What are the responsibilities and job description for the Workers' Compensation Claims Specialist IV - SR-24 position at Hawaii County, HI?
Salary : $71,016.00 Annually
Location : Future vacancies with immediate vacancy in Hilo, HI
Job Type : Permanent & Temporary Positions
Job Number : 2025-00010
Department : Human Resources
Division : Workers Compensation
Opening Date : 01 / 19 / 2025
Closing Date : 1 / 28 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Hawaii
Duties Summary
Serves as the County's specialist in workers' compensation and coordinates the day-to-day activities of the County's workers' compensation program; coordinates the limited duty and retention, rehabilitation, and placement programs; and performs other related duties as required.
There is one (1) immediate temporary full-time vacancy not-to-exceed 11 / 15 / 2027 with the Department of Human Resources - Worker's Compensation Division in Hilo.
The Workers' Compensation Claims Specialist IV, SR-24 position is a career ladder position. The next level in the series is Human Resources Manager II, EM-03, $6,745 / month. Persons hired into career ladder positions must meet minimum qualifications for the next level in the career ladder series, perform work at the higher level, and meet performance requirements to move to the next level in the career ladder series.
The eligible list may be used for other permanent and temporary vacancies as they arise during the life of the list. Temporary appointment may lead to conversion to permanent appointment.
Examples of Duties
- Supervises and coordinates the establishment of workers' compensation case files, the vouchering of appropriate payments, i.e., temporary total disability benifits, medical, and other compensation benefits, in accordance with provisions of Workers' Compensation and other laws, and the processing of cases for closing.
- Follows up or investigates problem cases, questionable claims, cases where claimant does not seem to be making satisfactory progress toward recovery, and other cases when warranted.
- Reviews medical reports as necessary to follow claimant's progress in recovery and to determine appropriateness of treatment.
- Interviews claimant's physician, supervisor, and others to determine propriety of questionable claims.
- Arranges for disability evaluations and other special examinations where indicated.
- Recommends denial or acceptance of liability on questionable cases.
- Oversees the development of subrogation and stipulated settlements involving workers' compensation cases.
- Attends workers' compensation hearings as the representative of the County.
- Provides pertinent information to departmental officials, physicians, employees, and union representatives on the procedures and regulations governing workers' compensation and informs them of the status of cases.
- Advises departments on various courses of action available when long term disabled employees are involved.
- Coordinates the County's limited duty and retention, rehabilitation, and placement programs.
- Advises departments on restructuring disabled employee's job to accommodate impairment.
- Participates in search for other jobs for which disabled employees might be suitable.
- Develops rehabilitation and placement plans for those employees unable to return to their pre-injury jobs.
- Counsels disabled employees on employment opportunities and advises of rights and responsibilities.
- Studies and reviews existing practices, procedures, policies, and laws and makes recommendations for changes thereto.
- Develops new and revised procedures, forms, and instructions to improve the processing of claims.
- Drafts correspondence and prepares periodic and special reports.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Training and Experience :
A combination of education and experience substantially equivalent to :
Examination : All applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be assigned a score of 70 points. An education and experience evaluation will be conducted based on the applicant's training, education and experience as presented in the application.
Please read the minimum qualification requirements carefully. Be certain to list all pertinent training and experience, as this may be important in determining your examination score. It is essential that the applicant describe fully the duties and responsibilities of each position held, specify the date of each position held (from and to, month and year), and indicate the number of hours worked per week.
Attach all required documentation (e.g. official transcript, professional license(s) / certification(s), DD-214, etc.) at the time of submitting your application.
Note : In-person interviews and / or further testing in Hawai'i County may be required at the discretion of the hiring department / agency. If in-person interviews and / or further testing are required, applicants who are referred to the hiring department / agency must be available to participate in person and at their own expense at that phase of the selection process.
Knowledge of : principles and practices of supervision; laws, rules, and regulations governing workers' compensation in the State of Hawai`i; pertinent personnel laws and regulations; applicable provisions of collective bargaining contracts; lay knowledge of various kinds of disabilities and loss of bodily functions incurred as a result of disease or injury; various kinds of occupations and their physical requirements; laws, policies, basic principles, and practices relating to vocational rehabilitation; community resources in vocational and related rehabilitation services; report writing.
Ability to : plan, organize, and supervise the work of others; develop, implement, and maintain system of recordkeeping; interpret and apply workers' compensation laws and regulations; apply a general lay knowledge of physical impairments and degree of limitations and determine whether injuries prevent individuals from performing certain kinds of work; review, analyze, and evaluate facts; research data and prepare reports; express ideas logically, both orally and in writing; deal tactfully and effectively with other employees, operating officials, claimants, their representatives, physicians, and others.
Physical Requirements : Persons seeking appointment to positions in this class must meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.
Physical Effort Grouping : Light
Benefits of County employment : The County of Hawai'i offers a competitive compensation package. Your total compensation is comprised of your salary and a generous range of valuable benefits, subject to eligibility requirements.
