L&I Medical Program Specialist 2, Bilingual Spanish

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

Do you read, write, and communicate fluently in Spanish and English? Are you looking for an opportunity to take your experience working in a medical clinic, managing insurance claims or vocational service work to the next level?  Do you want to work on a positive, goal-oriented team and focus on improving access to high-quality care for workers with limited English proficiency and/or who experience cultural barriers when using the workers’ compensation system? 

If so, check out this opportunity and consider joining our team as our next Bilingual Medical Program Specialist 2.

If hired for this position, our top applicant will be required to pass an assessment of your ability to write and speak Spanish fluently. We do not use translating software. Employees with bilingual responsibilities receive a 5% increase in pay.

What we are looking for: 

• An individual who has experience with quality improvement principles and practices. 
• Demonstrated understanding of clinical workflow.

• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in both English and Spanish. 
• An individual who has experience with care coordination, including collaborating with a variety of provider types. 
• Proficiency in cultural mediation and the ability to effectively work with individuals from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

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.

Within Insurance Services, the Office of the Medical Director (OMD) is responsible for L&I’s statewide health policy to ensure that injured and ill workers have access to high quality, evidence-based care and that services paid for by the workers compensation Medical Aid Fund are clinically appropriate and cost effective. 

Some of what you’ll do:

• Conduct outreach with community healthcare providers in English and/or Spanish. 
• Provide English and Spanish customer service to injured workers, providers and health care organizations regarding L&I services and using the workers comp system to improve access to services.
• Collaborate with provider staff and other care team members to develop procedures and care pathways that will reduce potential barriers to treatment.
• Collaborate with appropriate internal programs and units to provide assistance to providers in English and/or Spanish.
• Assess claim-specific issues and provider process support, recommend course of action and seek to ensure high-quality health care delivery.
• Create and implement policies/procedures related to quality improvement, appropriate treatment, and cost containment.
• And much more!

Required:

The ability to read, write, and speak fluently in Spanish and English.

AND

One-year of experience as a Medical Program Specialist 1, 

OR

A Master’s degree with major study in public health, public administration, nursing, health administration, economics, mathematics, accounting, business administration, or closely allied field, AND Two years of supervisory or consultative experience in analysis, research, program coordination, or project management in a health services, medical insurance, social services, or workers compensation program, 

OR

A Bachelor’s degree with major study in public health, public administration, nursing, health administration, economics, mathematics, accounting, business administration, or closely allied field, AND Four years of consultative experience in analysis, research, program coordination, or project management in a health services, medical insurance, social services, cost account, financial management, or workers compensation program, 

OR

A total of eight years of demonstrated relevant professional experience in analysis, research, program coordination, or project management in a health services, medical insurance, social services, cost account, financial management, or workers compensation program will substitute for education.

*Qualifying experience could be clinical, vocational, or with insurance claim management.

Required Language Qualifications:

• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in both English and Spanish to increase access to services for underserved communities and Limited English Proficient (LEP) injured workers.
• Must successfully pass language testing at the Advanced-Low pass language testing at the advanced-low proficiency level.

AND the following competencies:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Desired: 

• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in healthcare delivery, healthcare program administration, care coordination, or quality improvement.
• Prior Experience working in occupational health and/or workers' compensation programs.
• Familiarity with Washington State L&I workers' compensation systems, including Claim and Account Center (CAC), Utilization Review, and FileFast.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate in Russian and/or Mandarin Chinese in addition to English and Spanish.

Things You Need To Know  

At L&I, your voice matters.  L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety, health and security of Washington's 3.8 million workers.  Watch this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

L&I provides a modern work environment and excellent benefits including paid leave, tuition reimbursement, Infants at Work Program and a generous retirement package for qualified employees at the end of their career.  Click on the “Benefits” tab to learn more.

We value our employees and their work-life balance.  We support a hybrid work model and offer flexible custom work schedules.   This position is eligible for a flexible schedule (4/10’s, 9/80’s, 5/8’s, etc.) upon approval by management.

Telework is dependent upon business needs and supervisor approval. For positions where statewide travel or travel to other office environments is needed, the frequency of telework will be discussed with the supervisor of the position at the time of offer. The incumbent must reside anywhere in Washington State and preferably in the following counties: Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Pierce, Grays Harbor, Mason, Pacific, Thurston, Lewis, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, Klickitat.

The assigned duty station for this position is Tumwater, Washington.

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

Application process

To be considered for this opportunity, you must submit a complete online application including detailed work history and professional references with current phone numbers.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. A cover letter describing specific qualifications.
2. A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.
3. A list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers.

We will contact the top candidates directly to advance in the selection process.  Because we base the selection on the information you provide, please ensure your application clearly demonstrates how your experience relates to the qualifications and responsibilities described in this announcement.

Applications with incomplete work history, references to a resume in place of detailed work experience, or missing attachments may be considered incomplete and not considered for further review.

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

• For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
• Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.

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.

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.