Risk and Workplace Safety Manager

The Countywide Risk and Safety Compliance Manager (Administrative Manager) leads and manages the activities of the Howard County Risk Management and Safety Division. The Division is responsible for determines and mitigates risks to employees and patrons of the County and is responsible for the Countys property and casualty claims administration safety and loss control ensuring appropriate insurance levels and managing selfinsurance programs with major emphasis on protection of the Countys employees patrons and assets.

The Countywide Safety Compliance Manager supervises staff performing the full range of programmatic work to administer the County s safety and environmental health programs ensuring compliance with Federal and State of Maryland safety and occupational health mandates regulations and requirements and providing training and loss control initiatives for all County operations. The Countywide Safety Compliance Manager ensures the completeness soundness sufficiency and integration of division work across all program areas and throughout the County as appropriate. This position serves as a member of the Office of Human Resources management team acting as a senior functional expert and providing internal consultancy on risk management affairs. The position performs work that is at times confidential or highly sensitive in nature with substantial Countywide impact.

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

Performs senior administrative work which may include supervision under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work includes directing and coordinating significant departmental administrative programs preparing and monitoring complex budgets and performing management studies to effect efficiency and costeffective operations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

Manages Howard County s Risk Management and Safety Division. Serves as the Countywide Risk

and Workplace Safety Compliance Manager and oversees the daytoday operation of the Risk

Management and Safety Division. Leads the work of key programs including risk control safety

health liability employee and thirdparty claims and the liability insurance portfolio for the

County.

Establishes division program goals and objectives; sets work standards; enforces work rules;

plans schedules assigns and reviews the work of the division; provides input for recommends

and administers approved division budgets monitoring and controlling expenditures specific to

the Risk Management and Safety division.

Manages division staff and other personnel in support of programmatic objectives and

operational requirements performing full range of supervisory Human Resources management

functions across the division including but not limited to recommending personnel actions such

as recruitment selection and transfer; training and developing staff; approving or disapproving

leave; establishing and communicating objectives and expectations of staff; and evaluating staff

performance.

Safety Program:

Manages the administration of the Countys safety and environmental health programs ensuring

that the County s programs are compliant with all appropriate laws and regulations and internal

policies and procedures affecting programs.

Oversees physical and work site inspections for adherence to County safety policies develops

programs to ensure MOSH/OSHA compliance and reduces hazards to county employees

property and/or visitors.

Leads accident investigations pertaining to workplace safety and liability concerns.

Develops programs to reduce accidents and injuries of employees and customers/visitors and

guidelines to monitor program.

Develops and implements workplace safety and liability mitigation training to ensure

understanding with relevant Federal State and County safety and health regulations policies

and sound risk management practices.

Conducting risk assessments of County operations recommending corrective actions and

monitoring occupational safety concerns.

Implements a program for workplace safety inspections in coordination with coordination with

operating departments.

Stays abreast of safter regulations. Researches analyzes and drafts policies and procedures to

ensure compliance with federal/state requirements best practices and improve existing

protocols.

Reviews technical literature meets with vendors conducts surveys and exchanges information

with other agencies.

Communicates and presents technical information to audiences in a manner that facilitates

comprehension and awareness in all audiences from lowest grade to senior management.

Serves as County representative with compliance agencies for site inspections. Ensures

communications demonstrate cooperation understanding of issues and timely follow up.

Risk Management Functions:

Manages the Risk Management SelfInsurance Program covering claims involving damage to

County vehicles property and equipment ("first party claims"); claims arising from damage or

injury to citizens for automobile general liability property public officials liability law

enforcement liability and environmental exposures ("third party claims") and claims arising from

employee onthejob injuries ("workers compensation claims".)

Manages Workers Compensation program to include appropriate coordination with

departments employees and human resources on decisions by the ThirdParty Administrator

(TPA). Ensures timely and appropriate payments are made on claims and services to claimants.

Manages liability program to include risk assessments and oversight/administration of liability

claims.

Oversees the selfinsurance and commercial insurance programs to ensure cost containment

measures claims projections and management analyses are accomplished.

Analyzes internal programs and provides recommendations for minimizing risk levels.

Procures necessary insurance coverage.

Reviews contracts to determine appropriate insurance requirements and potential liability to

the County and monitors insurance coverages to ensure timely renewal of coverages.

