Workers' Compensation & Benefits Specialist

Special Instructions to Applicants: Please attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary:

Rice University’s Human Resources team is seeking a Workers’ Compensation Specialist to join the Total Rewards Team. In this role, you’ll manage and administer all aspects of the University’s workers’ compensation program, ensuring timely reporting, accurate information, and smooth coordination of claims from initial incident through resolution. You’ll also serve as a helpful resource for faculty, staff, and students, assisting with general benefits questions along the way.

The ideal workers’ compensation specialist candidate will be a detail-oriented and highly organized professional with deep knowledge of workers’ compensation laws, claims processes, and return to work best practices.

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.”

Annual Hiring Salary Range: This is an Exempt (salaried) position with a hiring range of up to $70,000 annual salary, commensurate with experience and education.

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
• 2 or more years of experience in wrokers' compensation, leave, or benefits administration
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Skills:

• Strong knowledge of workers’ compensation laws, claims processes, and regulatory compliance
• Ability to interpret changes in workers' compensation legislation and regulatory updates, and effectively communicate their impact to campus constituents
• Knowledge of multi-state workers’ compensation regulations
• Proficiency in Excel
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Ability to interpret various health and disability plans
• Attention to detail and focus on accuracy
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality
• Collaboration both in and out of the department

Preferences:

• 6 years of experience in workers’ compensation
• Certified Benefits Professional (CBP)
• PHR or SHRM-CP preferred

Essential Functions:

• Coordinates and processes workers' compensation claims for the campus
• Prepares and compiles workers' compensation data and reports to meet university reporting requirements
• Ensures timely claims reporting and documentation accuracy
• Manages injury claims in coordination with third-party administrators
• Serves as the primary contact for workers' compensation case,s maintaining communication with employees, students, departments, external partners, and other University stakeholders
• Guides employees regarding workers' compensation policies, procedures, and benefits
• Delivers ongoing education and training to employees, students, supervisors, and managers on workers’ compensation procedures and policies
• Stays up to date and knowledgeable on federal, state, and local workers' compensation laws and industry best practices
• Applies subject matter expertise in resolving benefit issues at the plan level or at the employee level in a manner that meets the university’s total reward strategy
• Takes a new perspective on existing solutions
• Represents the highest level, non-managerial, escalation level in resolving employee benefit issues
• Participates in compliance reporting and communication development
• Participates in the strategy, design, and revision of benefit communications and training materials and HR / Benefits website
• Oversees HR and vendor management for assigned caseload
• Generates benefit program reports and metrics
• Has accountability for processes for assigned areas
• Acts as a resource for faculty, staff, and student benefits teams
• Other duties as assigned

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.