Round Mountain is an open-pit mine located in Nevada, one of the best mining jurisdictions in the world. The mine uses conventional open-pit mining methods and processes ore by mill and heap leach. Kinross began operating the mine in 2003, and it has since become a continuous improvement leader in the Company’s portfolio. Round Mountain poured its 15 millionth ounce in 2018. Round Mountain and the nearby Bald Mountain mine make up Kinross’ Nevada operations.
The Round Mountain mine is an important contributor to the Nye County economy and, working with local stakeholders, has helped achieve significant improvements in healthcare and education in the area.
Job Description
The Worker’s Compensation & Leaves Specialist oversees all aspects of workers compensation claims processes by coordinating medical care, reducing costs, and expediting return to work efforts. Along with overseeing and administering leave requests and accommodations requiring specialized attention, particularly those arising under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), state and local leave laws, and short-term or long-term disability plans. This role ensures compliance with relevant laws and regulations, supports employees during work related leave, and manages claims efficiently. This position will report to Kinross Nevada HR Manager and will support Round Mountain and Bald Mountain mines. This role will primarily be a remote role with 10% travel to the mine sites.
Essential Functions
• Claims Handling: Manage worker's compensation claims from initial report through resolution, ensuring accurate documentation and timely processing.
• Cost Management: Helping to reduce medical and indemnity costs by providing tailored treatment plans and managing costs over the course of an employee's recovery.
• Investigations: Collaborate with H&S on workplace incidents, and compiling reports.
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal workers’ compensation laws and regulations.
• Education: Provide training and support to staff regarding workers’ compensation processes and procedures.
• Timelines & Reports: Ensuring that the injured worker's recovery, treatments, and documentation are up to date. They provide monthly updates and final closure reports to the claims adjuster. Maintain detailed records of all claims and correspondence related to worker's compensation.
• Communication: Acting as the first point of contact between the claims adjuster and the injured worker, ensuring all actions align with the claims process. Communicate with employees regarding their needs for leave and/or modified work schedules. Ensures that employees are aware of their responsibilities and of any documentation and notice required to qualify for and to take leave.
• Coordination of Care: Acting as a liaison between the injured worker, healthcare providers, employers, and insurance carriers to facilitate treatment plans and navigate the complexities of workers' compensation.
• Return-to-Work Facilitation: Working with team to facilitate job modifications and ensure a timely return to work for employees. Streamlining the process, improving care quality, and achieving better recovery outcomes for injured workers and more efficient processes for employers.
• Accommodation: Collaboration with HR Business Partners to facilitate leave requests, which may include accommodation requests under the ADA. Consult management throughout the reasonable accommodation request process, ensuring the company is providing accommodation in accordance with ADA.
• Preserves confidentiality of employee medical documentation and files.
• Manages the FMLA leave administration process from the employee’s initial notice of the need for leave to the return to work. This includes gathering and completing all required paperwork, determining leave eligibility, designating leave as FMLA-qualifying, requesting medical certification as needed, and accounting for intermittent and reduced schedule leave use.
• Advises managers and employees on the interaction of leave laws with paid time off, workers compensation, and short-term and long-term disability benefits.
• Oversees the return-to-work process for employees returning from extended FMLA, workers compensation, or other leave(s).
• Administers other company time-off programs as assigned in accordance with internal policy and applicable laws.
• Drafts and/or recommends revisions to company leave policies to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Maintains complete and accurate records of leave and accommodation requests in accordance with specified legal requirements and documentation of best practices.
• Investigates and resolves pay discrepancies related to leave.
• Maintains knowledge of all applicable leave and accommodation laws including the FMLA, ADA, and state and local laws.
Education and Experience
• Certified Workers Compensation Professional (CWCP)-Preferred
• 5 years of Workers Compensation Management experience-preferred
• High school diploma or equivalent required. Candidate to have sufficient education to read and write instructions, perform simple mathematical calculations, and keep records.
• 3 years of related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• Completion of specialized certification or training on FMLA/leave administration a plus
• Knowledge of the leave requirements and other legal protections afforded by the FMLA, ADA, and other applicable laws preferred.
• Understanding of HR related policies, practices, and procedures
• Advanced spreadsheet skills with the ability to create new analytics and troubleshooting errors.
• General understanding of mining operations, as well as limited understanding of milling and maintenance operations
• Advanced working knowledge and skill with applications with word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software.
• Possesses good interpersonal skills.
• Strong verbal, written, analytical and persuasive skills and the ability to interact effectively with all levels of employees and management.
• Demonstrate strong administrative, organizational and technical writing skills.
• Must be a self-starter with the ability to work independently and with others in a team environment.
• Ability to function within the qualifications outlined in the attached physical demands sheets.
• Must be available for shift work, overtime, holidays, and weekends.
Reporting Relationships
• Typically reports to the Kinross Nevada HR Manager
Legislative Requirements
Language Requirements
Travel Requirements
Kinross is a Canadian-based global senior gold mining company with operations and projects in the United States, Brazil, Mauritania, Chile, and Canada. Our focus on delivering value is based on our core principles of responsible mining, operational excellence, disciplined growth and balance sheet strength. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol:K) and the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:KGC).
