Workers' Compensation and Occupational Health Program Manager

Type of Appointment: Full-Time, At Will

Job Classification: Administrator I

Anticipated Hiring Range: $105,000 - $113,136 annually (Commensurate with skills and qualifications) 

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am -5:00 pm


THE DEPARTMENT:

Within the President's Office, the Office of Employee/Labor Relations & Compliance serves the University as a strategic partner and a cluster of key resource offices in support of the University's strategic initiative to advance organizational development and employee excellence by developing proactive strategies and solutions in addressing Employee/Labor Relation and HR compliance opportunities that integrates compliance strategy with workforce sustainability and operational excellence; programs include the Office of ADA/Reasonable Accommodation, Office of Employee/Labor Relations, Office of HR Policy, and Office of Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Health programs. ELRC enables Cal Poly Pomona to deliver on CSU Forward’s vision of a transformed public university system that demonstrates professional excellence, operational integrity, and institutional accountability. As a trusted campuswide partner, ELRC advances a deeply coordinated compliance and workforce strategy that extends well beyond regulatory adherence. By integrating compliance, labor strategy, policy governance, accessibility, and risk mitigation, ELRC strengthens operational effectiveness while proactively reducing legal and financial exposure. Recognizing the intersection of a unionized workforce, employee matters, disability accommodation, workplace injuries, occupational health, and policy implementation, ELRC drives continuous improvement across systems and practices, ensuring fair, consistent decision-making that supports strategy, institutional integrity, workforce stability, leadership effectiveness, and, by extension, student success.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Workers' Compensation Program Administration:

• Operates independently as the primary administration and oversight of the University’s Workers’ Compensation, Pre-employment, and Fitness-For-Duty health programs.
• Leads initiatives, projects, and other implementation efforts using advanced communication and listening skills; evaluates and sets work priorities; schedules and assigns work; reviews work against standards and provides performance feedback; and determines training needs and trains staff.
• Provides functional leadership through program governance, strategic direction, and influence across departments.
• Establish and oversee workers' compensation procedures and processes for employee groups as determined by CSURM/CPP (e.g. student live-in, resident advisors, student programs, etc.,)
• Provide regular executive-level reports on program performance, claim trends, cost drivers, and progress made toward strategic objectives.
• Advise the AVP on workers' compensation strategy, risk exposure, policy development, and complex case matters.
• Partner with Employee/Labor Relations & Compliance and campus stakeholders to align policies and practices with California workers’ compensation laws and best practices.
• Analyze, interpret, and apply new and/or existing employee group terms and conditions of employment to ensure the workers’ compensation process is accurately applied.
• Develop and implement programmatic changes and procedural and policy changes as necessary.
• Proactively maintain compliance with applicable state laws, regulations, and technical guidance issued by the Office of the Chancellor.
• Oversee and manage the University’s workers’ compensation claims portfolio, including complex and litigated cases.
• Proactively and independently investigate claims and advise the third-party claims administrator (Sedgwick Claims Management Services) regarding circumstances affecting claim outcomes. Independently attend and represent the University at workers' compensation depositions, hearings, and trials as the University's employer representative. Independently communicate to managers and supervisors the prescribed temporary work restrictions.
• Assist the manager or supervisor with evaluating temporary work restrictions and developing the Transitional Work Plan. Initiate and guide the interactive process when work restrictions are prescribed.
• Prepare managers and supervisors for interactions with injured workers and develop strategic communications as necessary.
• Initiate and guide the interactive process for employees with temporary work restrictions. Exercise independent judgment while strategically collaborating with claims adjusters and legal counsel.
• Develop pertinent documentation to support settlement authorization requests