Director of Absence Management & Workers Compensation

It's more than a career, it's a calling. MO-SSM Health Mission Hill

Worker Type: Regular

Job Highlights:

Named 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare 2025 - Becker's Healthcare

Named One of the World’s Happiest Workplace 2025 – WorkL

Named One of America's Best In-State Employers 2025 - Forbes

Named One of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women 2025 – Newsweek

Named One of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging & Community 2026 – Newsweek

SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system serving the comprehensive health needs of communities across the Midwest through a robust and fully integrated health care delivery system. The organization’s 40,000 team members and more than 13,900+ providers are committed to providing exceptional health care services and revealing God’s healing presence to everyone they serve. ​​​​​​​

With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, SSM Health includes 23 hospitals, more than 300 physician offices and other outpatient and virtual care services, 12 post-acute facilities, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company and an accountable care organization. It is one of the largest employers in every community it serves.

It is preferred to have this position based at our corporate headquarters in St. Louis, MO as a hybrid role. Remote work would be considered if within our four state footprint (WI, MO, OK, IL).

To request additional information, confidentially submit your interest, or nominate a fellow colleague, please contact:

Angela Jones

Executive Talent Partner

Angela.Jones1@ssmhealth.com

Job Summary: Leads the development and implementation of Workers Compensation, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Short-Term Disability (STD) policies and procedures through a collaborative process.

Job Responsibilities and Requirements:

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintains and applies advanced knowledge of current Workers Compensation, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Short-Term Disability (STD) policies and regulations both nationally and locally and anticipates changes which may affect the organization. Ensures that all employees with absences and claims are treated fairly, with both dignity and respect.

Develops a comprehensive system to track, trend, benchmark and communicate Workers Compensation data; compiles, analyzes, interprets, and reports statistical data identifying key trends. Provides data to track employee safety trends.

Ensures compliance with all, state regulatory and accreditation agencies related to Workers Compensation policies and practices and provides timely and accurate reporting of such.

Ensures compliance with all federal and state regulatory agencies related to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Short-Term Disability (STD) payments, policies, and practices.

Manages and monitors the performance of Third-Party Administrators (TPA’s) who handle Workers Compensation, FMLA and STD processes. Resolves customer complaints on claims processes with the TPA’s. Performs periodic claims reviews to ensure TPA’s are meeting performance standards and makes corrections. When necessary, performs a Request for Proposal (RFP) process with appropriate vendors to replace existing TPA’s.

Designs, implements, and participates in the creation of improved practices, procedures, and programs to deliver a better customer experience to injured or ill employees, improve the efficiency of processes, and improves the costs of disability.

Designs, implements, and administers occupational medicine program for employees and administers transitional duty program for employees with work related injury or illness.

Establishes, administers, and monitors the litigation program for Workers Compensation events. Grants settlement authority for Permanent Partial Disability up to authority level. Prepares analysis recommendations for settlements more than authority level.

Sources, interviews, and retails Legal Counsel to represent company on litigated claims.

Manages activities related to staffing, including hiring, orienting, evaluating, disciplinary actions, and continuing education initiatives.

Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree

EXPERIENCE

Seven years' experience, with five years' in leadership

Department: 8714030033 Absence Management

Work Shift: Day Shift (United States of America)

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40

SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Read our notice of non-discrimination