City and County of Denver

Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager - Department of Finance

Downtown Denver Full time

About Our Job

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

What We Offer

The City and County of Denver offers competitive pay commensurate with education and experience.  New hires are typically brought into the organization between $185,000 to $200,000. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

  • A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service

  • 457B Retirement Plan

  • 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year

  • Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

Location & Schedule

The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site several days a week and off-site as needed. In this position, you can expect to be in the office three days per week. Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off-site days.

Who We Are & What You’ll Do

The Department of Finance (DOF) is responsible for the fiscal health of the City.  The DOF leads fiscal analysis and guidance, budgeting, accounting functions, enforcement of fiscal policies, practices and procedures for the entire City and County of Denver. The DOF fulfills the state statutory responsibilities for tax assessment and collection. DOF also manages the City’s debt portfolio and investment portfolio. The DOF commits to delivering these services through a financial structure that reflects the best practices of both the public and private sectors. This commitment promotes better service, enhanced performance measures, maximum accountability, and improved business processes.

About the Division of Risk Management and Workers’ Compensation

The Division of Risk Management and Workers’ Compensation within the Department of Finance oversees the identification, analysis and management of the City’s risk and exposure to loss related to the activities of the City and its departments, agencies and employees. This includes procurement of all property and liability insurance, workplace safety and emergency preparedness oversight for City employees, as well as management of the City’s Workers’ Compensation program for which we are self-insured and self-administered.

ABOUT OUR JOB

The Risk Management and Worker’s Compensation Division is hiring a Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager.  We are looking for a collaborative, optimistic, organized and motivated team member who enjoys building relationships and working with all levels of an organization to join our team. The successful candidate will have excellent decision making and critical thinking skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with employees, peers and leadership. Customer service is crucial. 

Specifically, The Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager oversees the daily operations of the Workers’ Compensation claims team to ensure compliance with the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DOWC) rules, and organizational policies. This role manages claim workflows, provides technical expertise, supports staff development, and ensures timely, accurate claims administration. The Supervisor works closely with internal departments, injured employees, medical providers, and legal partners to promote safe return-to-work practices and efficient claim resolution. 

Key Responsibilities

Supervision & Leadership

  • Lead, mentor, and evaluate workers’ compensation claims adjusters, nurse case managers, and administrative staff

  • Assign caseloads, monitor productivity, and ensure adherence to quality standards

  • Provide regular training on Colorado workers’ comp regulations, internal policies, claims systems, and claims management best practices to the Workers’ Compensation team, as well as citywide personnel and leadership

  • Support professional development and provide constructive feedback through coaching and performance reviews

Claims Oversight

  • Oversee the handling of all Colorado workers’ compensation claims, including medical-only, lost-time, complex, and litigated files

  • Ensure timely reporting, investigation, and determination of compensability in accordance with DOWC rules

  • Review and approve reserves, settlement recommendations, and claim strategies

  • Ensure timely filing of all required DOWC forms (e.g., FROI/SROI, GAL, FAL, admissions, and closures)

  • Monitor medical management, IMEs, referrals, physician selection processes, and MMI/impairment rating procedures

  • Compliance & Regulatory Requirements

  • Ensure the entire claims team complies with Colorado statutes, DOWC rules, and organizational guidelines

  • Monitor changes in Colorado workers’ compensation laws and communicate updates to staff and leadership

  • Draft or assist updating internal policy/procedures, Ordinance documents, and other City specific governance. 

  • Ensure compliance with internal injury-reporting protocols

  • Return-to-Work & Risk Management

  • Citywide collaboration to assist the Return to Work Coordinator with coordination modified duty, transitional work, and return-to-work efforts

  • Assist the Workplace Safety team in identification of injury trends and help develop strategies to reduce workplace injuries and claim costs

  • Participate in internal safety meetings, audits, and accident review sessions as needed

Contract Management

  • Manage Workers’ Compensation claim vendor RFP’s, with WC Program Manager, including RFP drafting and selection process, contract negotiation, and vendor management.  Vendors currently include but are not limited to:

    • Designated Providers

    • Pharmacy Benefit Manager

    • Repricing Services

    • Actuarial Services

    • Case Management Services

    • Risk Management Information System

    • Ergonomics Services

  • Denver Health and Hospital Services Annual Operating Agreement

  • Participate in regular stewardship meetings with selected vendors

  • Stakeholder Coordination

  • Serve as a key contact for TPAs, legal counsel, medical providers, rehabilitation specialists, internal physical therapists and physicians s

  • Provide regular claims updates to leadership, HR, and workplace safety teams

  • Reporting & Analytics

  • With the WC Program Manager, Applications Support Administrator Specialist, and Fiscal Administrator, and Division Director, prepare and analyze claims metrics, financial reports, reserve accuracy, annual budgets, and litigation summaries

  • Identify patterns in claim types, costs, frequency, and return-to-work success rates

  • Recommend operational improvements based on data trends and program performance

Ideal Candidate Qualifications

  • Strong knowledge of the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act, Division of Workers’ Compensation rules, and related case law

  • Exceptional Colorado Workers’ Compensation claims knowledge, with at least 10 years in a complex claims or lost time adjuster role

  • At least 2 years of supervisory experience

  • Customer service and conflict resolution competency

  • Excellent organization and adaptability skills

  • Ability to work through ambiguity

  • Ability to work confidently with all levels of management

  • Exceptional leadership skills including the ability to positively motivate others, mentor, and coaching skills

Education & Experience

  • Bachelors degree in business, Risk Management or other related field

  • Minimum 10 years of workers’ compensation claims handling experience, preferably within Colorado

  • 2+ years of supervisory or team-lead experience

  • Knowledge of Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act, DOWC rules, and claims filing requirements is essential

Skills & Competencies

  • Strong understanding of Colorado workers’ compensation regulations and claims processes

  • Excellent communication, leadership, and conflict-resolution abilities

  • Strong analytical and investigative skills

  • Ability to interpret medical records, legal documents, and impairment ratings

  • Proficiency with claims management systems and Microsoft Office applications, preferably Riskonnect

  • High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Working Conditions

  • The successful candidate is required to work in the office (Wellington Webb Building in downtown Denver) at least three days per week.  There are no exceptions to this requirement

  • Occasional travel to hearings, claim reviews, job sites, medical appointments, or training sessions

  • Exposure to sensitive and confidential information requiring a high degree of discretion

Minimum Required Qualifications

  • Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in a related field based on a specific position(s).

  • Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of experience at the type and level of functional or operational management, which must have included management of professional individual contributors.

  • Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education.
    Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
     

About Everything Else

Job Profile

CA2750 Manager

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Position Salary Range

$98,682.00 - $162,826.00

Target Pay

Based on Experience and Education

Agency

Department of Finance

Redeployment during Citywide Emergencies

City and County of Denver employees may be re-deployed to work in other capacities in their own agencies or in other city agencies to support core functions of the city during a citywide emergency declared by the Mayor.

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. 

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.