HR - Employee Relations - Senior ADA and Leave Management Specialist

TITLE: SENIOR ADA AND LEAVE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
STATUS: EXEMPT
REPORT TO: SENIOR MANAGER – EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
DEPARTMENT: HR - EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
JOB CODE: 11892

PAY RANGE: $92,300.00 - $115,000.00 ANNUALLY

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Senior ADA and Leave Management Specialist plays a pivotal role in overseeing and enhancing the organization's leave management and workplace accommodations programs. This strategic position ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations—including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), California Family Rights Act (CFRA), and related policies—while fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace.

Beyond leave administration, this senior-level role drives initiatives in workers’ compensation, ergonomic evaluations, risk mitigation, and employee safety programs, helping to shape and implement best practices for workplace well-being. As a key advisor, the Senior Specialist collaborates with leadership, external partners, and employees to ensure seamless leave processes and effective accommodation solutions.

TASKS, DUTIES, FUNCTIONS:

1. Act as the organization's trusted subject matter expert on all ADA accommodations, FMLA, CFRA, and leave management programs, providing guidance to HR leadership and stakeholders.
2. Develop, enhance, and implement leave and accommodations policies, ensuring alignment with legal requirements and industry best practices.
3. Lead the interactive process for ADA accommodations, partnering with employees, managers, healthcare providers, and legal teams to develop and execute individualized solutions.
4. Oversee complex leave claims, manage workflows, and provide strategic oversight to optimize leave administration and payroll coordination.
5. Serve as an escalation point for high-risk cases involving ADA, workers' compensation, or extended leave scenarios, offering expert consultation to HR and legal teams.
6. Utilize data analytics to track leave cases, workers’ compensation claims, and STD/LTD programs, generating insights to improve operational efficiency and compliance.
7. Administer and evaluate workers' compensation claims, ensuring seamless coordination with third-party administrators while implementing proactive risk reduction measures.
8. Conduct ergonomic assessments and champion workplace safety initiatives, collaborating cross-functionally with Corporate Services, Facilities, and IT for effective solutions.
9. Design and implement enterprise-wide risk management strategies focused on injury prevention, workplace safety, and compliance excellence.
10. In partnership with our Facilities team, lead and direct employee safety programs, incorporating innovative training, preparedness planning, and compliance audits to mitigate organizational risk.
11. Monitor regulatory changes related to leave management, accommodations, workers' compensation, and workplace safety, ensuring compliance and integrating updates into organizational policies.
12. Serve as a mentor and guide to HR colleagues, providing coaching and training on leave administration and best practices.

PHYSICAL SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EXERTION UTILIZED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THESE TASK:

1. Effective oral and written communication skills required to interact with employees and outside contacts on the telephone and in person, prepare correspondence, and constructively document and follow up on inquiries relating to job functions.
2. Must possess sufficient manual dexterity to skillfully operate an on-line computer terminal and other standard office equipment, such as financial calculators, personal computer, facsimile machine and telephone.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTACTS & RELATIONSHIPS:

1. INTERNAL: All levels of staff. 
2. EXTERNAL: Carriers, brokers, vendors, government agencies.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree in related field or equivalent work experience. 
2. EXPERIENCE: Minimum 7+ years in HR with specialized expertise in leave administration, ADA accommodations, workers’ compensation, and compliance-driven policies.
3. KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS:

• In-depth understanding of state and federal leave laws, with the ability to interpret, apply, and communicate regulatory requirements effectively.
• Strategic problem-solving and the ability to manage complex cases with a high degree of discretion and professionalism.
• Advanced data analysis and reporting skills to track trends, optimize processes, and guide decision-making.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, adept at working with all levels of employees, leadership, and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to lead and drive initiatives, ensuring operational excellence in leave management and workplace accommodations.
• Proficiency in HRIS and timekeeping systems (e.g., Ceridian Dayforce), along with Microsoft Office Suite

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Prolonged sitting throughout the workday to accomplish tasks.  Minimal mobility throughout the workday to retrieve facsimiles, related to leaves of absence.
2. High telephone volume.  Corrected hearing in the normal range required.  A telephone device to enhance hearing will be provided if needed.
3. Corrected vision in the normal range required to accurately process paperwork related to leaves of absence.
4. Travel locally and statewide by car or public conveyance to conduct investigations, make inspections, or attend meetings at other Golden 1 offices or elsewhere as needs arise.  Overnight and evening schedules included.

LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS:

HR Certification (SHRM-CP, PHR, etc.) preferred.

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THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IN NO WAY STATES OR IMPLIES THAT THESE ARE THE ONLY DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED BY THIS EMPLOYEE. HE OR SHE WILL BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW OTHER INSTRUCTIONS AND TO PERFORM OTHER DUTIES REQUESTED BY HIS OR HER SUPERVISOR THAT ARE WITHIN HIS / HER KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY AS WELL AS HIS / HER MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ABILITIES.