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The Occupational Health & Work Comp Manager is responsible for the strategic and operational oversight of Occupational Health and Workers' Compensation programs for Neogen. This role provides subject matter expertise in the management of medical surveillance, medical claims, regulatory compliance, and case management operations to ensure high-quality, cost-effective outcomes for injured employees. The position partners closely with internal and external stakeholders to promote injury prevention, timely return-to-work, and continuous program improvement while ensuring adherence to State Board of Workers' Compensation and OSHA requirements.
The Occupational Health & Work Comp Advisor is responsible for the strategic and operational oversight of Occupational Health and Workers' Compensation programs for Neogen. This role provides subject matter expertise in the management of medical surveillance, medical claims, regulatory compliance, and case management operations to ensure high-quality, cost-effective outcomes for injured employees. The position partners closely with internal and external stakeholders to promote injury prevention, timely return-to-work, and continuous program improvement while ensuring adherence to State Board of Workers' Compensation and OSHA requirements.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Occupational Health
- Establish a medical surveillance program and systems to enable proper oversight and assessment of risks.
- Execute medical surveillance globally for hearing conservation, respiratory protection and all other aspect needs identified in site risk profiles.
- Establish ADA accommodation compliance model & lead implementation.
- Develop a global travel medicine program for Neogen staff that incorporates consultations, vaccinations, prescription medications, travel medical care and post-travel care.
- Facilitate a Fit For Duty program in conjunction with HR and Legal.
- Provide medical guidance on ergonomics program focused on both industrial & office ergonomic risks, including standard solution models for common risks.
- Collaborate with Human Resources, Operations, EHS, and other partners to design and implement programs supporting injury prevention, employee health and medical treatment systems.
- Collaborate with HR and provide medical support for the Neogen drug testing program.
- Contribute expertise to the development of controls and surveillance strategies addressing actual and potential workplace hazards.
- Assess, implement, and monitor program options and services to meet employee health needs while promoting quality and cost-effective outcomes.
Workers Compensation
- Lead and manage the Workers' Compensation programs for Neogen, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.
- Establishes all I&I cases into the WC system and manages cases until closure.
- Oversee case management for prolonged, complex, or litigated workers' compensation claims to facilitate appropriate care and timely return-to-work.
- Serve as primary medical triage to establish appropriate first aid care and medical treatment for all injuries reported. Ensuring immediate follow up after hospital, clinic or ER visits assure proper care.
- Partner with supervisors and department leaders to identify, implement, and promote return-to-work strategies aligned with State Board of Workers' Compensation and industry best practices.
- Coordinate care and services with nurse case managers, advanced practice providers, third-party administrators, and external healthcare providers.
- Manage clinic or hospital relationships, ensuring cost effective service agreements and performance guarantees are met.
- Monitor claim progression and outcomes to ensure adherence to clinical, legal, and operational standards.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate collaborative clinical pathways and case management models to enhance program efficiency and effectiveness.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for State Board of Workers' Compensation communications, including stipulations, notices, and reporting requirements.
- Review and maintain compliance with state and federal workers' compensation laws, OSHA regulations, and internal policies.
- Conduct annual reviews of claim trends and make recommendations to ensure regulatory compliance and operational alignment.
- Facilitate periodic meetings with Panel Providers to ensure adherence to reporting, documentation, and process requirements.
Leadership & Engagement
- Provide subject matter expertise on the strategic management of medical claims, complex case escalations and occupational health surveillance programs.
- Identify opportunities to improve vendor performance, cost containment, and service quality.
- Lead deep dive data trending to identify emerging trends and establish associated prevention models.
- Collaborate with EHS staff on OSHA log reconciliation, posting, and compliance activities.
- Support accident investigations through root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
- Partner with organizational leaders and stakeholders to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and risk mitigation.
The Successful Candidate Should Exhibit The Following Behavioral Traits
- Strategic and innovative thinker with a demonstrated ability to challenge boundary conditions and develop innovative solutions, including new business processes, optimization of current processes, etc.
- Skills to establish relationships with business stakeholders, site operations teams, and collaborate with other support organizations across Neogen.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, both written and verbal, with emphasis on the ability to communicate complex technical topics in a clear and concise manner to a variety of audiences, both internal and external to the company.
- Recognized as a subject matter expert in occupational health, workers comp or nursing disciplines.
- Expertise to achieve results by leading and engaging partners internal and external to the company.
Qualifications
You must possess the below minimum qualifications to be initially considered for this position. Preferred qualifications are in addition to the minimum requirements and are considered a plus factor in identifying top candidates.
Minimum Qualifications
- The candidate must have a degree in Occupational Health, Nursing or other EHS disciplines.
- 3 or more years of experience handling workers’ compensation indemnity claims of medium level of complexity/severity.
- Current knowledge of laws and regulations governing worker and worksite health and safety, including OSHA, workers' compensation, ADA & FMLA.
- Active RN license
- 3 or more years of occupational clinic or emergency room nursing experience.
- Ability to obtain appropriate state licensing as required.
- Proficient computer skills required, including Microsoft Office Suite.
- Demonstrated successful ability to build positive relationships and partnerships within department, across the organization and with external customers.
- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact with internal and external customers.
- Ability for occasional travel overnight up to 10%
Preferred Qualifications
- Associate In Claims certification
- Excellent assessment skills in a clinical setting
- Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification, with practical application of program management methodology including Lean Six Sigma / Kaizen.
- Experience with performance metrics, process improvements, and Lean techniques.
Come Be Part Of A Mission that Matters!From inside the farm gate to our dinner plates, Neogen protects the world’s food supply. Through a variety of animal healthcare products, to food safety solutions for dangerous bacteria, allergens, toxins, drug residues and much more, Neogen is there — and you can be too.
