FIND_THE_RIGHTJOB.

C. E. A.

United States

Are You the Dynamic Legal Senior Leader We're Seeking?

State Compensation Insurance Fund is searching for a Deputy Chief Counsel to join the senior leadership team of our fast-paced, statewide in-house workers’ compensation defense practice.

If you are a strategic thinker with a passion for innovation, a talent for inspiring teams, and a proven ability to drive change in a complex environment, we want to hear from you.

As a member of our Claims Legal Deputy Chief Counsel team, you will work collaboratively with the Chief Counsel and other leaders to shape Claims Legal strategy and operations for our organization. In addition you will be:

Providing Senior-Level Guidance: Act as a key advisor to the Chief Counsel and other executive leaders on complex legal matters and strategic initiatives.
The successful candidate will provide oversight to multiple regional legal offices; lead and/or sponsor technology projects, process improvements and statewide projects and initiatives, contributing to the overall mission and success of the organization.
The successful candidate will lead and mentor a dedicated team of legal managers, supporting them to effectively lead their respective regional teams.

Only the most qualified candidates will be selected for an interview.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Location: This is a Statewide recruitment and may be headquartered in any State Fund legal office. Those offices include Bakersfield, Eureka, Fresno, Glendale, Oxnard, Pasadena, Pleasanton, Redding, Riverside, Rohnert Park, Sacramento, Salinas, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, Santa Ana, and Stockton.

Please review the Desirable Qualifications section of this posting prior to completing your statement of qualifications.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

To be considered, you must provide a fully completed STD 678 application, resume and statement of qualifications via CalCareers. Resumes submitted in lieu of the STD 678 may not be accepted. Completed STD 678 must include duties performed, start and end dates, and hours worked per week for each position held.

Selected candidate(s) hired may be required to attend in-person Onboarding at our Vacaville office with expenses for attendance paid by State Fund.

Candidates must reside in California to be eligible for this appointment.

Minimum Requirements

This position does not have a Classification Specification. Requirements and qualifications for this position can be found in this announcement. For additional questions, please contact the hiring department listed below.

C. E. A.

Additional Documents

Job Application Package Checklist
Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-492441

Position #(s):

402-201-7500-XXX

Working Title:

Deputy Chief Counsel

Classification:

C. E. A.

$17,707.00 - $19,531.00 C

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

Work Location:

United States

Telework:

Telework

Job Type:

Career Executive Assignment - Non Tenured, Full Time

Department Information

State Fund is California’s largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance. Established in 1914 by the state legislature, we offer diverse and comprehensive products and services that provide a strong and stable option for employers and injured employees with fast, reliable claims service and medical and indemnity benefits.

Our culture centers on our purpose and values. We exist to provide fairly priced workers' compensation insurance, make workplaces safe, and restore injured workers. To fully represent California, we are committed to our employees by embracing and celebrating our diverse workforce and fostering inclusion to make the workplace a dynamic environment for all. We recognize and reward high performance, yet value a healthy work/life balance.

Department Website: http://www.statefundca.com

Special Requirements

A STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS (SOQ), RESUME, AND STANDARD STATE APPLICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EXAMINATION.

The Statement is a narrative discussion of how the candidate's education, training, experience, and skills meet the minimum and desirable qualifications listed on this bulletin and qualify them for the position. Please see additional information about the SOQ in the "Required Application Package Documents" section of this posting.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 9/26/2025

Who May Apply

Individuals who are eligible to be appointed to this Career Executive Assignment (CEA) by the State of California.

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

State Compensation Insurance Fund

Classification & Selections

Attn: Amanda Smart

PO BOX 659015

Sacramento, CA 95865

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

State Compensation Insurance Fund

Amanda Smart

2275 Gateway Oaks Drive

Sacramento, CA 95833

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
Resume is required and must be included.
Statement of Qualifications -
The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is a narrative discussion of how the candidate's education, training, experience, and skills meet the desirable qualifications and position description listed on this bulletin and qualifies them for the position. Please discuss how your experience relates to the desirable qualifications. The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing and should be typed and no more than three (3) pages in length or less than 12-point Arial font. Resumes and/or Cover Letters do not take the place of the SOQ.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Examination Qualification Requirements

All applicants must possess the knowledge and abilities, and any other requirements, described in this announcement.

Note: Eligibility to take a CEA examination does not require current permanent status in the civil service.

General Qualifications

State civil service employees must possess essential general qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, and ability to work cooperatively with others.

