Risk/Claims Manager

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Establishes and implements short term and long-term goals and objectives for the program. Services on internal committees and boards, including the Risk Management Committee and Public Works Safety Committee.
• Stays current on industry standards and developments with respect to risk management, insurance and legal issues through research, continuing education and outside professional affiliations.
• Provide in-house advice for insurance related matters to Town departments on issues related to Risk Management through Policies and Procedures and training.
• Develops insurance recommendations, authors RFPs, coordinates insurance procurement packages, prepares policy renewal applications, maintains underwriting data, and evaluates competitive quotes for commercial insurance coverage. Selects and administers the most appropriate and economical plans after considering the following criteria: policy terms, extensions, deductibles, limits, insurance brokers and markets.
• Acts as a liaison with commercial insurance carriers and assure excess claims are reported properly.
• Prepares and submits all required State of Maryland applications and reports to assure the Town’s compliance with self-insurance regulations for the Maryland Worker's Compensation Commission and Motor Vehicle Administration.
• Provides input to develop effective safety, industrial health and loss prevention programs.
• Manages the Risk Management Self-Insurance Program covering Town vehicles, property and equipment ("first party claims"), claims arising from damage or injury to citizens for automobile, general liability, property, public official's liability, law enforcement liability and environmental exposures ("third party claims") and claims arising from employee on-the-job injuries ("workers' compensation claims".)
• Supervises all claims management functions involving the receipt, adjustment and settlement or denial of claims filed against the Town. Refers appropriate claims to the Towns’ Solicitor's office and assists as needed during the litigation process. 
• Authorizes payment and denial of liability, property and workers' compensation claims in accordance with designated authority; provides requests and justification to the Mayor and City Council and/or Risk Management Committee for settlements in excess of authority limit.
• Oversee recovery of funds from persons responsible for damage to Town’s property and workers' compensation costs.
• Respond in person to major incidents involving damage to Town property or other significant events and makes periodic inspections to ensure standards are maintained.
• Resolves problems and citizen complaints regarding claims. Make recommendations to upper management for the resolution of complex disputes involving citizen's claims against the Town or allied agencies.
• Prepares the department’s annual budget, manpower planning, training and development to accomplish required objectives.
• Develops and manages in-house cost containment/loss control procedures.
• Facilitates tri-annual actuarial analysis of the self-insurance fund. Works with actuaries to evaluate the solvency of the fund and makes recommendations to upper management for appropriate funding. Gathers and stores data quarterly for Actuary.
• Analyzes and classifies risks as to frequency and potential severity and measures financial impact of risk on company.
• Selects appropriate technique to minimize loss such as avoidance, loss prevention and reduction, retention, grouping of exposure units and transfer.
• Secures management awareness of notifying departments of changing conditions and activities that can lead to losses and a willingness for management to help in reducing the exposure, hence reducing claims and losses.
• Secures the most favorable settlements of claims or losses and maintain efficient claims administration procedures.
• Evaluates, documents, adjusts and maintains current reserves by making quarterly reviews.
• Keeps abreast of subrogation (loss recovery) against third parties which have caused property damage to City property.
• Follows closely all claim expenses on outside investigations, expert witnesses, medical management and legal activities.
• Processes workers compensation claims in accordance with the Maryland State Statue, establishes and maintains files and records of workers' compensation claims, processing medical bills and medical reports and keeping up-to-date on all indemnity benefits.
• Maintains contact with injured workers and respective supervisors, providing information and assistance to the injured worker until able to return to work. Encourages all departments to have injured workers return to light duty. Coordinate all medical management and rehabilitation programs for injured workers.
• Coordinates loss control services for the Town to include inspections of all City facilities and all City departments.
• Coordinate all training activities for city employees concerning safety and MOSH Regulations to include preparation and presentation of in-house and outside agency programs.
• Work with Town’s Emergency Management personnel to coordinate Risk Management's role in Town Government emergency response. Participate in activities related to Emergency and Recovery.
• Management as requested including work outside normal business hours.
• Administers the Town’s Reasonable Suspicion and quarterly random drug screening process, to include random selection of employees, communication of requirements, and timely follow up with Human Resources related to results.

• Directly supervises one employee in the Risk Management Department. 
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the City's policies and applicable laws. 
• Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.