ADA & LOA Specialist - US - Remote

Sutherland; United States; Remote; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sutherland is seeking an ADA & LOA Specialist to administer leaves and accommodations under ADA, PWFA, FMLA, and state laws. You will manage the interactive process, review medical documentation, and coordinate with HR, payroll, and third-party administrators to ensure compliant leave administration.

The role emphasizes confidentiality, collaboration with legal counsel, and training managers on disability inclusion and leave requirements.

Qualifications

• 2 to 4 years of experience in HR operations, leave management, or disability services.
• Direct experience handling ADA accommodation and leave of absence cases.
• Deep working knowledge of federal and state disability and leave laws (ADA/ADAAA, FMLA, PWFA, and state-specific regulations).
• Excellent empathetic communication, intake interviewing, and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate medical notes against job descriptions.
• Ability to manage a high-volume caseload with competing statutory deadlines.
• Proficiency in HRIS and case management tools; experience with third-party leave administrators.
• Confidentiality of employee health information per EEO/ADA/HIPAA standards.

Responsibilities

• Interact with employees and managers to facilitate the interactive accommodation process from intake to resolution.
• Administer FMLA, state leaves, disability leaves, military and personal leaves from request through return-to-work.
• Review medical documentation to verify ADA coverage and assess functional restrictions.
• Collaborate with HR, payroll, benefits, and external leave administrators to ensure paid leaves align with policies.
• Maintain centralized case records and ensure timely processing within statutory timelines.
• Provide training to managers on disability inclusion and leave requirements.

Skills

Empathetic communication

Intake interviewing

Conflict resolution

Analytical skills

Case management tools

HRIS proficiency

Tools

HRIS

Case management software

Job description

The ADA & LOA Specialist manages the interactive accommodation process and employee leaves of absence for employees and job applicants. The role applies the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ADAAA, Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and applicable state and local leave and accommodation laws. This role works with employees, people managers, HR business partners, legal counsel, healthcare providers, and third-party leave administrators. The goal is to administer leaves accurately and identify reasonable accommodations that remove workplace barriers while maintaining business operations.

Key responsibilities

• Interactive process management Facilitate the interactive accommodation dialogue from initial request through case resolution. Conduct intake interviews with employees to understand functional limitations, job tasks, and specific accommodation needs.
• Leave of absence administration Manage a caseload of FMLA, state leave, short- and long-term disability, military, and personal leaves from request through return-to-work. Determine eligibility and issue eligibility, rights and responsibilities, and designation notices within required timelines. Track intermittent leave usage and reconcile it against attendance and timekeeping records. Coordinate with third-party leave administrators, payroll, and benefits so pay and benefits continue correctly during leave. Manage return-to-work, including fitness-for-duty documentation and the transition to accommodation when restrictions remain or leave is exhausted.
• Medical review and analysis Review and evaluate medical documentation from healthcare providers to verify coverage under ADA guidelines and assess functional restrictions. Review leave medical certifications for completeness and follow up on missing or unclear information. Maintain strict confidentiality of employee health information in compliance with ADA, FMLA, and HIPAA standards, keeping medical files separate from personnel files.
• Cross-functional collaboration Partner with department leaders and HR to assess essential job functions and evaluate accommodation feasibility (e.g., adaptive equipment, flexible scheduling, remote work, duty modifications). Advise managers on appropriate support techniques, compliance standards, and non-discriminatory practices. Advise managers on attendance, job protection, and return-to-work questions tied to leave.
• Case tracking and compliance Maintain accurate, centralized records for accommodation and leave cases, tracking outcomes, temporary accommodations, leave dates, and review dates in the HR case management system. Ensure consistent, timely processing of requests in accordance with federal and state statutory timelines. Flag compliance risks and elevate complex cases to leadership. Prepare regular reports on leave volume, case aging, and accommodation trends.
• Program support and education Help update disability accommodation and leave policies, employee handbooks, and standard operating procedures. Assist in delivering training to managers and HR teams on disability inclusion, leave requirements, and interactive process best practices.

Experience:

2 to 4 years of experience in HR operations, leave management, or disability services, with direct experience handling ADA accommodation and leave of absence cases.

Knowledge:

Deep working knowledge of federal and state disability and leave laws (ADA/ADAAA, FMLA, PWFA, and state-specific regulations such as California FEHA and CFRA, and state paid family and medical leave programs).

Skills:

Excellent empathetic communication, intake interviewing, and conflict resolution skills. Strong analytical skills to evaluate complex medical notes against job descriptions. Ability to manage a high-volume caseload with competing statutory deadlines. Proficiency in HRIS and case management tools and experience working with third-party leave administrators.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

EEOC and Veteran Documentation

During employment, employees are treated without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, medical condition or handicap, or any other legally protected status.

At times, government agencies require periodic reports from employers on the sex, ethnicity, handicap, veteran and other protected status of employees. The purpose of this Administrative EEO Record is for statistical analysis only and is used to comply with government record keeping, reporting, and other legal requirements. Periodic reports are made to the government on the following information. The completion of the Administrative EEO record is optional. If you choose to volunteer the requested information, please note that all Administrative EEO Records are kept in a Confidential File and are not part of your Application for Employment or Personnel file.

Please note: YOUR COOPERATION IS VOLUNTARY. INCLUSION OR EXCLUSION O