Workers' Compensation Risk Manager

USA DeBusk is growing, and we need a high-impact Workers Compensation Risk Manager to join our team.

The Workers Compensation Risk Manager manages the Company’s workers’ compensation claims program and supports insurance and risk-financing initiatives under the direction of the SVP of Risk & HSE Strategy. The position combines hands-on claim management, defense coordination, medical and return-to-work oversight, and financial analysis to reduce claim exposure and the Company’s total cost of risk.

The manager translates executive strategy into consistent claim-handling practices, maintains accountability among internal and external partners, and provides recommendations on significant claims and insurance decisions. The role partners with HSE, Operations, Human Resources, and finance while executive program oversight remains with the SVP of Risk & HSE Strategy. Responsibility for day-to-day field safety management remains with HSE and Operations.

USA DeBusk is a best-in-class mechanical and industrial cleaning services provider specializing in servicing the downstream energy market. We offer the full suite of maintenance and turnaround services including hydro blasting, hydro cutting, hydro excavation, chemical cleaning, vacuum services, tank cleaning, degassing/vapor control, FCC catalyst handling and transportation, and specialty turnaround services.

Key Responsibilities:

Workers Compensation Strategy and Claims Management

• Implement the Company’s workers ‘compensation strategy and establish a disciplined approach to claim investigation, evaluation, management, defense, and resolution across all operating jurisdictions.
• Manage the claim portfolio from filing the initial notice through closure, including timely intake, investigation support to HSE, documentation, follow-up, and escalation of significant developments.
• Review significant, complex, questionable, litigated, and high-value claims; recommend defense and settlement strategies to the SVP of Risk & HSE Strategy and coordinate approved actions with authorized claim professionals and counsel.
• Coordinate claim strategy with carrier adjusters, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, defense counsel, medical providers, Operations, HSE, Human Resources, and Finance.
• Evaluate compensability, causation, pre-existing conditions, appointment where legally applicable, medical evidence, and other factors affecting exposure in consultation with adjusters and counsel.
• Coordinate independent medical examinations, medical record reviews, surveillance, and other investigations where appropriate, authorized, and legally permissible.
• Coding and submitting monthly insurance deductible invoices.
• Reviewing loss-runs from the Third-Party Administrator for open and closed claims in each case while maintaining a claims listing and ensuring consistency of the loss-runs with our records.

Medical Management Return to Work and Claim Resolution

• Drive assertive, timely, and legally compliant medical-management, transitional-duty, return-to-work, and claim-resolution efforts consistent with medical restrictions and applicable requirements.
• Review treatment plans, medical bills, utilization, provider performance, and claim duration; coordinate with authorized medical-management resources to address delays, unnecessary costs, and barriers to recovery.
• Work with Human Resources and Operations to identify suitable transitional assignments, document restrictions and work offers, and monitor progress toward sustained return to work.
• Participate in reserve reviews and settlement planning; evaluate claim development and exposure, challenge unsupported assumptions, and recommend appropriate changes through the authorized adjuster, administrator, or counsel.
• Track litigation milestones, defense budgets, settlement opportunities, recoveries, and closure plans.
• Escalate material changes in exposure and obtain approvals within delegated authority.

In House Injury and Claims Management

• Manage smaller injuries directly at the USA DeBusk level under the Company’s approved in-house handling criteria, rather than through carrier claim administration when permissible. Coordinate medical care, follow-up, payments, and return-to-work with the appropriate internal partners.
• Evaluate each matter for in-hours handling based on injury severity, expected cost and duration, treatment needs, jurisdictional requirements, policy conditions, and potential for escalation. Confirm whether carrier notice or reporting is required even when USAD administers the matter internally.
• Maintain a separate, identifiable record for every in-house matter, including incident facts, medical documentation, work restrictions, medical and other payments, authorizations, reporting status, follow-up actions, and closure rationale. Include these matters in consolidated loss and cost reporting.
• Monitor recovery, medical spending, lost time, disputes, and changes in diagnosis. Escalate matters exceeding approved thresholds or presenting significant exposure; coordinate timely carrier or TPA submission with a complete transfer of records and payment history.
• Reconcile in-house expenses with Finance and track any subsequent carrier payments or reimbursements to prevent duplicate payments. Review in-house outcomes and recommend improvements to eligibility criteria and handling practices.

