L&I Vocational Services Specialist 2

Full Job Description

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

This position may be in the Tukwila, Seattle, or Bellevue service locations.

Please Note: This recruitment closes on 2/23 - Application review begins immediately. Apply today!

Job Highlights

If selected as the Field Vocational Services Specialist 2 (VSS2) you will provide consultative services under direction of the Early Return to Work (ERTW) Supervisor and with the support and guidance of the ERTW Program Manager.

Our top candidate will support the state’s economic well-being by assisting employers to return injured workers to work as quickly and safely as possible.

Our Field VSS2 utilizes professional vocational experience and knowledge to educate and assist employers in setting up return to work programs.

As a Field VSS2 you are providing return-to-work assistance to help keep employees working or returning employees to work as soon as possible following an industrial injury.

The Field VSS2 works as part of a team and will collaborate and utilize other internal programs as needed.

In addition to the base salary above

WFSE CBA 42.21 King County Premium Pay - Employees assigned to a permanent duty station in King County will receive 5% Premium Pay calculated from their base salary. When an employee is no longer permanently assigned to a King County duty station, they will not be eligible for this premium pay.

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety, health, and security of Washington's workers.

We help employers meet safety and health standards and inspect workplaces when alerted to hazards.

As administrators of the state's workers' compensation system, we are similar to a large insurance company, providing medical and limited wage-replacement coverage to workers who suffer job-related injuries and illness.

Our rules and enforcement programs also help ensure workers are paid what they are owed, that children's and teens' work hours are limited, and that consumers are protected from unsound business practices.

Insurance Services is the largest division within the agency and administers one of the premier workers’ compensation organizations in the nation serving over 3.8 million employees working for 260,000 employers.

Requirements

Some of what you’ll do:

• Research and identify employers that could benefit from outreach services.
• Assist workers with understanding the RTW process.
• Provides direct full-scope Return to Work (RTW) assistance to the employer and develop Return to Work Programs.
• Assists employers in identifying and developing light duty jobs, job descriptions, and job offer letters.
• Performs on-site evaluations of worksites to complete Job Analysis’ and ergonomic assessments. Educates employers on RTW processes, best practices and assists them to implement an effective return to work program.
• Informs and educates employers on the Light Duty Return to Work, WA Stay at Work and Preferred Worker Programs.
• Develops job analyses, following WAC 296-19A-137 and WAC 296-19A-170.
• Conducts ergonomic evaluations.
• Provides on-site evaluations of worksites to complete job descriptions, job analysis, and modification of jobs.
• Refers employer to internal partners, such as Risk Management and Safety.
• Uses flexible and agile communication skills to persuade and inform all contributors about requirements and expectations in the RTW process.
• Removes barriers with advanced strategies and problem solving skills.
• Presents on-site educational workshops for employers, employees, and other professionals in the field of worker’s compensation on topics concerning return to work.
• And much more!

Qualifications

Required:

A Master's Degree AND a CRC, CDMS or ABVE certification and at least ONE year of full-time industrial insurance, disability management, or related field experience.

OR

A Bachelor's Degree AND a CRC or CDMS certification and at least TWO years of full-time industrial insurance, disability management, or related experience.

**CRC = Certified Rehabilitation Counselor; CDMS = Certified Disability Management Specialist; ABVE = American Board of Vocational Experts.

AND

Must possess a valid, unrestricted Washington State Driver’s License and show proof of personal liability insurance.

AND

The ability to take action to learn and grow.

The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Desired:

Current experience as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor or Vocational Services Specialist (VSS) in industrial insurance with the Department of Labor and Industries, and/or experience providing return-to-work or vocational services under other jurisdictions.

Additional Information

Things You Need To Know

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 employees 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 3.8 million workers. Take a look at this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

For this position, telework is upon business needs and supervisor approval.

The assigned duty station for this position may be in any of the following service locations: Tukwila, Seattle or Bellevue, WA.

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.

To receive more information on opportunities at L&I sign up for GovDelivery and select L&I job alerts.

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 required and desirable qualifications described in the announcement.

Please include the following documents with your application:

Please do not attach or place any medical information (vaccination status included) 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.

To learn more about our hiring process timeline at L&I please visit our L&I recruiting page at Hiring Process at L&I. If you would like to read our website in a language other than English, scroll up to the top of the page to select your language of choice from the banner.

Background Check Notice:

Prior to a placement in this position, a background check, including criminal history record will be conducted. Information from your background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining your eligibility to perform the requirements of the position.

Other information

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 3.8 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 Jacque Crawford at HRBTU@lni.wa.gov.