Chief Deputy Comissioner

Title: Chief Deputy Commissioner

State Role Title: Salary Non-Specified

Hiring Range: The salary for newly appointed Chief Deputy Commissioner is $216,887

Pay Band: UG

Agency: VA Workers' Compensation Comm

Location: RICHMOND HEADQUARTERS

Agency Website: https://workcomp.virginia.gov/

Recruitment Type: Agency Employee Only - A

This position is open to current Deputy Commissioners of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission.

The selected candidate for the CDC position will be announced in September 2026 and will assume the position with salary adjustment in April 2027.

The Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission (VWC) is seeking an experienced judicial leader to serve as its next Chief Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner serves as the senior executive responsible for the leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight of the Commission's Judicial Division. This position plays a critical role in ensuring the fair, efficient, and legally sound administration of the Commission's adjudicatory responsibilities while advancing strategic initiatives that strengthen judicial operations across the agency.

The Chief Deputy Commissioner provides executive leadership to the Commission's Deputy Commissioners, Regional Offices, Clerk's Office, and associated judicial programs while collaborating closely with agency leadership to support organizational excellence, legislative implementation, and continuous improvement.

Why This Role Matters

• The Chief Deputy Commissioner serves as a key member of the Commission's executive leadership team, helping shape the future of judicial operations while ensuring the Commission continues to deliver fair, timely, and effective service to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• This position offers the opportunity to influence agency-wide strategy, mentor judicial leaders, improve operational effectiveness, and uphold the Commission's longstanding commitment to impartial and high-quality adjudication

What You'll Do

As Chief Deputy Commissioner, you will:
• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for the Judicial Division.
• Lead and develop judicial leadership while promoting accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence.
• Establish priorities, allocate resources, and oversee workload management to ensure efficient judicial operations.
• Provide legal and procedural guidance regarding judicial administration, Commission policies, and applicable statutes and regulations.
• Collaborate with the Chairman, Full Commission, Executive Director, and agency leadership on strategic initiatives and organizational priorities.
• Evaluate legislative and regulatory changes and oversee implementation within judicial operations.
• Foster consistency, fairness, and quality throughout the Commission's adjudicatory processes.
• Supervise Deputy Commissioners, Regional Deputy Commissioners, Managing Deputy Commissioners, the Clerk's Office leadership, and other key judicial staff.
• Hear assigned cases, issue written opinions and orders, and perform other duties assigned by the Chairman or Full Commission.

What We're Looking For

The successful candidate will demonstrate:
• Exceptional executive leadership and organizational management skills.
• Extensive knowledge of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act, Commission Rules, and related statutes.
• Strategic thinking and the ability to guide a large judicial organization through complex operational challenges.
• Outstanding legal analysis and sound executive judgment.
• The ability to build collaborative relationships across the Commission and with external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• A commitment to integrity, professionalism, public service, and continuous improvement.

Telework Structure

• Our agency is currently using a hybrid model for teleworking.
• Our positions currently are not 100% teleworking. However, we do have a liberal telework policy in place and all candidates would be expected to report to our Headquarters as requested.
• Telework is not guaranteed and is subject to the operational needs of the Commission. Upon hire, candidates should expect to have all training and orientation conducted at the Headquarters Office, or as required.
• Selected candidates who reside outside of Virginia will need to receive Commission approval prior to an offer being finalized.

Work Location

• This position's central workplace is the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission's Richmond Headquarters.
• Employees must be able to report to the Richmond office as required by operational needs.
• Candidates who currently reside outside of Virginia will need Commission approval of their work location prior to an offer being finalized.
• Travel between Commission offices may be required to support statewide judicial operations.
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active member in good standing with the Virginia State Bar.
• Extensive progressively responsible experience in workers' compensation adjudication and judicial administration.
• Experience serving as a Deputy Commissioner or in a comparable executive judicial leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff and leading complex organizational initiatives.
• Extensive knowledge of judicial administration, strategic planning, organizational leadership, and public sector management.

Additional Considerations

None

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Contact Information

Name: Amy Habel

Phone: 804-205-3571

Email: amy.habel@workcomp.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.