Insurance and Risk Financing

• Support the SVP of Risk & HSE Strategy in overseeing workers’ compensation, automobile liability and other applicable casualty insurance and risk-financing programs.
• Work with executive management, brokers, carriers, third-party administrators, OCIP program carriers, captive or alternative-risk partners, and legal counsel to evaluate coverage structure, deductibles, self-insured retentions, collateral requirements, loss-sensitive programs, and alternative risk-financing opportunities.
• Participate in insurance renewals, underwriting presentations, loss reviews, and risk-management discussions. Compile and validate loss runs, exposure information, payroll data, claim narratives, and other submission materials.
• Analyze loss trends, claim development, reserves, insurance costs, and retained losses; recommend practical strategies to reduce the Company’s total cost of risk.
• Prepare information and presentations demonstrating the Company’s risk-management capabilities to insurers, underwriters, customers, brokers and other stakeholders.

Authority and Accountability

The manager operates within authority delegated by the SVP of Risk & HSE Strategy. Significant settlements, material changes in claim strategy, insurance placements, financing commitments, and vendor engagements are submitted for approval under Company requirements. The position coordinates claim decisions with the authorized carrier, administrator, and legal counsel and does not independently provide legal advice.

Maintain confidential medical, employee, insurance, and litigation information using approved systems and access controls. Coordinate with Human Resources, counsel, and claim partners to meet applicable reporting, recordkeeping, privacy, and claim-handling requirements.

Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to document complex cases clearly. Demonstrated ability to leverage technology (Microsoft Suite, advances skills in Excel) and legal documentation systems.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Associates’ degree in risk management, insurance, business, finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.  
• At least 15 years of progressively responsible workers’ compensation claims or risk-management experience, including multi-state claim administration and management of complex or litigated claims.
• Working knowledge of workers’ compensation claim practices, jurisdictional difference, compensability analysis, medical management, return-to-work programs, reserve evaluation, and settlement practices.
• Experience working with carriers, third-party administrators, defense counsel, brokers, medical providers, and internal business leaders.
• Ability to interpret loss runs, claim development, reserves, exposure data, and insurance program costs; proficiency with Excel and claims-management or risk-information systems.
• Strong investigative judgment, negotiation, written communication, organization, and follow-through; ability to manage competing priorities independently in a remote setting.
• Any professional licenses required for assigned duties must be obtained and maintained, as applicable.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

•  Bachelor’s degree in risk management, insurance, business, finance, or a related field, or and equivalent experience combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience with claims management specific to industrial services, construction, energy, or other operations with significant workers’ compensation exposure and moderate auto liability exposure.
• Experience supporting casualty renewals, large-deductible or self-insured retention programs, loss-sensitive arrangements, captives, or other alternative risk structures.
• Workers’ Compensation Professional (WCP), Associate in Risk Management (ARM), Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Associate in Claims (AIC), or a comparable credential.

REMOTE WORK EXPECTATIONS

This position may be performed 100% remotely. Maintain reliable connectivity, a private workspace suitable for confidential discussions, and availability during agreed business hours with flexibility for multiple time zones. Participate in virtual claim reviews and leadership meetings and use Company approved systems for communication and secure record management. Periodic travel required for in-person meetings on a monthly and/or quarterly basis.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Performance is evaluated against agreed targets for claim frequency and severity, claim duration, sustained return-to-work, litigation and medical costs, closure progress, reserve-review quality, vendor accountability, data accuracy, timely reporting and escalation, and contribution to total cost of risk. Results are assessed in the context of claim mix, jurisdiction, and operational exposure.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be willing and capable of performing computer-based tasks while sitting or standing at a computer-based workstation for prolonged periods of time.
• Must be able to make general decisions requiring judgment and perform activities requiring sustained concentration.

USA DeBusk offers the industrial infrastructure sector a technologically advanced and complementary suite of high-value traditional and specialty services for turnarounds, routine maintenance, and unplanned outages. We help customers save time, reduce costs, and optimize their processes while assuring best-in-class safety and compliance. Primary service lines include chemical cleaning; emission controls; fabrication services; FCCU hot catalyst handling; hydro blasting; hydro excavation; hydro cutting; inert catalyst handling; inspection; mechanical rental; nitrogen; pigging, decoking & filtration; pipeline integrity and field services; reactor cleaning; tank cleaning; transportation; unit decontamination; vacuum services; and waste solutions. USA DeBusk was founded in 2012, and our headquarters is in Deer Park, TX. We operate numerous offices, service centers, and customer-site-based locations across North America. Visit www.usadebusk.com for more information.

USA DeBusk is an equal opportunity employer, and we thrive on our differences for the benefit of our employees, our customers, and our community. It is our policy to provide equal opportunities in all decisions related to hiring, training, and promoting regardless of race, religion, color, gender, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status or any legally protected characteristic or class.