Manages the placement and renewals of commercial insurance contracts for third party

administration of selfinsured claims and all related contract services. Develops Request for

Proposals (RFPs) to attain necessary insurance coverages including performance standards for

vendors.

Develops insurance recommendations coordinate insurance procurement packages prepares

policy renewal applications maintains underwriting data evaluates competitive quotes for

commercial insurance coverage and places appropriate coverage.

Serves as liaison with insurance brokers to ensure competitive and effective quotes

comprehensive coverages.

Ensures timely reporting and coordination of claims.

Prepares and submits all required State applications and reports to assure the County s

compliance with selfinsurance regulations for the Maryland Worker s Compensation

Commission and Motor Vehicle Administration.

Works with legal counsel and thirdparty claims administrators to ensure appropriate

subrogation from third parties responsible for losses in liability and workers compensation

claims.

Supervises all activities of the contracted ThirdParty Claims Administrator and outside defense

counsel.

Supervises the claims management function involving the receipt adjustment and settlement or

denial of claims filed against the County. After complete investigation refers appropriate claims

to the Office of Law for defense 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 request and justification to the Risk

Management Committee for settlement authority for claims in excess of authority limit.

Responds to major incidents involving damage to County property or other significant events.

Resolves problems and citizen complaints regarding claims or make recommendations to upper

management for the resolution of complex problems and disputes involving citizens claims

against the County or allied agencies.

Management and Financial Responsibilities:

Chairs panels to evaluate bids and approves contract award in coordination with corporate

purchasing. Monitor work of consultants or contractors. Reviews and certifies invoices for

payment; and otherwise manages contracts.

Serves on internal committees and boards Accident Review Board and the Countys Disability

Review Board. Organizes and staffs meetings and agendas of the Risk Management Committee

for decisions on liability cases.

Prepares the annual operating budget for Risk and Safety functions and monitors expenses to

assure budget compliance during the fiscal year.

Determines the allocated cost of selfinsurance charged back to all County departments and

agencies who participate in the selfinsurance program using analysis of loss history current

exposure and projected liabilities. Coordinates develops and manages inhouse cost

containment/loss control procedures.

Facilitates annual actuarial analysis of the selfinsurance fund and appropriate funding levels for

operating budget and reserve levels. Makes recommendations to senior management for

appropriate funding.

Emergency Management:

Works with County Emergency Management personnel to coordinate Risk Managements role in

County Government emergency response.

Participates in activities related to Emergency Management as requested including working

outside normal business hours.

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

Bachelors degree and six (6) years related experience or an equivalent combination of education and

experience.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Skills in applying principles methods techniques and practices of various areas of workplace

safety environmental health and risk management in a wide range of programmatic work

including but not limited to occupational safety and environmental health administration; auto

liability property damage and general liability insurance administration; and workers

compensation administration.

Ability to lead regulatory or programmatic initiatives.

Skills in conducting claims investigation and litigation management for automobile property

general liability and workers compensation.

Knowledge of Federal State and County occupational safety and health standards Workers

Compensation in Maryland and industry best practices.

Knowledge of workplace operations hazards and environmental concerns across a wide array

of occupations (including law enforcement and an array of skilled trade and labor jobs) to

identify safety and occupational health issues violations and practical ways of alleviation and

remediation.

Ability to conduct research compile data and prepare statistical and narrative reports.

Ability to evaluate for compliance using applicable laws and regulations policy and procedures

and other relevant regulatory standards.

Ability to solve problems and take initiative on any compliance issues.

Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of executives

and leadership members managers clients customers and the general public.

Ability to travel to and move around job sites independently to conduct inspections

investigations audits assessments and other related work.

PREFERRED EDUCATION KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Bachelor s degree in Occupational Safety and Health Industrial Hygiene or related field.

10 years of experience leading the design development and delivery of workplace safety

training compliance inspections and interpreting/applying Federal and State safety regulations.

Demonstrated experience administering workers compensation liability reviews and insurance

portfolios.

Management of staff and strong project management skills.

Professional credentials/certification in related field such as Certified Safety Professional

Certified Industrial Hygienist OSHA 30Hour certification etc.

Strong analytical critical thinking presentation and writing skills.