Our Mission: Keep Washington Safe and Working! Our Values: Customer Focus, One L&I, Respect, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Learning and Growth, Reliability.

The Department of Labor & Industries is looking to fill the role of the Early Return to Work (ERTW) Program Manager in the Field Services and Public Safety (FSPS) division.

Reporting to the Regional Administrator, the ERTW Program Manager is responsible for program policy development, procedure implementation and marketing and is the primary point of accountability for the performance of the ERTW Program. The ERTW program is a statewide program employing Vocational professionals working in the field throughout the state focused on improving return to work outcomes for employers, injured workers and Washington job seekers. The team provides onsite and virtual consultation services to employers and assists employers to set up comprehensive return to work programs. Additionally, ERTW team members are co-located in WorkSource locations statewide to assist workers in return to work.

We are seeking an experienced individual who, in collaboration with divisional leadership and stakeholders in other divisions, will set the vision, strategies, and policies for the ERTW Program. This position leads the statewide ERTW Vocational professionals to ensure effective service delivery and achievement of program goals. This requires collaboration with agency leaders as well as Workforce Development Councils statewide, private sector Vocational providers, industry groups, and public and private sector organizations throughout the state connected with employer services, return-to-work and other claim management support processes.

The ERTW Program Manager develops and maintains successful alliances between stakeholders and delivery of timely consultation and solutions, which directly contribute to the agency goal of “One L&I” and of the agency’s mission to “Keep Washington Safe and Working.” The work of this position focuses on agency goals:

Goal 2 – Helping injured workers heal and return to work.

Goal 3 – Making it easy to do business with L&I.

If you are passionate about changing the culture to address work disability prevention and recovery, then apply today for this amazing role.

Some of what you will do:

• Provide reliable and professional sound guidance at an advanced level of expertise in the Vocational field. Make decisions on policy and procedure development and implementation, program business plans, performance measures, workload indicators and standard work.
• Accountable for policy and procedure development and implementation of appropriate prioritization of workload, delivery of direct services, connections and communications with claim managers, employers, WorkSource partners, and additional stakeholders.
• Make decisions impacting other programs and the overall operational effectiveness of ERTW in the Workers Compensation System.
• Build relationships and execution of services available through WorkSource locations across the state to support and improve return to work outcomes and durable employment for injured workers and all job seekers through the WorkSource model.
• Negotiate and manage contracts and invoices with individual WorkSource partners to include but not limited to ** Memorandums of Understanding ** Infrastructure Funding Agreements ** Resource Sharing Agreements.
• Sponsor and lead projects and improvement efforts.
• Promote policies and practices to increase return to work opportunities for injured workers and cost savings strategies for employers by facilitating return to work.
• And so much more!

Required qualifications and Education:

A CRC or CDMS and Masters Level Education in a related field,

AND

Three years of managerial experience in the private or public sector, a regulated insurance carrier, or a pertinent professional association with knowledge of workers’ compensation systems (Washington state is preferred).

Knowledge and abilities to interpret laws, rules, and regulations covering vocational services in a workers’ compensation environment.

Strong decision making, conflict resolution and negotiation skills.

Ability to apply creative problem-solving techniques.

Experience in:

• Program and policy development.
• Contract negotiation and contract management.
• Data driven performance management.
• Leading process improvement efforts, lean training/facilitation training.
• Experience leading, managing, and directing professionals and technical staff.
• Marketing and outreach.

Demonstrated ability to:

• Provide strategic planning, budget development, and the use of data and performance metrics to plan and manage.
• Effectively and consistently communicate with agency staff throughout the organization.
• Apply human resource management principles and labor management relations.

Our selected candidate will also have the following competencies:

• Verbal Communication
• Written Communication
• Researching and Gathering Information
• Interviewing
• Relationship Building
• Analysis
• Consulting
• Mediating Disputes
• Attention to Detail
• As well as L&I core competencies and Agency Leadership Competencies.

Also, must possess a valid unrestricted driver license.

Preferred/Desired Education, Experience and Competencies:

Three years of professional level experience providing private sector vocational rehabilitation services.

Effective project management skills and certification(s)

PROSCI Change Management trained.

To help you maintain a proper work-life balance, teleworking is one of the work schedule options for this position. L&I also offers flexible custom work schedules.

State employee who meet the qualifications will become eligible for a generous retirement package at the end of the employee’s career. Click on the “Benefits” tab to learn more.

At L&I, your voice matters. In addition, L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. Take a look at this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

Per Governor Inslee’s Directive 22-13.1, state employees must be fully vaccinated effective November 4, 2022. Providing proof of being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment and your vaccine status will be verified by Human Resources prior to your first day of employment. Please contact April Sharp at elib235@lni.wa.gov if you need information on medical or religious accommodation.

For this position, telework is permitted on occasion. The assigned duty station for this position can be in any of our Washington State office locations.

For positions where in-office work is necessary, the frequency of telework will be discussed with the supervisor of the position at the time of offer.

Application process

We will contact the top candidates directly to interview for this position. Because we base the selection on information provided by you, it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities that address the mandatory and desirable qualifications described in the announcement.

Please include the following documents with your application:

• A cover letter describing specific qualifications.
• A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.
• A list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers.

Please do not attach or place any information about your vaccination status, including listing the governor’s mandate as a reason for leaving employment, within the application, resume, or cover letter. If you do, we will have to reject your application to safeguard others from receiving your confidential information. You will have to remove the confidential information before you can apply again.

Other information

• A job offer is contingent upon completion of a background check that includes a criminal record review.
• For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
• Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.

Did You Know?

Washington is America's Top State to live, play, and work, according to U.S. News (2021). Join the L&I team and enjoy all the Evergreen State has to offer.

In addition to offering a positive balance between life and work, L&I provides one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation. We also believe your voice matters. We value our employees and their work-life balance by encouraging flexible schedules. L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3 million workers.

Veterans Preference

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to their application a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information, contact L&I’s Jobs@lni.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

L&I employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the agency mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need accommodation in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 360-902-5700. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

For more Information

If you have any questions regarding this job posting, program, or the agency, please contact April Sharp at elib235@lni.wa.gov or Angela Laramie at lari235@lni.wa.gov.