Return to Work Coordinator

University of Southern California; Glendale (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Southern California is seeking a Return-to-Work Coordinator to manage disability case management and coordinate return-to-work processes for injured employees. The role handles supporting temporary accommodations and ensures compliance with applicable laws and university policies.

The position involves analyzing medical restrictions, coordinating with departments and external providers, and maintaining data-driven metrics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 1 year of working experience required.
• Certified Professional Disability Management and/or California Workers' Compensation Claims Administration certifications.
• FMLA, CFRA, ADA, FEHA knowledge and workers' compensation laws.

Responsibilities

• Analyzes medical work restrictions and coordinates return-to-work decisions.
• Liaises with internal/external stakeholders on workers' compensation and accommodations.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local laws and university policies.
• Maintains benchmarks and generates metrics on accommodation processes.
• Builds relationships with employees and home departments with confidentiality.

Skills

Clear written and verbal communication

Interpersonal skills

Analytical and data reporting

Discretion and confidentiality

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Certified Professional Disability Management

California Workers' Compensation Claims Administration certifications

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Return-to-Work Coordinator is responsible for processing and coordinating overall return-to-work administration, from the notification that an injured employee is able to return to work until the employees is released to full duty. The Return-to-Work Coordinator administers and implements established and recognized principles of disability case management.

Please note that this is currently a temporary opportunity with the potential to become a full-time role.

Job Responsibilities

• Analyzes medical work restrictions, makes recommendations to return injured employees back to gainful employment, and maintains best practices by facilitating interactive processes. Creates, analyzes and evaluates statistical data, developing monthly and annual metrics on accommodation processes.
• Serves as university liaison on all matters related to workers' compensation and return-to-work eligibility and/or certification, as well as point of contact for internal/external stakeholders - including the injured employee requiring accommodations. Provides ongoing consultation and problem-solving assistance to employees on the return-to-work process and temporary transitional assignments within and outside the university, all while maintaining transparency with their home department.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations (e.g., workers' compensation, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Employment and Housing Act) and university policies and procedures.
• Stays current with latest return-to-work program knowledge, best practices and initiatives. Supports continuous performance improvements with guidelines, policy development, workflows, training and quality standards.
• Develops strong, credible relationships from demonstrated ethical judgment, behavior and practiced confidentiality. Encourages a workplace culture where all employees are valued, value others and have the opportunity to contribute through their ideas, words and actions, in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, human resources, law, communication or in related field(s)
• 3 years in HR, workers' compensation claims, or return-to-work coordination.
• Experience in higher education and/or health care.
• Experience reconciling discrepancies across documentation and driving resolutions of differences.
• Ability to provide clear and concise instructions to employees, simplifying the policies and procedures needed to
• complete processes.
• Ability to provide high level overview of return-to-work strategies and coordinate across multiple teams.
• Experience partnering with external providers.
• Ability to translate meaning, identify issues and make process improvement recommendations.
• Experience reporting and presenting findings after analyzing data.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and relationship-building abilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 1 year of working experience
• Certified Professional Disability Management and/or California Workers' Compensation Claims Administration certifications.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of FMLA, CFRA, ADA, FEHA requirements and workers' compensation laws.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and maintain confidentiality.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to maintain a consistently positive attitude and courteous
• Professional hone/email tone.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills, able to think strategically and creatively.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

The hourly rate range for this position is $32.39 - $36.52. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer

• Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree
• Minimum Certifications: Certified Professional Disability Management and/or California Workers' Compensation Claims Administration certifications.
• Addtional Education Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
• Minimum Experience: 1 year
• Minimum Skills: Experience in Family and Medical Leave Act and ADA administration. Demonstrated working knowledge of FMLA, CFRA, ADA, FEHA requirements and workers' compensation laws. Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and maintain confidentiality. Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to maintain a consistently positive attitude and courteous phone/email tone. Strong organizational and analytical skills, able to think strategically and creatively. Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Preferred Education: Bachelor's degree In Business Administration Or Human Resources Or Law Or Communication Or in related field(s)
• Preferred Experience: 3 years in HR or return-to-work coordination.
• Preferred Skills: Experience in higher education. Experience reconciling discrepancies across documentation and driving resolutions of differences. Ability to provide clear and concise instructions to employees, simplifying the policies and procedures needed to complete processes. Ability to provide high level overview of return-to-work strategies and coordinate across multiple teams. Experience vetting and partnering with external providers. Ability to translate meaning, identify issues and make process improvement recommendations. Experience reporting and presenting findings after analyzing data. Excellent interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and relationship-building abilities.

Job ID REQ20178445

Posted Date 07/30/2026