Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
OIC CAREER OPPORTUNITY
This recruitment will remain open until the position is filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any time after the initial screening date on October 14, 2019. It is in the applicant’s best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s (OIC) Insurance Enforcement Unit is seeking a motivated and qualified individual to fill a time limited exempt appointment as an Insurance Enforcement Specialist. This position is assigned to the Legal Affairs Division, located in our Tumwater office.
Our Insurance Enforcement Specialists, also called Staff Attorneys, work with investigative staff and subject matter experts from around the agency to take action against licensed insurance professionals and companies for violations of the insurance code. Enforcement actions range from cease and desist orders and compliance plans to seven-figure fines. Staff attorneys litigate these actions at the administrative level, including negotiating appropriate consent orders and settlements. In addition, staff attorneys provide legal assistance to staff within the agency and participate on teams aimed to develop rules, legislation, initiatives, and other projects. Examples of past and current work includes the implementation of health care reform, the use of consumer credit scores in insurance rates, and industry-wide enforcement of service contractor registration.
If you are interested in putting your legal and writing skills to work in a complex and dynamic regulatory environment, and you would like to protect consumer’s interests while promoting a healthy insurance market for Washington State, please apply and become part of our team!
This is a civil service exempt position. Salary depends on qualifications, with up to an annual maximum salary of $82,800.
AGENCY PROFILE AND VALUES
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) operates under the direction of the state’s Insurance Commissioner, a statewide elected official. Our mission is provide consumer protection and regulation of the state’s insurance industry.
With a workforce of approximately 240 employees, we are one of the smaller state agencies in Washington state government and are fortunate to have a stable funding source that does not rely on the state’s general fund.
Because we are a small agency, you will truly get a chance to understand the ‘big picture’ of what we do and why we do it. You will also have a chance to get to know your co-workers.
We have high employee satisfaction scores and we value diversity in the workplace. We challenge our employees to continuously improve the way we do business, and to meet and exceed the needs of our customers.
To learn more about this agency, we invite you to visit our website at http://www.insurance.wa.gov/ and listen to our employees talk about why they love working here.
BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR OIC
As an eligible state employee, Washington State offers:
- An outstanding benefits package and retirement plans.
- Training and development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement.
- Program for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (if applicable)
- Free parking at our main office in Tumwater.
- A stable funding source that does not rely on the state’s general fund.
- The fulfillment of public service.
- Excellent work-life balance.
- Commitment to diversity in the workplace and support one another with respect and trust.
- Free Thurston County InterCity Transit STAR pass for public transportation.
Duties:
- Reviews cases to ensure that action is factually supportable and legally defensible.
- Researches relevant laws and comparable cases to determine a range of appropriate agency action by utilizing a variety of resources including LexisNexis, publications, and internal databases.
- Prepares memoranda for agency enforcement committees, verbally summarizes and presents the cases, and makes recommendations for appropriate enforcement actions.
- Meets with referring parties to review cases and finalize recommendations.
- Drafts disciplinary orders, admonitory letters, compliance plans, letters and closing memoranda,
- Negotiates penalties and/or appropriate remedial measures to be taken.
- Presents OIC’s position at hearings before the Presiding Officer and the Office f Administrative Hearings.
- Drafts briefs, pleadings, and motions; prepares discovery and associated responses, oral arguments, exhibits and examination and cross examination of witnesses; and presents evidence using the rules of evidence contained in the Administrative Procedures Act.
- Receives requests for legal perspective requiring the interpretation of insurance law and regulation, both state and federal.
- Researches and prepares memoranda and provides verbal recommendations.
- Participates in the review and drafting of legislation and regulations.
Qualifications:
Required
- Graduation from an accredited law school.
- Possession of license to practice law.
Preferred/Desired Qualifications of this position include:
Experience in:
- Experience in the insurance industry or insurance regulation field (either as an attorney or practitioner).
- Experience in government regulation and enforcement.
- Experience with participating in administrative hearings as an attorney.
- Paid litigation experience.
- Familiarity with the Washington State Legislative process, including bill analysis.
Supplemental Information:
How to Apply: Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically directly at this link for the Insurance Enforcement Specialist. Please select the large green “apply” button at the top of the announcement. If you have not done so previously, you will need to set up an account profile.
The top candidates will be contacted directly to interview for this position. The selection for interviews will be based on information provided by you on your application, your answers to the supplemental questions, and your attached a letter of interest, resume and three professional references. Your letter of interest should describe how your experience, training and education make you a viable and competitive candidate for this position.
Wage/salary depends on qualifications or state rules of compensation (if currently a state employee).
Contact us: For inquiries about this position, please contact Shelly MacKinder at 360.725.7011.
Other Information:
- Proof of a degree will be required at the finalist stage. Candidates are encouraged to pre-plan for this. University degrees must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or foreign equivalent
- Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
- If claiming veteran status, please send your DD 214 to recruitment@nulloic.wa.gov with Insurance Enforcement Specialist-DD214 in the subject line. Please do not attach the DD 214 to your application materials. Please black out personally identifiable data such as social security numbers.
- The Office of Insurance Commissioner is an equal opportunity employer. Auxiliary aides and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Please contact the recruiter listed above.
- If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, please contact support@nullneogov.com or call toll-free at (855) 524-5627.