HR Sr Absence Management Specialist

Columbia Bank•Tacoma, WA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The HR Sr Absence Management Specialist leads complex absence and accommodation casework and serves as a senior-level expert across related programs. The role is responsible for reporting, vendor partnerships, compliance strategy, and process optimization, and handles the most complex, sensitive, or high-risk cases in partnership with People Business Partners, Employee Relations, and senior leaders. The Specialist independently manages complex leave and accommodation matters, conducts interactive processes, interprets applicable laws and regulations, and advises on sensitive decisions and risk. The role leads policy updates, regulatory research, program reporting, vendor evaluation, workflow optimization, enterprise-wide training, and cross-functional projects. The position is based fully onsite at the posted Tacoma, Washington location and may involve occasional travel. The role also requires compliance with applicable bank regulations and policies, including maintaining working knowledge of the Bank Secrecy Act, Regulation CC, Regulation E, and Bank Security. The Specialist may coach, mentor, or train others, and may perform other duties as assigned. Columbia Bank describes its total rewards package as including base wages and comprehensive benefits. The stated pay range is $85,000–$125,000, with possible performance-based incentive compensation; the selected candidate’s pay depends on job-related and other nondiscriminatory factors.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
6–8 years of experience in absence management and/or related experience required.
Expert knowledge of federal and state disability and leave laws and regulations governing workplace accommodation administration, specifically ADAAA, FMLA, and state paid leave plans.
Demonstrated ability to consult, advise, and influence business leaders.
Computer and technical skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and Excel) and SharePoint.
Strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills to consult and communicate effectively with people at all organizational levels and with healthcare providers, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, establishing effective working relationships internally and externally.
Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment, maintain confidentiality, and demonstrate respect and due diligence in sensitive situations.
Organizational, time-management, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail.
Ability to work fully onsite at the posted location.
Occasional travel required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in business or a relevant field preferred.
Workday experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Independently manage complex leave cases and high-risk scenarios, including intermittent or continuous leave patterns, attendance issues connected with performance, and multi-state leave implications.
Manage complex and high-risk leave or accommodation cases, including multi-layered ADA situations, fitness-for-duty matters, and potential undue hardship determinations.
Coordinate daily casework, escalations, and data accuracy with a third-party administrator.
Conduct interactive processes with employees, managers, and healthcare providers.
Serve as a senior-level expert on applicable leave and accommodation laws, including ADAAA, FMLA, USERRA, state and local leave laws, and intersecting legislation.
Interpret and apply regulatory requirements to novel or precedent-setting cases.
Partner with Employee Relations and People Business Partners on sensitive matters, escalations, and recommendations that may involve corrective action, leave or accommodation denial, job placement, or separation.
Lead policy updates, regulatory research, and risk-mitigation strategies.
Own program reporting and case documentation; analyze trends and develop insights for leaders.
Evaluate vendor performance, recommend improvements, and support RFP or vendor transition processes.
Partner with HRIS and People Analytics to optimize workflows, dashboards, automations, and accuracy.
Advise leadership on risk areas and the long-term impact of absence- or accommodation-related decisions.
Lead the design and delivery of enterprise-wide training on legal compliance, manager responsibilities, and ADA and leave intersections.
Influence stakeholders and ensure alignment across departments.
Lead cross-functional projects involving leave program changes, new state plan implementation, technology upgrades, or organizational process redesign.
Determine eligibility, recommend reasonable accommodations, and negotiate solutions that balance business needs and legal obligations, as needed.
Comply with applicable bank regulations, policies, procedures, and required annual or job-specific training; keep current with regulatory changes.
Maintain working knowledge of Bank policies and procedures regarding the Bank Secrecy Act, Regulation CC, Regulation E, Bank Security, and other applicable regulations.
Coach, mentor, or train others and teach coursework as a subject matter expert, as needed.
Demonstrate and foster Columbia’s corporate culture, take personal initiative, and serve as a positive example.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match for qualifying associate contributions
Employee assistance program
Life insurance
Disability insurance
Tuition assistance
Mental health resources
Identity theft protection
Legal support
Auto and home insurance
Pet insurance
Online discount marketplace
Paid vacation
Paid sick days
Paid volunteer days
Paid holidays
Possible performance-based incentive compensation