What are the responsibilities and job description for the OIEC - Early Assistance Advocate for Injured Employees (Ombudsman I) - Houston West position at OFFICE OF INJURED EMPLOYEE COUNSEL?
Do you have a passion for public service and enjoy making a difference? Don’t miss out on this opportunity. Office of Injured Employee Counsel is hiring! Apply now if you’re looking for a rewarding career in public service.
You’ll love the Benefits of Working at OIEC:
- Hybrid work schedule, if applicable
- 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%)
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. OIEC provides services in 20 offices across the state. Agency services include advocacy, customer service, and dispute assistance through OIEC’s Ombudsman Program.
This position:
- educates the injured employee about the workers’ compensation dispute process and workers’ compensation law/rules
- advocates for expedient resolution of a claim by assembling evidence (e.g., medical records, causation letters, etc.) needed for insurance carrier determinations and/or in anticipation of benefit proceedings
- contacts insurance carriers and medical providers to identify and resolve disputes
- assists with referrals to social services with other state agencies
- provides assistance in filing claims; assists with obtaining supporting claim documentation from doctors
- routinely contacts injured employees to provide status updates and discuss upcoming events
- documents customer contact in computer system
- answers general customer service questions
- performs other duties, as assigned.
Qualifications:
- graduation from an accredited four-year college or university.
- one year experience in claims management, insurance, casework, healthcare, social work, law office (paralegal/legal assistant) or workers’ compensation. Education and relevant experience may be substituted for one another on a year-for-year basis.
This position requires knowledge of:
- Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
This position requires demonstrated skill in:
- assisting the public
- conflict resolution
- handling and solving problems
- report writing and records maintenance principles and practices
- interpreting and explaining laws and regulations
- data entry and retrieval
- customer service
- use of correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling
This position requires the demonstrated ability to:
- manage multiple, competing priorities
- establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals and groups including injured employees and fellow staff members
- communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with all levels of employees and the public
Please note: Unless specifically and expressly stated otherwise, regular attendance is an essential function of every OIEC job.
How to apply
Before you apply, please click, or copy and paste the following link into your browser for more information about working for the Office of Injured Employee Counsel (OIEC): https://www.oiec.texas.gov/contact/jobs.html
All applications must contain complete job histories, including job title, dates of employment, name of employer, manager’s name and phone number, and a description of duties performed. We may reject applications that do not include all the required information. Resumes do not take the place of this required information.
Submitted through Work in Texas
Work in Texas (WIT) applicants must complete the supplemental questions to be considered for the posting. To complete the supplemental questions, please go to CAPPS Career Center to register or log in and access your profile. Click on the following link or copy and paste it into your browser: CAPPS TALEO Career Section
Criminal background checks will be conducted on all final candidates. An applicant who has been convicted of a criminal offense relevant to the position may be disqualified from employment.
Equal employment opportunity: OIEC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability in employment or in the provision of services. Any request for reasonable accommodation needed during the application process should be directed to OIECHR@oiec.texas.gov.
Employment Preferences
Former Foster Youth Preference
An individual who was under the permanent managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services on the day preceding the individual’s 18th birthday is entitled to a preference in employment with a state agency over other applicants for the same position who do not have a greater qualification. Tex. Gov’t Code, Section 672.002.
Military employment preference
Senate Bill 1376, 88th Legislature, Regular Session, Section 657.002 requires State agencies to give military employment preference in employment and retention. Please see more details on our job page.
In order to receive a military employment preference for any position, the following documents are required to be submitted with your application, as applicable:
- Veteran: DD Form 214
- Surviving spouse of a veteran who has not remarried: Marriage Certificate and DD Form 1300 or appropriate documentation
- Orphan of a veteran killed while on active duty: Birth Certificate and DD Form 1300 or appropriate documentation
- Spouse of a member of the US Armed Forces/Texas National Guard serving on Active Duty: Marriage Certificate and copy of spouse's active duty military orders
- Spouse of a veteran with disability and is the primary income for household: Marriage Certificate, Veterans DD Form 214, and VA Benefits Summary Letter showing disability rating
Documentation must be attached before military preference can be granted.
All attachments containing personal and/or sensitive information must be redacted.
Click or copy and paste this link into your browser: www.texasskillstowork.com for help translating your military work experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications/requirements, and skill sets.
Applicable Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes are included, but not limited to one of the following:
27A, 250X, LGL10, 4421, 4402, 4430, 51JX, 92J0
https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal.pdf
