What are the responsibilities and job description for the Liability Claims Manager (Risk Specialist III) position at City of Portland?
Job Appointment: Full time, Regular
Work Schedule: 8:00 to 5:00 PM, alternate schedule potentially available. This is a manager/supervisor position. Beginning April 2025 all manager and supervisor positions will be expected to report to their worksites full time. Alternate schedules may be available, but the typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, with occasional after-hours work required to support critical projects or address system issues. Remote workdays remain an option, to accommodate travel, or occasionally focus on major work projects.
Work Location:1120 SW 5th, Portland, OR 97201. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington. For more information, click here.
Benefit: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefit for this position
Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees
Union Representation: None
Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume.
Position Summary
The City of Portland's Budget & Finance Service Area, Risk Management Division is seeking a qualified Liability Claims Manager to join their team. Reporting to the City Risk Manager, the Liability Claims Manager leads, develops and implements a self-administered claims program comprised of a team of claims professionals which investigates, evaluates and resolves claims brought against the City, which may include auto liability, property damage, bodily injury, employment and civil rights exposures. The position ensures compliance with the Oregon Tort Claims Act (OTCA) and performance of duties under Portland City Codes 3.15.020(G), 5.50.020 and City Charter Chapter 1-106-107. The Liability Claims Manager meets with elected City officials and their staff for briefings on sensitive claims and litigation resolution or settlement proposals, along with attendance at City Council meetings for presentation of Ordinances requiring approval for claims settlements.
The Liability Claims Manager is responsible for:
- Managing the day-to-day administration of the Liability Claims Program
- Overseeing claims professionals in adjusting over 600 claims annually
- Close collaboration is required with all sections of City Risk Management, to include Worker’s Compensation, Loss Prevention and Insurance and Claims.
- Additional close cooperation with City Deputy City Administrators, Bureau Directors, City Safety Professionals, and all levels of City Attorney staff to monitor and control the financial impact of unforeseen losses arising from the actions, or lack thereof, by City employees conducting the City’s business.
- Overseeing a significant subrogation program to recover City losses
- Developing and monitoring staff performance measures and personal development goals for staff
Virtual Zoom Meet & Greet Opportunity
Come meet the hiring manager and the senior recruiter! We'll be talking about the position duties and responsibilities, day to day life in the role, review the announcement, discuss how to apply, and answer questions you may have about the position.
April 2, 2025, 12:00 PM (Noon) Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/blLOivrzQc26svNmqxp3uw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
*Please note: AI Notetaking apps will not be allowed into virtual sessions hosted by the Bureau of Human Resources Recruitment Team. If you need accommodations as defined by the American Disabilities Act, then please contact the Recruiter for assistance.
Have a question?
Contact Information:
Tami Larison, Recruiter
Bureau of Human Resources
Tamara.Larison@portlandoregon.gov
The following minimum qualifications are required for this position. Applicants must specifically address and demonstrate how their education, training and/or experience, meets each of the following minimum qualifications. (Please see "Application Instructions" below.)
- Extensive knowledge and skills pertaining to liability claims adjusting, to include distinguishing claim type, exposures, reserve setting, settlement skills, understanding of legal options and litigation strategies, coverage determinations under proper insurance policies, assessment of witnesses, identification of immunities and defenses, fault allocation and defense and litigation budget setting.
- Ability and experience supervising and managing staff in a proper and ethical manner, creating teambuilding, including approving timekeeping, claim authority levels, creation and delivery of staff performance evaluations, completing internal claims audits, and recommending and implementing strategies for overall team improvement.
- Ability and experience collaborating extensively with Risk management departments, City Bureaus, City leadership and elected officials in a manner to effectively communicate overall reduction of City risk exposures and effectuate the mission of Risk Management, the Budget and Finance Service Area, and the City of Portland.
- Skill and experience reviewing existing processes and proposing best practices methods to increase efficiencies, lower the financial cost of claims, and utilization of risk management information systems in claims management to result in accurate claims management and output of data for utilization in identifying effective risk management practices.
Special Desirable Knowledge and Experience (not required):
- Extensive experience in Insurance Defense claims, to include litigation claims.
- High degree of knowledge regarding state v. federal law exposures, alternative dispute resolution experience.
- ARM, Claims Handling Certifications, CPCU or comparable designation are suggested.
STEP 1: Apply online between March 24, 2025 – April 7, 2025
Required Application Materials:
- Resume
- Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)
Optional Application Materials:
- If you wish to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your veteran documents (e.g., DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter) by the recruitment's closing date.
We have recently updated our veteran preference process. Starting March 3rd, 2025 If you made the eligible list and met the eligibility to receive veteran preference, you will no longer need to submit veteran documents for future recruitments.
If you need to update or remove your veteran preference for a specific recruitment or from your master profile, please contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.
Application Tips:
- Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
- Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
- How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.
- Do not attach any additional documents.
- Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
- You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage using AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
- All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.
- E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of April 7, 2025
- An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
- Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
- You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
- Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.
Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of April 14, 2025
- Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list. (Update if a Ranked list or other type of list is used)
Step 4: Selection (Interview): Late April to Early May 2025
- Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview
Step 5: Offer of Employment: May 2025
- Some positions will require those offered employment to complete and sign a criminal background statement before being considered for employment.
Step 6: Start Date: Late May to Early June 2025
- A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.
Click here for additional information regarding the following:
- City of Portland Core Values
- Recruitment Process - Work Status
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- Veteran Preference
- ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations
Salary : $107,266 - $151,882
