Legal - Paralegal - Claims/Litigation

1200 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, USA Req #213

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Under the supervision of Corporate Counsel – Litigation, this position will provide support to the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) in claims management, open records requests, as well as general litigation support.

RESPONSIBILITIES

· Manage and administer PWSA’s claims process from inception to completion including, but not limited to, investigating and evaluating claims for damages with respect to liability, causation and damages, developing resolution recommendations to resolve claims, and effectively and timely communicating with customers, claimants, and internal stakeholders regarding the same

· Develop, recommend, and implement comprehensive claims processes and procedures that are thorough, consistent, and equitable

· Manage PWSA’s Right-to-Know Law requests, which includes, but is not limited to, collecting and reviewing responsive records, communicating internally and externally, preparing responses and productions, working on appeals, and serving as PWSA’s Open Records Officer

· Develop, recommend, and implement comprehensive Right-to-Know Law response processes and procedures that are thorough and defensible

· Assist PWSA’s legal counsel in pre-litigation and litigation matters including, but not limited to, review of complaints and legal filings, preparation of and drafting of all legal filings, pleadings, and correspondence on behalf of PWSA, as well as filing and service of the same, assist legal counsel with discovery, identification of and preparation of exhibits, hearing, and witness preparation, as well as scheduling

· Assist with reporting matters to insurance carriers and submitting claim information

· Assist legal counsel in the coordination of factual investigations with internal business units, and/or outside counsel

· Monitor dockets and maintain litigation and reporting calendaring

· Utilize online legal research tools, databases, and applications to perform legal, factual, and records research

· Notarize documents on behalf of PWSA

· Act as a liaison between PWSA and legal counsel in claims, open records requests, and general litigation

· Manage various projects and deadlines

· Independently interact with and maintain positive and productive working relationships with internal and external customers

· Perform other related tasks and projects as assigned or required

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

·       Excellent verbal and written communication skills
·       Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
·       Ability to develop subject matter expertise as to internal work practices, programs, and systems
·       Strong knowledge of claims investigation, management, and best practices
·       Understanding of legal language and principles, research methods, court pleadings and processes, and other related matters
·       Knowledge of general litigation practices and procedures
·       Ability to coordinate and prioritize multiple tasks, and meet deadlines
·       Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
·       Ability to professionally interact with and maintain positive, productive working relationships with all levels of internal staff as well as external customers and stakeholders
·       Ability to maintain confidentiality, and to exercise discretion and good judgement
·       High-level working knowledge of the Microsoft Office 365, which includes proficiency in Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint. Experience working with ERP solutions or Customer Relationship Software (CRM) is a plus

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

The following requirements list the minimum education/training/experience required to qualify for this job. An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be accepted.

· Bachelor’s degree, in any field, and/or a Paralegal Certificate from an American Bar Association accredited Paralegal Institute, or a Bachelor’s degree and earned credits toward a law degree (Juris Doctorate)

· Three (3) years claims investigation and/or management experience is required

· Litigation paralegal experience at a law firm or in-house legal department

· Experience with and/or working knowledge of Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and/or open records processes is preferred

· Notary public required or must become a notary public if selected for position

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant must present a current, valid Class C (Class 1) Motor Vehicle Operator’s License at the time of application or prior to appointment. A valid driver’s license must be maintained throughout employment.

Applicant must have permanent residency in Allegheny County at time of appointment and remain a permanent resident throughout employment with the PWSA.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED / RECEIVED

No direct reports / Receive direct supervision from the Corporate Counsel – Litigation and/or the Chief Legal Officer

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The physical demands consist of walking, climbing stairs, finger movements including fine dexterity and coordination, hearing conversation, seeing near and far, and speaking clearly. Frequently bending, stooping, repetitive leg and arm movements, lifting up to 25 lbs.

CONDITIONS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to a moderate or quiet noise level in the office work environment. Subject to remain on duty beyond normal hours or during emergency situations or other extensive periods.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

Employment may be contingent upon the results of a post-offer (initial employment or promotion) physical examination performed by the Authority's examining physician.

DRUG TESTING

Employment may be contingent upon the results of a post-offer (initial employment or promotion) drug screening. Continued employment may be subject to drug, and alcohol testing conducted without advance notice and without individualized suspicion.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION:

Ability to successfully pass a thorough investigation consisting of a criminal history check, verification of prior employment and performance, reference, and credentials checks, and in some cases credit history.

Applicants are subject to a System for Award Management (SAM) or any successor system search as maintained by the General Services Administration (GSA) to ensure compliance with federal procurement and non-procurement programs.Under the supervision of Corporate Counsel – Litigation, this position will provide support to the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) in claims management, open records requests, as well as general litigation support.

Applications: You may be considered for other available positions based on qualifications provided on your employment application. If you have questions regarding your application, please contact the Human Resources Department at:

PWSA Human Resources Department

1200 Penn Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

412-255-8800

hr@pgh2o.com

An Equal Opportunity Employer: The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on any legally protected statuses, including, but not limited to race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy status, or veteran status. PWSA is committed to providing candidates with reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities during our recruiting process; if you need assistance, please contact us at hr@pgh2o.com or 412-255-8800.

Position: Paralegal - Claims/Litigation

Division: Legal

Salary: $55,000 -65,000

FLSA: Exempt

Application Deadline: Until Filled

Other details

Pay Type Hourly

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1200 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, USA