Worker's Compensation Specialist

State of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 48,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Health, dental, and life insurance

15 days annual leave (vacation)

15 days sick leave

13 paid holidays

State retirement plans

WeSave discounts

Job summary

South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice seeks a Workers’ Compensation Specialist to provide statewide guidance, ensure compliance, and support the Workers’ Compensation Coordinator and HR leadership. You will coordinate with field units, maintain logs, and handle related HR transactions in SCEIS.

Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree and public personnel administration knowledge, with strong communication and independent-work capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and relevant experience required.
• Strong knowledge of public personnel administration principles.
• Ability to evaluate personnel transactions with sound judgement.
• Clear oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and keep management informed.
• Discretion and decisiveness required.

Responsibilities

• Monitor the Workers' Comp Claim Portal and communicate with managers on light duties or absences.
• Participate in weekly Workers’ Compensation meetings.
• Maintain Workers’ Compensation logs when coordinators are unavailable.
• Coordinate with field units on reports and enter OSHA logs and SCEIS actions.
• Ensure HR transactions related to Workers’ Compensation are processed in SCEIS.
• Assist with timely responses to the Workers’ Compensation email inbox.

Skills

Office procedures

Public personnel administration

Judgement and decision making

Communication skills

Independent work

Discretion & confidentiality

SCEIS system

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

SCEIS

Job description

Job Responsibilities

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and you have a passion for making a difference in the lives of South Carolina's youth, consider joining the dedicated people of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).

Mission

It is the mission of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to impact and transform young lives, strengthen families, and support safer communities through targeted prevention and rehabilitation.

Job Purpose

Under limited supervision, serves as the Workers' Compensation Specialist responsible for providing statewide Workers’ Compensation guidance to injured employees and their managers, ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, policies, and procedures. This position is also responsible for providing administrative support to the Workers' Compensation Coordinator and the Employee Relations & Benefits Director.

Job Responsibilities

• Monitors the Workers' Comp Claim Portal for new injury claims and updated work restrictions and promptly communicates with managers and division heads regarding employees on light duty or out of work status.
• Actively participates in weekly Workers’ Compensation meetings.
• In the absence of the Workers’ Compensation Coordinator, facilitates the weekly meetings, as well as maintaining Workers’ Compensation logs.
• Manages and coordinates with field units regarding First Reports of Injury and accurately enters SCEIS actions and updates OSHA Log with OSHA reportable injuries.
• Ensures all relevant Human Resources transactions are processed in SCEIS, including Workers’ Compensation Option 3 and PA40 Personnel Actions.
• Assists with monitoring the Workers’ Compensation email inbox to ensure timely responses and follow-up.
• Coordinates with other areas within Human Resources to ensure injured employees receive all entitled benefits and reasonable accommodations when appropriate.
• Counsels injured employees on their responsibilities and procedures related to work-related injuries and provides guidance to management on the Workers’ Compensation process.
• Conducts periodic check-in telephone calls with employees to address questions, provides guidance, and ensures ongoing communication.
• Gathers all necessary information for Workers’ Compensation subpoenas and assists the Workers’ Compensation Coordinator with filing required documents.
• Coordinates with other offices and agencies to ensure employees receive authorized medical treatment and return to work as quickly as possible.
• Maintains an accurate preferred provider list for medical services and continuously monitors and updates the information to ensure accuracy.
• Reviews all aspects of the Workers’ Compensation Program’s operating procedures and provides recommendations to the Employee Relations and Benefits Director.
• Assists in developing new procedures or modifies existing ones to ensure the process is as efficient and effective as possible.
• Performs other related job duties as required.

Minimum And Additional Requirements

STATE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

A bachelor's degree and relevant experience.

Additional Requirements

• Working knowledge of modern office methods, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge principles and practices of public personnel administration.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement in evaluating and making decisions concerning personnel transactions.
• Ability to plan and present ideas clearly in oral or written form.
• Must be able to work independently and keep management informed of progress.
• The position requires discretion, confidentially and decisiveness.

This position performs job duties relating to the custody, control, transportation, or recapture of youth within the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the employee may have direct and indirect contact with youth within the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Training applicable to these duties will be provided.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional Comments

The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice offers an exceptional benefits package for FTE positions that includes:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Health, dental, and life insurance
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days of sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• State retirement plans and deferred compensation programs
• Discount Programs such as TicketatWork and WeSave

You will be asked to provide a certified transcript if selected for a position requiring a degree. A background investigation will be conducted that will include but is not limited to, criminal records, driver's license, and child abuse registry prior to an offer of employment. Additionally, a medical examination and drug testing will be required. Please provide an explanation for any gaps in employment.

A resume may be attached to your application but not substituted for completing the work history section of the application.

Benefits For State Employees

The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.

Insurance Benefits

Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Retirement Benefits

State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits

State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note:

The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.