Job Description

Posting number: 2026-08210

Department: Dept. of Labor & Industries

Division: Insurance Services - Office of the Medical Director

Job classification: PSYCHOLOGIST 3

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Mental Health, Health Education, Health Care Support, Insurance, Medical

Summary

Our Mission: Keep Washington Safe and Working!

Our Values: Customer Focus, One L&I, Respect, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Learning and Growth, Reliability

Job Highlights

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Insurance Services Division, is seeking a Psychologist 3 to join our team in the Office of the Medical Director. In this position you will have a key role in reducing long-term disability by promoting evidence-based, effective, and safe mental health care for injured workers.

In this position you will plan, organize and direct program improvements in mental and behavioral health management. You will provide clinical psychology consultation and expertise to internal L&I staff and others to prevent disability, improve health and work outcomes, and prevent harm to injured workers and crime survivors. The work of this position directly supports our mission to keep Washington safe and working.

Why Work for us:

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety, health, and security of Washington's workers. We help employers meet safety and health standards and inspect workplaces when alerted to hazards. As administrators of the state's workers' compensation system, we are similar to a large insurance company providing medical and limited wage-replacement coverage to workers who suffer job-related injuries and illness. Our rules and enforcement programs help ensure workers are paid what they are owed, that children and teens' work hours are limited, and that consumers are protected from unsound business practices.

Insurance Services is the largest division within the agency and administers one of the premier workers’ compensation organizations in the nation serving over 3.8 million employees working for 260,000 employers.

Within Insurance Services, the Office of the Medical Director (OMD) is responsible for L&I’s statewide health policy to ensure that injured and ill workers have access to high quality, evidence-based care and that services paid for by the workers’ compensation Medical Aid Fund are clinically appropriate and cost effective.

Here’s what we are looking for:

• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in written format, and present complex information to various audiences in a way that is easy to understand.
• Ability to develop and deliver training to varied audiences.
• Ability to review, independently interpret, analyze, and apply specialized program policies and procedures to draw sound conclusions and make recommendations and decisions based on data.
• Ability to authentically listen and collaborate with others from diverse backgrounds and build and maintain positive, respectful working relationships and partnerships.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Experience working within medical/healthcare systems and/or interdisciplinary healthcare teams and engaging in specialized treatment of mental health conditions (including PTSD).

Examples of duties

Some of what you will do:

• Plan, organize, direct, and provide clinical consultation and claim support to staff and treating providers.
• Serve as psychologist consultant to Insurance Services staff and others.
• Provide consultation in appropriate application of clinical practice guidelines and occupational health best practices for behavioral and mental health services.
• Conduct claim reviews.
• Develop a proactive hands-on partnership with designated claims staff and provide clinical consultation to resolve complex, high risk, or challenging cases.
• Engage in collaboration across the Office of the Medical Director to ensure cross-unit standardization and quality control.
• Collaborate in clinical decision making, treatment plan evaluation, and return to work strategy development in conjunction with Return-to-Work Partnerships.
• Lead and develop education and training on behavioral and mental health policies and procedures to a variety of audiences.
• Lead and support training initiatives for internal audiences including claims managers and occupational nurse consultants.
• Develop and deliver education and training on a variety of mental health-related topics for claims managers and occupational nurse consultants.
• Participate, develop and consult on strategy, review, formulation, and conduct of training and educational material and seminars/discussions.
• Develop and implement strategies to ensure the delivery of high quality behavioral and mental health services for workers.
• Engage in proactive partnerships and outreach with providers and workers.
• Provide expert guidance on policies and processes to positively impact mental healthcare delivery and provider experiences.

Qualifications

Required:

• PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology and a valid, unrestricted license to practice as a clinical psychologist in the State of Washington.

AND

• One year of postdoctoral psychology experience or equivalent.

AND

• A strategic and mission-driven mindset, with a passion for improving health outcomes and recovery for injured workers in Washington State.
• Strong clinical and operational problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound decisions and prioritize effectively in complex or high-pressure environments.
• Ability to function independently in a claims consultation role in partnership with the Associate Medical Director for Psychology who will provide direct supervision.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a public service orientation.
• Interpersonal effectiveness and cultural competency in working with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds, including agency staff, injured workers, healthcare providers, and the public.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Desired:

• Completion of a post-doctoral fellowship in a relevant specialty such as rehabilitation psychology, health psychology, pain psychology, or trauma psychology.
• Clinical experience within medical/healthcare systems, having specialized in the treatment of mental health conditions, chronic illness management, or health psychology.
• Experience working within interdisciplinary healthcare teams with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare staff.
• Three (3) years experience in trauma, pain, rehabilitation and/or health psychology.
• Teaching or training experience in mental/behavioral health or other relevant healthcare topics—particularly for adult learners or professional audiences.
• Experience with Washington workers’ compensation.

Supplemental information

Things You Need To Know

At L&I, your voice matters. L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety, health and security of Washington's 3.8 million workers. Watch this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

L&I provides a modern work environment and excellent benefits including paid leave, tuition reimbursement, Infants at Work Program and a generous retirement package for qualified employees at the end of their career. Click on the “Benefits” tab to learn more.

We value our employees and their work-life balance. We support a hybrid work model and offer flexible custom work schedules. This position is eligible for a flexible schedule upon approval by management.

The assigned duty station for this position is Tumwater, Washington. Although for this position, teleworking will be allowed up to full time with the expectation to attend selected in-person meetings and training, or upon business need.

Application process

To be considered for this opportunity, you must submit a complete online application including detailed work history and professional references with current phone numbers.

Please include the following documents with your application:

• A cover letter describing your specific qualifications.
• A current resume detailing your applicable experience and education.

Applications with incomplete work history, references to a resume in place of detailed work experience, or missing attachments may be considered incomplete and not considered for further review.

We will contact the top candidates directly to advance in the selection process. Because we base the selection on the information you provide, please ensure your application includes details that clearly demonstrate how your experience relates to the qualifications and responsibilities described in this announcement.

Please do not attach or place any medical information within the application, resume, or cover letter. If you do, we will have to reject your application to safeguard others from receiving your confidential information. You will have to remove the confidential information before you can apply again.

To learn more about our hiring process timeline at L&I please visit our L&I recruiting page at Hiring Process at L&I. I

Background Check Notice

Prior to placement in this position, a background check, including criminal history records will be conducted. Information from your background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining your eligibility to perform the requirements of the position.

Other information

• For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
• Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.

Did You Know?

Washington is America's Top State to live, play, and work, according to U.S. News (2021). Join the L&I team and enjoy all the Evergreen State has to offer.

Veterans Preference

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to their application a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information, contact L&I’s Jobs@lni.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

L&I employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contributes to the success of the agency mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest source of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need an accommodation in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 360-902-5700. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials, and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

For more Information

If you have any questions regarding this job posting, program, or the agency, please contact Angela Laramie at hrbtu@lni.wa.gov.