All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and change due to legislative actions and / or changes negotiated through collective bargaining. Please check out the benefits tab for additional information.
Supplemental Information
Please scan and attach these supporting documents to your on-line application, if required :
Veterans applying for veteran's preference points shall also scan and attach their DD-214 form and as needed, their VA claim letter to the on-line application.
ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANTS :
Please ensure that the email address and mobile phone number you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails and text messages or fail to check your email box or NEOGOV account INBOX in a timely manner. Checking your NEOGOV account INBOX daily is recommended and is the most secure method to check on notices sent to you. This is a new feature created by our vendor, NEOGOV.
Please add to your contact list. Open your NEOGOV account using your user name and password. In the upper right hand corner of the account is your name, and under your name, click on INBOX to view all notices sent you. The notices will appear here in the INBOX even in the event you don't receive it on your cell phone, computer, or other electronic device. This is the best way to check and view all notices sent to you.
You will receive a confirmation email upon successfully submitting your application. Failure to receive this confirmation email, indicates that your application was not submitted.
Benefits of County employment : The County of Hawai'i offers a competitive compensation package. Your total compensation is comprised of your salary and a generous range of valuable benefits, subject to eligibility requirements.
Medical Plan (HMO or PPO)
These benefits are administered by the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund. For more information about current employee contribution rates and plans see the EUTF website ().
All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and to legislative and / or changes negotiated through collective bargaining.
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS. The information provided to these Supplemental Questions may be used in combination with your application to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements and / or your final score. Failure to provide detailed and complete information may result in your application being rejected or you receiving a lower score. Please do not submit a resume in place of completing the Supplemental Questions. Any information you submit may be verified.
When applying for this position, I understand that I must thoroughly complete the Education and Work Experience Sections of my application and the Supplemental Questions. This includes a detailed description of each position that I feel qualifies me for the job I am seeking.
I have read the above statement and understand that failure to provide sufficient detailed information may result in my application being rejected or my receiving a lower examination score. I also understand that I may not submit resumes in lieu of filling out the application or answering the Supplemental Questions. However, I may attach a resume to the application to provide additional information.
Applicants must meet all the requirements for the position they are seeking as of the closing date of the recruitment, unless otherwise specified. Your possession of the required amount of experience will not in itself be accepted as proof of qualification for the position. Overall paid or unpaid experience must be of such scope and responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate that you have the ability to perform the duties of the position. It is essential that you describe fully the duties and responsibilities of each position held, specify the date of each position held (from and to, month and year), and indicate the number of hours worked per week.
Note : Calculation of experience is based on full-time, 40-hour work weeks. Part-time experience must be pro-rated. Example : Twelve months of experience at 20 hours per week is equivalent to six months of experience. In addition, hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week, per work experience, will not be credited. Example : Twelve months of experience at 60 hours per week is equivalent to one year, not one and one-half years.
Did you graduate from an accredited college or university with major work (baccalaureate degree) in business administration, public administration, or a related field?
Did you scan and attach a copy of your official college transcript to your application?
Do you have three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in workers' compensation claims examination?
If you answered "Yes" to question #5, please describe where you gained your progressively responsible professional work experience. Treat each change in employer or position separately. Include the following information :
A. Employer's name
B. Your job title
C. Employment dates (from month / day / year to month / day / year)
D. Hours worked per week
E. Detailed description of your workers' compensation claims examination duties
F. The types of worker's compensation claims cases you were responsible for
G. The percentage of time you spent performing this work.
If you answered "No," enter N / A.
Be specific and complete ALL questions for ALL experience you are claiming. The following are unacceptable responses :
If you answered "Yes" to question #5, was one (1) of those years in a supervisory capacity or as a specialist independently examining the full range and variety of workers' compensation claims?
If you answered "Yes," to questions #7, please describe where you gained your supervisory work experience or work experience as a specialist independently examining the full range and variety of workers' compensation claims. Treat each change in employer or position separately. Include the following :
A. Employer's name
B. Your job title
C. Employment dates (from month / day / year to month / day / year)
D. Hours worked per week
E. Provide a description of your supervisory duties and responsibilities. Include your role as a supervisor, number of employees supervised along with their job titles. If you have no supervisory experience, list "no supervisory experience."
F. Provide a description as a specialist independently examining the full range and variety of workers' compensation claims. Include your role and detailed description of your duties. If you have no specialist work experience, enter "no specialist work experience."
G. The percentage of time you spent performing this work
If you answered "No," enter N / A.
Be specific and complete ALL questions for ALL experience you are claiming. The following are unacceptable responses :
Do you have a valid State of Hawai'i driver's license (Class 3) or any other valid comparable driver's license at the time of filing? (Note : You will be required to submit your valid driver's license at time of hire.)
Required Question
Salary : $71,016
