Claims Manager

Salary

$126,922.02 - $160,880.93 Annually

Location


King Street Center - 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA

Job Type

Career Service (Exec)

Job Number

2026JI27432

Department

DES - Executive Services

Division

Risk Mgmt

Opening Date

06/11/2026

Closing Date

6/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

FLSA


Exempt

Bargaining Unit


Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines

Full- or Part-Time


Full Time

Hours/Week


40 hours/week

Summary

King County's Office of Risk Management Services is seeking an exceptional people leader to become our new Claims Manager. This person will manage a team of Claims Investigators who are responsible for providing coordination of all tort claims made against King County and its officials, officers and employees.

This position functions with a considerable degree of independence and judgment, and interfaces with the County's attorneys, and departmental management and staff. The position requires a working knowledge of the principles of risk management as they relate to public entity exposures, commercial insurance, and loss control.

ABOUT THE OFFICE OF RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES
The Office of Risk Management Services provides external services to the community as well as internal services to King County agencies, including:

• Claims: King County investigates, evaluates, and resolves claims made against the county in a fair and expeditious manner.
• Insurance : King County administers a self-insurance program and purchases a variety of other insurance policies and related services consistent with sound risk management practices and the needs of the County.
• Contracts : Risk Management advises King County agencies on insurance requirements in all types of contracts. Risk Management actively negotiates and, together with the Prosecuting Attorney's Office, assists agencies in pursuing and tendering claims arising out of contractual relations.
• Recovery Services : Risk Management is charged with seeking compensation for damages caused to King County property or injury to King County employees by negligent third parties.
• Enterprise Risk Management Program (ERM) : ERM works to proactively identify and assess high priority risks King County owns and improve controls for those risks. The program provides King County departments with consultation, data, and direct support to improve decision making and action planning.
• Finance & Administration : provides a wide range of financial and administrative support services to the division including budget, accounting, and general office support.
• Open Government : Seeks to deliver government transparency, accountability, and accessibility through administration of the Public Records (Disclosure) Program, Ethics Program, Financial Disclosure Program, and Lobbyist Disclosure Program.

Job Duties

SCOPE OF JOB DUTIES: In order to be considered for this opportunity, you must at a minimum, demonstrate skill and ability to:

• Review, evaluate and monitor claims made against the County.
• Plan and coordinate investigative activities on claims with claims officers and King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
• Advise County officials, officers, employees, agents and managers on financially serious or sensitive matters.
• Review and evaluate all file materials and recommendations prepared by Claims Officers for accuracy and thoroughness in making final disposition on claim.
• Represent the County at mediations, settlement conferences, arbitrations and briefings to King County Executive on claims settlements.
• Make policy decisions and recommendations on office operations and procedures.
• Identify and coordinate loss control projects with the Enterprise Risk Manager and claims officers.
• Look for efficiencies and identify areas for improvement of service.
• Serves as a member of the ORMS Management Team.
• Supervise the work of team members. Hire, assign and schedule work, evaluate performance, train, coach and initiate disciplinary action when appropriate.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

WE ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES WHO:

• Have a strong background with managing a range of Tort Claims for a large multifaceted organization.
• Are an effective manager who can operate within a complex multicultural and diverse environment, government, communications, public relations and/or related environment.
• Are comfortable handling difficult situations and having crucial conversations with external customers and staff.
• Have a continuous improvement mindset. Update standard work and create new processes when necessary.
• Is organizationally and politically savvy. Able to manage highly visible, complex, and sensitive projects and programs involving multiple and diverse partners with conflicting priorities and political considerations.
• Is a champion for Equity & Social Justice. Understands that systematic racism and its long-term effects are pervasive in our society. Are comfortable having candid and sincere conversations with all employees about race and equity in the workplace.
• Can create initiatives necessary to develop, coach, and mentor a culturally and generationally diverse staff in a collaborative manner that focuses on employee engagement, good communication, and teambuilding.
• Can persevere and adapt as required ,while working in a multi-faceted and sometimes ambiguous environment.
• Have any combination of education and experience necessary to perform the job duties.

Supplemental Information

• This position is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• This position is not represented by a union.

Why King County?

• Competitive - healthcare plans
• Free - transportation options
• Manager Support - structured employee assistance program
• Paid - vacation time (in addition to paid holidays)
• Paid - sick leave
• Deferred - compensation plan
• Twelve - paid holidays
• Awesome - Employee Giving Program

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play. Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

Are you ready to APPLY?

The recruitment for this position is open to all qualified applicants . A completed King County Application is required. We highly recommend that you also provide a cover letter and resume. If you have any questions, please contact Jen Irwin , Talent Management Supervisor, by e-mail at View email address on click.appcast.io , or by phone at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Connect with Jen on LinkedIn .

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12paid holidays each year plus twopersonal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental,family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.


For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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