinator for the agency. In addition, collaborate with the assigned stakeholders on items such as health and safety programs for the operations workforce; emergency preparedness plans for Puget Sound Fire; IT cybersecurity risks; facility safety plans. The incumbent is frequently involved in highly sensitive, political, and emotional interpersonal relations requiring skill in gaining trust and confidence from others. See job description below for complete details.
Puget Sound Fire Overview: Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority is an internationally accredited full-service, all risk fire and rescue department that provides services to the citizens of Covington, Kent, Maple Valley, SeaTac, Tukwila, and Fire Districts 37 & 43. Our workforce is comprised of approximately 450 employees.
Work Location: Your main office will be at the 84th Avenue Business Center, located at 20811 84th Ave. S. in Kent, WA. Throughout the course of your work, you may report to various stations throughout our service area.
Typical Schedule: Day shift; 10hrs/day, four days/week, or 8hrs/day, five days/week. This position is eligible for a remote or hybrid schedule.
Union Membership: No. This is a non-represented civilian position.
Benefits: Puget Sound Fire offers a comprehensive benefits package including: Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) • Exceptional Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance • Employer Contribution of 3% to 457 Deferred Compensation Plan • 6% of salary for executive differential pay • Longevity Pay starting at 2% after 5 yrs. service • Paid Vacation- 96 hrs. earned in 1st year (accruals increase with years of service) • Sick Leave- 120 hrs. earned per year • 12 Observed Holidays each year in addition to three (3) personal holidays (prorated based on hire date) • Life insurance • Tuition Reimbursement Assistance
To Apply: Please apply online at https://selfservice.pugetsoundfire.org/ess/EmploymentOpportunities/
Selection Process: Once the job closes, all applications will be reviewed for minimum qualifications. Successful candidates will be contacted to schedule interviews.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Opens: February 7, 2025
Closes: February 18, 2025 *or until filled.
First review of Applications: February 19, 2025
*Any applications submitted after midnight on February 18th will only be considered if we do not hire someone from the first-round interviews.
1st Interviews: Week of February 24th
2nd Interviews: Week of March 3rd
Contingent Offer, start background screening: by March 7th
Final Offer: by March 17th (dependent upon timing of background screening)
Anticipated Start Date: March 31st, or sooner depending upon candidate availability.
Human Resources Risk Manager
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
LAST REVIEWED: January 2025
GENERAL PURPOSE:
Under the direction of the Human Resources Director or designee, plan, organize, and manage the daily operation of the assigned risk management functions of Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority’s (PSF) Human Resources Department. Work includes overseeing the workers’ compensation program provided through L&I, overseeing public records administration, training programs for the civilian workforce and regulatory training for all employees, as well as general liability and insurance needs for the organization; serve as the ADA coordinator for the agency. In addition, collaborate with the assigned stakeholders on items such as health and safety programs for the operations workforce; emergency preparedness plans for Puget Sound Fire; IT cybersecurity risks; facility safety plans. The incumbent is frequently involved in highly sensitive, political, and emotional interpersonal relations requiring skill in gaining trust and confidence from others.
Work is performed under managerial direction. Work is characterized by a substantial amount of management, administrative, and supervisory functions. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, managing, developing and recommending strategic changes to PSF’s full range of risk management functions; developing and administering safety programs involving all departments in safety and accident prevention activities; serving as Puget Sound Fire’s ADA Coordinator; managing complex litigation involving outside Counsel; coordinating civilian employee training programs; serving as a consultant and technical advisor to management and employees on a variety of risk management matters; supervising assigned staff; and assisting the Director in personnel policy planning, development, and implementation. Serving as consultant and technical advisor to members of management on a variety of matters. The incumbent is also frequently involved in highly sensitive, political, and emotional interpersonal relations requiring skill in gaining trust and confidence from others.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Manage assigned staff in accordance with policies, procedures, and applicable laws. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, interviewing, hiring, training, assigning, and evaluating work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems; recommending promotion and disciplinary actions; approving/scheduling sick leave and vacation time; and recommending terminations as appropriate.
- Develop through collaboration, implement, administer, and review agency-wide risk and safety policies and procedures; such subjects may include cybersecurity, data privacy, health and welfare, emergency preparedness. Work will be in coordination with assigned civilian employees and operations staff on items specific to operations (i.e. firefighting).
- Collect, analyze, evaluate, report and communicate and or train on risk and accident data as necessary and recommend appropriate countermeasures; review current and proposed facilities, programs, and other activities of PSF for accident prevention and risk management implications; observe field operations and evaluate for compliance with accepted healthful work standards; perform internal audits reduce injuries, property damage, and general liability claims; review and analyze loss history runs from liability and property third party administrators and other insurance coverage loss exhibits; review, coordinate, research, and provide information and material to assist third party claims administrators as needed.
- Provide key performance indicators (KPIs) for risk management and safety programs, to include relevant and measurable outcomes.
- Develop and coordinate systems and procedures for the review of all contracts to minimize risk exposure; and monitor costs, benefits, and risk education or assumption to the organization.