Knowledge and Abilities

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to perform high administrative and policy – influencing functions effectively. Such overall ability requires possession of most of the following more specific knowledge and abilities:

Knowledge of the organization and functions of California State Government including the organization and practices of the Legislature and the Executive Branch; principles, practices, and trends of public administration, organization, and management; techniques of organizing and motivating groups; program development and evaluation; methods of administrative problem solving; principles and practices of policy formulation and development; and personnel management techniques; the department’s or agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program objectives; and a manager’s role in the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.
Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of multidisciplinary professional and administrative staff; analyze administrative policies, organization, procedures and practices; integrate the activities of a diverse program to attain common goals; gain the confidence and support of top level administrators and advise them on a wide range of administrative matters; develop cooperative working relationships with representatives of all levels of government, the public, and the Legislature and Executive branches; analyze complex problems and recommend effective courses of action; and prepare and review reports; and effectively contribute to the department’s or agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity objectives.

These knowledge and abilities are expected to be obtained from the following kinds of experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation and/or evaluation of program policies (experience may have been paid or volunteer; in State service, other government settings, or in a private organization):

CEA Level A - Responsible for broad administrative and program activities, including the execution and/or evaluation of program policies.

CEA Level B - Responsible for extensive managerial and program administration or broad program manager experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation, and/or evaluation of program policies.

CEA Level C - Responsible for extensive highly professional influence and contributes to program, policy, and the methods to provide professional services needed to set policies, to meet the mission of the State department and often exercising technical and or professional skills that are required at this level.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Recent experience in a supervisory role, such as Assistant Chief Counsel or Supervising Attorney at State Fund is strongly preferred.
Expert knowledge of California Workers’ Compensation Law and procedure, trends, and current environment preferred.
Trial experience at the California W.C.A.B.
A high degree of skill in presenting, preparing and handling legal cases.
Ability to lead and motivate staff, resolve conflicts, provide timely and accurate performance feedback and address performance issues to maintain a high performance culture within the Legal Department.
Proficient knowledge of leadership management principles and practices, Human Resources management and supervision guidelines, and State Fund’s Code of Conduct and equal employment principles and guidelines.
Ability to design, plan and implement initiatives, policies and procedures using project management discipline and approach.
Ability to achieve results according to budget plan goals and objectives.
Ability to work collaboratively and maintain effective working relationships with the Legal Leadership team and business partners.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to make speeches, deliver training, draft or edit reports, memos, correspondence, analyses and to articulate concepts and ideas in a clear and concise manner.

Examination Information

The examination process will consist of an evaluation of your Standard State Application (Form 678), resume, and statement of qualifications. The Statement of Qualifications will be used to evaluate your experience and education as it relates to the desirable qualifications, position responsibilities, knowledge, skills, and abilities, and may also serve as documentation of each candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing since this is a critical factor to successful job performance. Therefore, it is to your advantage to invest the time and effort to completely describe your experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and abilities, as the statement of qualifications will be the basis for your final score and rank on the eligible list. (Hiring interviews may be conducted with only the most qualified candidates if it is determined necessary in order to make a selection.)

If you meet the requirements stated in this announcement, you may take this competitive examination. Possession of the Examination Qualifications requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination will be compared with the performance of others who take this examination, and all successful candidates will be ranked according to their scores.

A minimum rating of 70% must be attained in the Examination to obtain list eligibility for this position. All candidates will receive written notification of their examination results.

The results of this examination will only be used to fill this position. Applications will be retained for twelve months.

Hiring interviews for the Job may be conducted with the most qualified candidates.

The examining Department reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service law and rules and all competitors will be notified.

Special Testing Arrangements

If you have a disability and need special testing arrangements, answer the Reasonable Accommodations question appropriately on your Application (STD 678). You will be contacted to make specific arrangements. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this announcement.

Benefits

State Fund employees are eligible for a number of benefits. Our benefit package includes:

Health Benefits Program (CalPERS)

Retirement (CalPERS)

Employer Health and Consolidated Benefits Contributions

Dental, Vision

401(k) and 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

Employee Assistance Program

Group Legal Services Insurance

Holidays, Vacation/Sick/Other Paid Leave

Flex Elect Reimbursement Program

Wellness and Recognition

Alternate Work Schedules

Transit Pass Program

Tuition Reimbursement

Dependent Scholarship Program

Leadership Training

Mentoring Program

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Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website: http://www.statefundca.com

Human Resources Contact:
Amanda Smart
(916) 924-4722
amsmart@scif.com

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Rosa Gil-Robles
(800) 499-8668

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Background Investigation

Prior to employment with State Compensation Insurance Fund, a background investigation (BI) will be initiated.

Acknowledgement

Electronic applications submitted through your CalCareer Account are highly recommended and will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing.

By applying to this position, you are also acknowledging that you have received the following information:

California State benefits
Duty statement/Job Description
Salary ranges and steps for the classification(s) advertised

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

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