CII – Senior Accommodations, ADA, and Leave Specialist

University of Maryland•Baltimore, MD

9d•$84,000 - $93,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Leave Management and Employee Relations Administrator, the Senior Accommodations, ADA, and Leave Specialist serves as the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) subject-matter expert on workplace accommodations across multiple legal frameworks, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (religious accommodations), and applicable Maryland law. The Senior Accommodations, ADA, and Leave Specialist independently manages a complex caseload of accommodation requests from faculty, staff, and applicants, leads the interactive process from intake through resolution, and partners with HR representatives, Faculty Affairs, Schools and Units, and the Office of the General Counsel to ensure consistent, employee-centered, and legally sound practice. The role also provides consultation on the intersection of accommodations with Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) and/or the Family Medical Leave Act, supplemental leave programs, workers’ compensation, sick and safe leave, and long-term disability. The Senior Accommodations, ADA, and Leave Specialist also coordinates the intake of, and processes, leave requests and leave adjustments, while supporting employees and managers throughout the leave process. This includes Federal Family and Medical Leave (FMLA), USM Paid Family and Medical Leave non-medical leave of absence, leave related to workers’ compensation, paid parental leave, military leave, advanced sick and extended sick leave, supplemental leave, and other forms of unpaid leave/leave of absence. The specialist serves as a key resource for Oracle HCM leave-related inquiries and supports the overall efficiency of leave operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, industrial/organizational psychology, rehabilitation counseling, public administration, disability studies, law, or a related field.
Four (4) years of experience in administering workplace accommodation and involving an interactive process in a complex employer setting.
Prior experience in higher education, academic medical center, healthcare, or government experience is strongly preferred.
Except for qualifications established by law, additional related experience and formal education in which one has gained the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for full performance of the work of the job class may be substituted for the education or experience requirement on a year-for-year basis with 30 undergraduate college credits being equivalent to one year of related experience. In instances where specific education and/or experience is required only directly related education and/or experience may be substituted.
Working knowledge of, and experience applying, Title I of the ADA, ADAAA, Section 504, PWFA, Title VII religious accommodation obligations, FMLA, regulatory and legislative requirements of employee leave programs, and the interplay between leave and accommodation programs.
Working knowledge of Maryland state employment, leave management, and disability law and how to apply applicable policies.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including strong public speaking skills and the ability to translate legal, medical, and religious-belief considerations for non-specialist audiences with sensitivity.
Sophisticated judgment and a high level of discretion in ambiguous, high-stakes situations involving competing regulatory, legal, operational, and human considerations.
Skill in conducting individualized assessments, including medical inquiry analysis, essential function review, sincerely-held belief considerations, and identification of effective alternatives.
Ability to build trust quickly with employees in distress, with managers under pressure, and with senior leaders; ability to work collaboratively and foster effective relationships with a broad range of constituents to include administrators, faculty, staff, employees, and union leaders.
Ability to engage respectfully with employees across a wide range of religions, beliefs, and lived experiences.
Demonstrated strong analytical, problem solving, organizational, priority setting, and time management skills with the ability to identify and evaluate problems, balance and achieve multiple priorities, manage multiple active cases without compromising quality or timeliness, and devise timely and effective solutions in a fast-paced work environment.
Ability to identify basic problems and procedural irregularities, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to demonstrate, understand, apply, and adhere to the UMB Core Values of Respect and Integrity, Well-being and Sustainability, Equity and Justice, and Innovation and Discovery.

Nice To Haves

Progressively responsible experience in leave program administration, leave management functions, processing, or interpretation is preferred.
Experience drafting legally compliant accommodation determinations, analyses, and supporting documentation across multiple accommodation frameworks.
Demonstrated case management experience administering leaves of absence and ADA accommodation requests, and proven ability to manage a substantial active caseload independently while maintaining quality, timeliness, and confidentiality, including the ability to deal with confidential information.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, particularly MS Excel; experience with HRIS platforms (Oracle preferred), case management tools, and leave tracking software, and the ability to learn HRIS and case management systems.
Master’s degree, or equivalent advanced credential, preferred.
Professional certification such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, ADA Coordinator Certification (ADACC), or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).
Experience supporting both faculty and staff populations, including in a unionized environment with collective bargaining considerations preferred.
Experience supporting accommodations in clinical, laboratory, or research-intensive settings.
Experience handling religious accommodation requests, including dress and grooming, scheduling, and observance-related matters.