- Oversee the organization’s Records Management Program, including public records requests, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and disclosure regulations, directing and participating in the maintenance and retention of PSF’s official public records, coordinating all central active, inactive and historical records in accordance with State Archivist policies and procedures, assisting departments in records management issues and procedures, overseeing technology for electronic storage and retrieval system for public records.
- Serve as a technical advisor to the Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chiefs, Department Directors, and Governance Board on matters of policy and practice relating to property, casualty, liability, coordination and payment of claims, accident prevention and safety programs, and impacts of compliance with regulations or insurance issues as necessary.
- Develop and administer the safety program involving all departments in safety and accident prevention activities; oversee monthly Safety Committee meetings; inspect accident scenes, investigate claims, and make recommendations as necessary; perform safety inspections and meet with other departments in regard to safety; respond to safety inquiries and complaints as necessary, including WAC or RCW regulation research; ensure compliance with Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) and Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).
- Serve as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator; perform related duties such as ADA physical accessibility surveys, etc.
- Administer employee training and development program utilizing current training and development philosophies and human resources concepts to meet the organization’s training needs and maximize potential human resources.
- Maintain updated knowledge of federal and state occupational health and safety regulations, training and development trends, literature, and professional associations.
- Maintain, update, and distribute risk management and safety records, OSHA logs, and related information as required.
- Collaborate with the Director on the development of the department’s annual budget.
- Manage or perform special projects as assigned.
- Actively support the vision, mission, values, and goals of the department and Puget Sound Fire.
SUCCESSFUL INCUMBENTS FOR THE POSITION WILL HAVE:
Knowledge:
- Principles, practices, techniques, and laws required to develop, implement, administer, and evaluate risk management, asset protection, general liability, workers' compensation, safety and training programs as well as laws related to the disclosure of public records.
- Principles and practices of worker accident prevention and safety program administration including applicable and vocational rehabilitation of injured workers.
- Injury and damage claim investigation and adjustment techniques for public entities, specifically fire agencies.
- Planning, developing, implementing, maintaining, evaluating, and modifying a comprehensive and integrated risk management, loss control, property and general liability, and workers’ compensation program.
- Nuances of insurance contracts, endorsements, and coverage limits relevant to fire service agencies.
Skills:
- Applying current research and interviewing methods and procedures to gather evidence/information, analyze facts, and draw valid conclusions.
- Applying principles and practices of administration, supervision, and training including hiring, training, directing, evaluating, awarding and disciplining staff.
Read and interpret complex documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, general business periodicals, professional journals, technical journals, financial reports, legal documents, and governmental regulations in order to apply them with sound judgment.
Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and diplomacy.
Effectively identifying, collecting, and organizing data and information for analysis and investigation.
- Analyzing situations accurately and adopting an effective course of action.
- Exercise initiative, judgment, and decision-making skills to meet objectives.
- Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to express, advocate and defend views effectively and with clarity to internal and external customers.
- Effectively resolving conflicts, grievances, and personnel issues.
- Critical thinking and problem solving.
Abilities:
- Effectively organize and express ideas through the use of written and verbal communications before groups of employees, managers, or elected officials.
- Establish and maintain trust, confidence, and effective working relationships with union leadership, co-workers, elected officials, managers, supervisors, employees, and the public.
- Demonstrate positive and effective interaction and communication with individuals of diverse occupational and socio-economic backgrounds.
- Provide leadership, guidance, and motivation to assigned staff; provide constructive and meaningful performance feedback.
- Management of cross-functional projects.
- Develop and administer budgets.
- Develop and implement mission, strategic goals, and objectives for the assigned functions.
- Organize, schedule, and assign work to meet timelines.
- Read, interpret and apply public policy.
- Understand collective bargaining agreements in order to apply language to human resources and payroll functions.
- Work effectively on multiple projects or activities concurrently.
- Work independently with little direct supervision and maintain confidentiality.
- Become familiar with, follow, and actively support the Puget Sound RFA’s mission, vision, and core value statements.
SKILLS FOR THE POSITION MAY BE GAINED THROUGH EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE OR A COMBINATION, SUCH AS:
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Public or Business Administration or related field supplemented by course work in Risk Management or successful completion of insurance institute courses in Risk Management.
Experience:
Five (5) years of progressively responsible public sector experience in managing a comprehensive risk management or insurance underwriting, general liability insurance, workers' compensation or benefit program including a minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience.
LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
- Washington State Driver's License, or the ability to obtain within thirty (30) days of employment
- Industrial first aid card and valid CPR card, or the ability to obtain within six (6) months of employment
- Associate in Risk Management (ARM) or Certified Risk Manager (CRM), is highly desirable.
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP) is desirable.
- Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) is desirable.
- Proficiency in Microsoft 365 Office, with a focus on Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods of time; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to type on keyboard for extended periods of time. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Work is performed in a typical office environment, which includes a computer and workstation. The incumbent may occasionally travel to perform duties at various work locations, such as fire stations or outdoors. If outdoors, the working conditions may be in varied weather conditions or uneven terrains. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate while indoors; the noise level will vary outdoors depending on the location.
