Workers' Compensation Manager

Salary: $136,281.39 - $172,744.42 Annually Location : 401 5th Avenue - Seattle, WA Job Type: Career Service (Exec) Job Number: 2026MS26579 Department: DHR - Dept. of Human Resources Division: Central Employee Svcs Div Opening Date: 02/17/2026 Closing Date: 3/10/2026 11:59 PM Pacific FLSA: Exempt Bargaining Unit: Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines Full- or Part-Time: Full Time Hours/Week: 40 hours/week Summary The Department of Human Resources, Central Employees Services Division seeks a knowledgeable and experienced Workers' Compensation Manager. The successful candidate will lead a team where the number one priority is the health and safety of King County employees. Under the direction of the Deputy Division Director Central Employee Services Division, the Workers' Compensation Manager's role combines strategic leadership with hands-on technical expertise to ensure King County's workers' compensation program performs in accordance with all industrial insurance legal requirements. This role requires a strong and collaborative leader who is not content with the status quo, is able to inspire, and who looks to form long-lasting internal and external partnerships. This is an ideal opportunity for an accomplished workers' compensation professional, self-driven strategic thinker, skilled at navigating and balancing internal business systems with mission-based priorities. The ideal candidate will partner with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality solutions that enhance performance, improve worker experience, and support organizational growth. Applying equity and social justice principles (ESJ) is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. This role will champion King County's deep commitment to ESJ by exemplifying shared values, behaviors, and practices in all aspects of the work. Job DutiesSupervise, develop, and inspire a team of talented supervisors, claims adjudicators, and other claims professionals, including supporting the team's professional development, performance reviews, and hiring processes. Motivate and gain the support of others to achieve organizational goals through emotional intelligence, accountability, and respect. Guide implementation of workers' compensation practices concerning adjudication strategies, communications, workflows, and software usage. Collaborate with the key stakeholders to develop workflow strategies, new tools & technologies, and worker's compensation infrastructure to support the full breadth of workers' compensation projects and initiatives for King County as a self-insured employer. Support change management efforts related to the implementation, transformation recommendations, and business systems improvements. Support strategy goals and objectives and work with cross-functional teams on key objectives. Propose and develop high level strategies and metrics to measure the effectiveness of technical initiatives in serving our customers and stakeholders and advancing our mission. Serve as the main point of contact for King County's Workers' Compensation Program with the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (DLI), including partnering with King County stakeholders to translate government requirements into technical specifications. Ensure accurate and timely reports related to the program are submitted to DLI, excess insurance carriers, and other relevant stakeholders Foster a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and technical excellence in support of the development, deployment, and maintenance of high-quality workers' compensation services to our customers. Coordinate timely service delivery while also addressing backlog management. Perform other duties as assigned by senior leadership. Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, SkillsProgressive workers' compensation program management experience including leading, supervising, and managing staff A minimum of two years' experience managing a workers' compensation program Outstanding verbal and written communication skills Ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences Experience presenting to executive leadership and stakeholders Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build collaborative relationships Resiliency in managing competing priorities and timelines to ensure a well-balanced workload for the staff Self-starter who is highly motivated, collaborative, and innovative Preferred Qualifications Possession or the ability to obtain a Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Claims Administration Certificate Supplemental InformationWho May Apply This recruitment is open to King County employees and the public and will be used to fill one career service position. To Apply If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement. Forms and Materials Required An online employment application completed at The employment history should go back at least 10 years if you have 10 years of employment, or more to include all relevant experience. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. All relevant experience must be included in the application. We highly encourage you to include a cover letter and resume with your application, but it is not required. Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. Initial screening will be based on a review of application materials. The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in a series of one or more interviews. Teleworking Requirement This position works a hybrid schedule of remote and onsite work, requiring work in the office at least three days a week. Hybrid work schedules are subject to change based upon operational necessity. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Union Status This position is not represented by a collective bargaining agreement. King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation. For more information on this recruitment, please contact: Michael Strutynski, HR Business Transformation Manager, at King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs: Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan Transportation program and ORCA transit pass 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays Generous vacation and paid sick leave Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves Flexible Spending Account Wellness programs Onsite activity centers Employee Giving Program Employee assistance programs Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position Training and career development programs For additional information about employee benefits, visit our This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass. For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting. 01 How many years of progressive workers' compensation program management experience do you have that includes leading/supervising/managing staff? Five years or more of experience At least three years but less than five years of experience Two years but less than three years of experience Less than two years of experience None 02 How many years of experience do you have as the manager of a workers' compensation program? Five years or more of experience At least three years but less than five years of experience Two years but less than three years of experience Less than two years of experience None 03 Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? ANDIs this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? ANDDo you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position? Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one. No. 04 If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided:1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff Required Question

Created: 2026-03-04