Manager, Employee Leaves & Accommodations

Oregon Health & Science University•Portland, OR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for employee leave and accommodation programs, including FMLA, Oregon leave laws and programs, ADA accommodations, pregnancy and religious accommodations, return-to-work programs, and related leave and disability initiatives. The role ensures regulatory compliance, operational excellence, positive employee experiences, and effective case management. The Manager oversees program administration, policy development, process improvement, compliance monitoring, workforce planning, and staff development, and provides confidential analysis and advice to Human Resources leadership and Labor Relations on matters with potential collective bargaining, contract interpretation, labor relations, or operational implications. The position participates in management bargaining preparation, evaluates proposed contract language, and supports implementation of negotiated provisions. The Manager maintains onsite engagement based on operational needs, including leadership and team meetings, complex employee matters, workplace accommodation assessments, training, and other activities where in-person engagement supports service delivery. The role reports to the Director of Benefits. The Manager leads strategic planning and daily operations, monitors compliance and program performance, analyzes data and trends, oversees case management systems, and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to improve leave and accommodation services. The role also manages staff, provides accommodation consultation and case management support, oversees departmental budgeting and financial management, and serves as a liaison across organizational departments. Work is performed in an office environment, primarily during OHSU core business hours. Schedule flexibility is required to support events and operational needs outside standard business hours. The role requires onsite presence and the ability to respond in person to critical events at any OHSU location within four hours, as well as frequent computer use.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field and seven years of progressively responsible program leadership, management, or administrative experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Leadership and organizational skills and a management style emphasizing teamwork, strategic thinking, accountability, written and verbal communication, flexibility, diplomacy, and strong work ethic.
Program management skills, including ability to meet stringent deadlines, manage multiple priorities concurrently, and self-prioritize in a dynamic environment.
Ability to work effectively at all organizational levels, with a demonstrated record of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Ability to lead and inspire others.
Commitment to ongoing performance improvement.
Ability to maintain onsite presence and respond in person to critical events at any OHSU location within four hours.
Frequent use of a computer.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related field or Juris Doctorate.
Experience handling ADA reasonable accommodation requests in a healthcare setting.
Experience supporting labor relations, collective bargaining, grievance administration, or contract interpretation.
Experience providing confidential recommendations to leadership regarding complex employee relations, disability management, or accommodation matters.
Relevant professional membership.

Responsibilities

Maintain awareness of operational needs across OHSU work environments through onsite engagement with leaders, employees, HR partners, and other stakeholders.
Maintain, evaluate, and improve standard operating procedures for receiving, documenting, evaluating, approving, denying, and implementing workplace accommodations.
Lead strategic planning for coordination of employee accommodations and related employment processes, including workers’ compensation, temporary work adjustments, leave, reassignment, and performance management.
Manage day-to-day operations to meet program objectives and provide timely, consistent, compliant services.
Partner with leadership and stakeholders to establish annual goals, priorities, and performance measures.
Analyze accommodation and leave program data and trends to identify process improvements, risk mitigation, workforce support, and accessibility and inclusion initiatives.
Monitor compliance with applicable federal, state, and institutional policies, regulations, and program requirements.
Oversee administration and improvement of case management systems, including Ethics Point and related technology solutions.
Develop, monitor, and distribute operational, compliance, and performance metrics and reports.
Benchmark practices with peer institutions, industry professionals, and subject matter experts.
Provide confidential analysis and recommendations to HR leadership and Labor Relations on leave and accommodation matters affecting bargaining strategy, contract administration, workforce operations, or organizational risk.
Maintain regular engagement with team members through virtual and in-person meetings and provide onsite leadership when needed.
Determine appropriate staffing mix; hire, orient, evaluate, promote, counsel, discipline, and discharge personnel as appropriate.
Manage staff development and planning and develop and facilitate workplace accommodation training in person and virtually.
Ensure staff compliance with OHSU’s Code of Conduct, departmental and job-specific competencies, compliance responsibilities, and applicable licensure or certification standards.
Train, guide, and support Accommodations Specialists on accommodation requests and provide reporting and analysis, including key performance indicators.
Review and approve draft accommodation plans, determination letters, and other consequential accommodation documentation.
Administer accommodation request processes as needed, including engaging in the interactive process and requesting permissible information for clarification.
Coordinate with HR, the ADA Coordinator, The Standard, Public Safety, Legal, Benefits, team members, and other departments or systems.
Monitor monthly financial reports and investigate and reconcile discrepancies between actual and budgeted revenue and expenses.
Maintain fiscal responsibility and effective, efficient use of departmental resources; develop business plans and negotiate funding for initiatives as needed.
Serve as primary contact for internal and external agreements between the department and OHSU partners and identify opportunities to reduce waste.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders on complex case reviews, investigations, policy interpretation, process improvement, referrals, and case coordination.
Participate in leadership meetings, complex case discussions, operational planning, training, and cross-functional initiatives, in person when appropriate.
Serve as a liaison to HR, the Office for Student Access, Legal, Environmental Health & Safety, Risk Management, Quality Management, the Deans’ offices, and the Provost’s Office.
Consult with OHSU managers, including onsite when appropriate, about leave and accommodation processes and complex case resolution.
Collaborate on development and revision of policies, procedures, and protocols related to leaves and accommodations.
Support implementation of negotiated contract provisions and advise on operational impacts and compliance requirements.