Deputy Executive Officer - Risk Management

Reporting to the County Human Resources Director, the Deputy Executive Officer - Risk Management will oversee one or more divisions and serve as the backup to the Senior Deputy Executive Officer - Risk Management. The Deputy Executive Officer is responsible for managing the County of Ventura's comprehensive risk management programs, which include Liability, Risk Control, Insurance, Workers’ Compensation, and Disability Management Divisions. In this role, you will support the Senior Deputy Executive Officer and other team members in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks that could impact the organization. You will be responsible for maintaining risk documentation, preparing reports, and ensuring compliance with internal policies and external regulations. As a Deputy Executive Officer, you will help develop and monitor risk indicators, track incidents, and develop and support the implementation of risk mitigation strategies. You will also support conducting risk assessments, coordinate with other departments to gather necessary information, and play a key role in enhancing the organization's risk culture. This includes developing and managing insurance policies and risk mitigation strategies to minimize the County's financial exposure. It also involves overseeing all aspects of the claims process for the County's self-insured programs, from initial reporting to resolution, ensuring compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements. In this role, you will play an integral part in strategic development and planning, staff development, and risk management training. This position requires a proactive, hands-on strategic approach to identifying, assessing, and reducing risks across all County departments, along with the ability to handle sensitive information confidentially.

The Opportunity

This is a key career opportunity to leverage your comprehensive risk management experience and make a significant impact on assessing and managing the County's diverse risk management programs. The Deputy Executive Officer will play a crucial role in developing and executing strategies that mitigate risk, protect county assets, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. The selected candidate will lead critical projects, including assessing and analyzing countywide liability exposure, overseeing the county's self-insured programs, managing aspects of commercial insurance procurement and claims management, and supporting Countywide agencies in disability management. This role involves working strategically with department leaders to identify and address specific risk factors while also managing and administering all related contracts and agreements.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced risk management professional with a strong background in public sector liability, insurance, claims administration, and disability management, or someone with substantial risk management experience and the ability to learn the nuances of the public sector. They have a proven record of successfully managing complex risk portfolios, handling claims, and negotiating with insurance carriers and legal counsel. This working deputy executive officer will be a hands-on expert who understands government operations, collaborates effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, and drives initiatives to achieve meaningful results. The ideal candidate should also demonstrate a strategic mindset, with the ability to identify emerging risks and develop proactive mitigation strategies to safeguard the county's resources. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication with various stakeholders are essential, along with being organized and detail-oriented. Certification as an Associate in Risk Management (ARM) or an Associate in Insurance Services (AIS) is highly preferred.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

Opening Date: Friday, October 17, 2025

Closing Date: Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

Review of Applications: Applications will be reviewed, and candidates will be notified the week of November 17, 2025.

Typical Qualifications

Education/Experience: A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Risk Management, Insurance, Business Administration, Finance, or a closely related field is required. Additionally, candidates must have at least five years of recent, progressively responsible management experience in risk management, including insurance and claims management for general liability, property, or workers’ compensation, as well as employee safety, plus four years of supervisory experience over professional staff.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in Risk Management, Enterprise Risk Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Certification as an Associate in Risk Management (ARM), Associate in Insurance Services (AIS), Workers’ Compensation Claims Professional (WCCP), or CA Self Insurance Plans Certification (SIP)

OTHER REQUIREMENTS 

Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain a valid California driver's license or use alternate means of transportation to fulfill the essential duties of the position.

Work is conducted in a collaborative, team-oriented on-site office environment, Monday through Friday. Incumbents may also frequently visit various County departments and agencies and meet off-site with staff when necessary.

Recruitment Process

To apply for this exceptional career opportunity, please send a resume and a cover letter that illustrates the following:

Your professional experience in the following areas of risk management.  Include details related to:

• Claims and Insurance Administration: Managing liability and workers’ compensation claims, including intake, investigation, resolution, litigation coordination, and settlement authority; administering self-insured programs and working with brokers and underwriters to procure and manage insurance coverage.
• Safety, Disability, and Risk Control Programs: Developing and implementing safety and loss prevention initiatives; overseeing return-to-work, leave of absence, and reasonable accommodation programs; and promoting a culture of safety and compliance.
• Policy, Compliance, and Legal Coordination: Creating and executing claims handling policies and procedures; ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (including ADA); and collaborating with legal counsel on high-risk matters.
• Strategic Risk Management and Contract Review: Conducting risk assessments, identifying emerging risks, developing mitigation strategies, and reviewing contracts and agreements for appropriate risk-related provisions.
• Stakeholder Engagement, Training, and Data Analysis: Collaborating with executives and department leaders; delivering training on risk and safety topics; and using data and dashboards to inform decisions and improve transparency.

Submit in one of the following ways:
E-mail your resume and cover letter to: Bill.Friedel@venturacounty.gov;

OR submit an online application and attachments (resume and cover letter) at www.venturacounty.gov/jobs.
 
RESUME EVALUATION
To ensure consideration, please submit your materials no later than Sunday, November 9, 2025.  All relevant work experience, training, and education need to be included to determine eligibility.

Please mention you found this employment opportunity on the CareersInGovernment.com job board.

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• County of Ventura