Senior Absence & ADA Programs Lead

Columbia Bank; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia Bank in Tacoma, WA is seeking a Sr Absence Management Specialist to lead complex leave and ADA accommodation casework. You will partner with HR, employee relations, and a third-party administrator to ensure regulatory compliance and accurate data.

You will own absence program reporting, drive process improvements, and help leaders mitigate risk while delivering enterprise-wide training and policy updates.

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of federal and state disability and leave laws and regulations governing the workplace accommodation administration.
• Demonstrated consulting, advising, and influencing business leaders required.
• Demonstrated computer and technical skills including Microsoft Office Suite to include PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Excel, and SharePoint required.
• Demonstrated verbal and written communication and strong interpersonal skills to effectively consult, advise, and communicate internally at all levels of the organization and externally with health care providers, vendors, and regulatory agencies required.
• Experience working independently, and as part of a team, establishing effective working relationships with colleagues both internal and externally required.
• Experience applying a high level of discretion and independent judgment, exercising confidentiality, and demonstrating respect and due diligence in sensitive situations required.
• Demonstrated organizational, time‑management, critical thinking, and problem‑solving skills with strong attention to detail required.
• Workday experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage complex leave cases and high‑risk scenarios (intermittent/continuous leave patterns, attendance intersection with performance issues, multi-state leave implications).
• Manage complex and high risk leave and/or accommodation cases, which may include multi-layered ADA situations, fitness‑for‑duty, multi-state leave implications and potential undue hardship determinations.
• Work closely with a third‑party administrator on daily case coordination, escalations, and data accuracy.
• Conduct full interactive processes with employees, managers, and healthcare providers.
• Serve as the senior‑level expert on applicable leave and/or accommodation laws including but not limited to: ADAAA, FMLA, USERRA, state/local leave laws, and intersecting legislation.
• Interpret and apply regulatory requirements to novel or precedent‑setting cases.
• Partner with Employee Relations and People Business Partners on sensitive issues, escalations, and recommendations that may result in corrective action, leave/accommodation denial, job placement, or separation.
• Lead policy updates, regulatory research, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Own absence and/or accommodation program reporting and case documentation; analyze trends and develop insights for leaders.
• Evaluate vendor performance, recommend improvements, and support RFP or vendor transition processes.
• Partner with HRIS/People Analytics to optimize workflows, dashboards, automations, and accuracy.
• Advise leadership on risk areas and long‑term impact of absence‑or accommodation‑related decisions.
• Lead the design and delivery of enterprise‑wide training (legal compliance, manager responsibilities, ADA/leave intersections).
• Influence stakeholders and ensure alignment across departments.
• Lead cross‑functional projects involving leave program changes, new state plan implementation, technology upgrades, or organizational process redesign.
• May determine eligibility, recommend reasonable accommodations, and negotiate solutions balancing business needs and legal obligations.
• Demonstrates compliance with all bank regulations for assigned job function and applies to designated job responsibilities – knowledge may be gained through coursework and on‑the‑job training. Keeps up to date on regulation changes.
• Follows all Bank policies and procedures, compliance regulations, and completes all required annual or job‑specific training.
• Maintain a working knowledge of Bank's written policies and procedures regarding Bank Secrecy Act, Regulation CC, Regulation E, Bank Security, and other regulations applicable to this job description.
• May be asked to coach, mentor, or train others and teach coursework as subject matter expert.
• Actively learns, demonstrates, and fosters the Columbia corporate culture in all actions and words.
• Takes personal initiative and is a positive example for others to emulate.
• Embraces our vision to become “Business Bank of Choice”
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

ADAAA knowledge

FMLA knowledge

Disability & leave laws

Regulatory consulting

MS Office

Communication skills

Independent work

Discretion & confidentiality

Time management

Workday experience

Education

HS Diploma/GED

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Workday

SharePoint

Microsoft Office

Job description

Columbia Bank in Tacoma, WA is seeking a Sr Absence Management Specialist to lead complex leave and ADA accommodation casework. You will partner with HR, employee relations, and a third-party administrator to ensure regulatory compliance and accurate data.

You will own absence program reporting, drive process improvements, and help leaders mitigate risk while delivering enterprise-wide training and policy updates.