Human Resources Specialist - Leave & ADA

City-of-Bellevue; Bellevue (WA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

City of Bellevue is seeking an experienced Human Resources Specialist - Leave & ADA to support leave of absences and workplace accommodations. You will handle comprehensive case management, ensure policy and legal compliance, and maintain accurate HR records while collaborating with Benefits, Payroll, Legal, and HR colleagues.

You will provide exceptional customer service, guide managers, protect employee confidentiality, and contribute to process improvements in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in human resources or related field.
• Five or more years of experience administering federal and Washington state leaves of absence and ADA workplace accommodations.
• Certification in HR or completion of specialized certification or training on FMLA/leave administration and ADA is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the point of contact and SME for leaves of absence and accommodation requests, partnering with city attorney on complex cases.
• Manage the leave process from notice through return to work, including paperwork, eligibility, designation, and recertification as needed.
• Assess accommodation needs, conduct interactive processes, manage documentation, and provide guidance to employees and departments.
• Deliver excellent customer service and advise managers on processes and best practices.
• Maintain confidentiality of medical information and ensure accurate records and timely processing of leaves and accommodations.
• Collaborate with Benefits, Payroll, HRIS, Legal, and other stakeholders to ensure compliance and efficiency.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

HRIS experience

Leave management software

Analytical thinking

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft Office Suite

Leave management software

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Human Resources Specialist - Leave & ADA who is responsible for processing and supporting leave of absences, and ADA workplace accommodations for represented and non-represented employees. At Bellevue, you will provide exceptional customer service and assistance to all stakeholders and effectively help people navigate leave of absence and accommodation requests. This will include general administration, comprehensive case management, and program compliance in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), other related employment laws, collective bargaining agreements and the City's policies and procedures. The position will also be integral in processing HR transactions and ensuring the integrity of employee information in the City's systems. In the HR Department, you'll be a part of an engaged, enthusiastic team, dedicated to providing exceptional services to the city's managers and employees, and to job seekers and external partners. Bellevue employees embrace the values of innovation, integrity, stewardship, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and take pride in the work they do. The City Council's vision is that Bellevue welcomes the world, our diversity is our strength, we embrace the future while respecting our past.

• Serves as the point of contact and subject matter expert for qualified continuous or intermittent leaves of absence and reasonable accommodation requests. Partner with assistant city attorney on complex or high-risk cases. Lead or contribute to continuous process improvement initiatives in HR operations related to accommodations and leave management.
• Handles the leave process from employees' initial notice of the need for leave to the employees' return to work. This includes gathering and completing all required paperwork, determining leave eligibility, designating, or denying leaves as appropriate, requesting medical certification as needed, recertifying leaves, managing independent medical evaluation processes when needed, tracking and accounting for leave time used, including intermittent or reduced schedule leave use and performing audits as needed to ensure accuracy.
• Manages ADA workplace accommodation requests by understanding job analysis to assess the essential functions, conduct meetings for the interactive process, assess accommodation needs and department ability to reasonably provide accommodation, managing documentation, tracking accommodation status and providing guidance to employees and decision recommendations to departments. Manage and communicate the legal/technical aspects of the process in an empathetic, neutral, and clear manner.
• Delivers excellent customer service and ensures employees are aware of their own responsibilities and of any documentation and notice requirements to qualify for and to take leave. Provides guidance and advice to managers on the process and best practices.
• Delivers excellent customer service and ensures employees are aware of their own responsibilities and of any documentation and notice requirements to qualify for and to take leave. Provides guidance and advice to managers on the process and best practices.
• Maintains reasonable communication with employees on leave to facilitate smooth and timely return to work; keeps managers up to date about employee leaves, changes, and work restrictions.
• Preserves confidentiality of employee medical documentation and files.
• Maintains complete and accurate records; ensures all leave and accommodation requests (including intermittent and reduced schedule leaves) are processed accurately and timely, notifying employees of expirations and need for recertification.
• Collaborates with city-wide departmental leadership, HR Consultants, Benefits, Payroll, Risk/Workers' Compensation, HRIS and Legal on leave and ADA accommodations, independent medical evaluations, performance issues, and other matters. Hold monthly meetings with department leadership experiencing high utilization and HR consultants to ensure smooth facilitation.
• Monitors continuation of group health plan benefits during leave based on the City's policies and procedures/collective bargaining agreements; collaborates with benefits administrator on eligibility criteria changes.
• Documents internal workflow processes; researches, recommends, and streamlines processes for efficiency while ensuring positive employee and manager experience, consistency, and compliance.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in human resources or related field.
• Five or more years of experience administering federal and Washington state leaves of absence and ADA workplace accommodations; working knowledge of best practices for leaves of absence and accommodations.
• Or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent organizational and prioritizing skills, detail oriented, and ability to handle multiple tasks and assignments.
• Professional and personable, exercising sound judgment when dealing with sensitive and confidential matters.
• Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
• Self-starter, motivated and proactive.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills; experience working with a HRIS and leave management software.
• Ability to build positive relationships at all levels across the organization, and cultivate confidence being a subject matter expert and delivering consistent results.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and anticipate client needs, convey appropriate options, and make recommendations for implementation.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Certification in Human Resources or completion of specialized certification or training on FMLA/leave administration and ADA is preferred.

Physical Demands

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 20 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.
• Hybrid position requiring two onsite days per week.

Flexible/Hybrid Working

A hybrid work schedule is available for this position after an orientation period working in the office after hire. Remote work for this position is subject to department's operational needs and will be discussed with candidates during the selection process. Full-time remote work is not an available option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington and within reasonable commuting distance to Bellevue City Hall. Community Outreach manager responsible for programming that may include evening and weekends.