Responsibilities

Serve as primary confidential case manager for workplace accommodation requests from UMB faculty, staff, and applicants, including ADA/ADAAA disability accommodations, PWFA pregnancy-related accommodations, and Title VII religious accommodations, as well as escalated and high-complexity matters.
Conduct individualized assessments by reviewing accommodation request forms, supporting documentation (medical, religious, or other as applicable), and essential job functions; engage health care providers or other relevant sources for clarification when appropriate and within the bounds of permissible inquiry.
Correctly interpret and apply appropriate legal and compliance standards when evaluating requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Lead the interactive dialogue with employees, supervisors, deans, department chairs, Faculty Affairs, and HR Representatives to identify and implement reasonable accommodations. Advise supervisors, HR representatives, and School/Unit leadership on accommodation strategy, performance management of employees with disabilities or other accommodation needs, return-to-work planning, and fitness-for-duty considerations. Serves as a liaison regarding the intake of leave-related ADA accommodation requests for faculty and staff.
Draft and issue timely, accurate, and legally compliant accommodation resolutions and reassessment determinations based on the facts, documentation reviewed, interactive process discussions, and applicable legal requirements.
Coordinate and conduct periodic and as-needed accommodation reassessments, including the review of updated medical documentation, operational impacts, and accommodation effectiveness and communicate outcomes in a timely manner.
Manage cases in which leave functions as a reasonable accommodation, coordinating closely with Leave Management on PFML and/or FMLA, sick and safe leave, supplemental leave programs, workers’ compensation, and disability benefits.
Maintain confidential, audit-ready case files in accordance with EEOC recordkeeping requirements and UMB data governance policies; ensure medical and other sensitive supporting documentation is stored separately from personnel records.
Monitor implemented accommodations, schedule periodic reviews, and reopen the interactive process when circumstances change.
Coordinates the intake, record keeping, and timely communication of all leave-related requests and/or relevant modified work schedules for faculty and staff; serves as a liaison regarding the intake of leave; independently approves or denies leave requests based on documentation and policy. Assists Campus end users with leave inquiries and leave reconciliations.
Provides effective guidance to management and employees in response to questions regarding the interface between accrued paid leave, leaves of absence, workplace accommodations and relevant policies and procedures. Responsible for gathering and ensuring correct completion of required paperwork, determining paid/unpaid leave eligibility, designating leave as PFML and/or FMLA-qualifying and designating other appropriate leave categories as needed, requesting medical certification as needed and identifying any impact of leave usage.
Coordinates the return-to-work process for employees returning from extended PFML and/or FMLA, workers compensation, or other leave requiring return-to-work documentation.
Reviews leave payout and leave adjustments, ensures accuracy and that transactions are processed in accordance with system and applicable authority. Administers and maintains leave accounts to verify accuracy of transactions and uniform application of payroll policies, procedures, and acceptable standards.
Collaborates with Payroll and Benefits teams to ensure accurate coordination of leave-related pay and benefits when applicable, and works with colleagues in HRS, Risk Management and Office of the Controller to address inquiries related to employee health and welfare benefits, leave usage and timesheet issues.
Maintain accurate accommodation, ADA, and Leave Management case data in UMB systems; recommend and help implement enhancements to intake forms, tracking, and reporting across all accommodation types.
Interpret and apply applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and University System of Maryland (USM) policies governing employee accommodations, ADA, and Leave Management, including medical and non-medical leaves of absence, and related employment matters.
Recommend updates to UMB accommodation policies, standard operating procedures, forms, and request workflows for ADA, PWFA, religious accommodations, Leave Management; support implementation of changes HR systems based on regulatory developments, EEOC guidance, OCR letters of finding, and relevant case law across all accommodation frameworks, and new and/or changing legislation related to all forms of leave.
Provide training and resource materials for managers, HR representatives, and faculty leadership on the full range of accommodation obligations — ADA, PWFA, religious, and related — and on the interactive process and inclusion practices; assist with the development and delivery of training to educate faculty, staff, HR representatives, and payroll representatives on leave policies, procedures, and processes.
Generates, analyzes, and maintains data metrics and reports on leave management programs, performs audits, and makes recommendations for process improvements, and assists with coordinating and implementing appropriate actions; produces regular on case volume, time-to-resolution, accommodation types and outcomes, and trends.
Participate in cross-campus and USM working groups on disability, leave, religious accommodation, and accessibility matters; contribute to special projects.
Performs other duties and/or projects as assigned.