Specialist, Accommodation, ADA, and Leave Senior

University of Maryland, Baltimore; Baltimore (MD); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework after 90 days

Healthcare benefits for contingent CII

Job summary

The University of Maryland, Baltimore seeking a Senior Accommodations, ADA, and Leave Specialist to serve as the subject-matter expert on workplace accommodations across ADA, PWFA, and related laws. Handles a complex caseload, leads interactive dialogue, and collaborates with HR, Faculty Affairs, and legal teams to ensure compliant, employee-centered outcomes.

The role coordinates intake of leave requests, PFML and FMLA, while supporting employees and managers through the leave process.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR/IO psychology, rehab counseling, public administration, disability studies, law, or related field.
• Four years of experience in administering workplace accommodations and interactive processes in a complex setting.

Responsibilities

• Manage ADA/Accommodation requests from faculty, staff, and applicants.
• Lead interactive dialogue to identify and implement reasonable accommodations.
• Coordinate intake of leave requests and manage PFML/FMLA and other leave types.
• Provide training on ADA, PWFA, religious accommodations and leave policies.
• Maintain confidential case files and ensure compliance with EEOC and policy requirements.

Skills

ADA accommodations

Leave management

Interactive process

FMLA/PFML

Consultation with HR

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/IO psychology/rehab counseling/public administration/disability studies/law

Tools

Oracle HRIS

Case management software

Job description

Job Description

Position Title: Contractual (CII) – Senior Accommodations, ADA,and Leave Specialist

Department: Office of Human Resources – Employee and LaborRelations

Reports To: Leave Management and Employee RelationsAdministrator

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: 620 W. Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD (hybrideligible per UMB Telework Policy)

BENEFITS: CONTRACTUAL (CONTINGENT CATEGORY II)

UMB offers a competitivebenefits package for Contingent Employment that includes Healthcare Assistance for CII employees. In addition, CII employeesreceive a generous leave package that includes ten (10) days ofannual leave, five (5) days of sick leave, three (3) days ofpersonal leave, and ten (10) holidays, subsidized comprehensivehealth insurance and supplemental retirement options; professionallearning and development programs; limited tuition remission foremployees enrolled at UMB; life insurance and long-term disability.Leave balances are awarded at the beginning of the contract yearand can be used only during the duration of the contractperiod.

After 90 days, this position has a teleworking option of two (2)days/week. UMB is a public university and constituent institutionof the University System of Maryland. All employees are expected towork primarily physically within the State of Maryland.

The ideal candidate will personally connect with the Administrationand Finance Guiding Principles which closely mirror UMB’s corevalues: Respect and Integrity, Well-Being and Sustainability,Equity and Justice, and Innovation and Discovery.

UMB is a public university and constituent institution of theUniversity System of Maryland. All employees are expected to workprimarily physically within the State of Maryland.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Leave Management and EmployeeRelations Administrator, the Senior Accommodations, ADA, and LeaveSpecialist serves as the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB)subject-matter expert on workplace accommodations across multiplelegal frameworks, including the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA) and ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), Section 504 of theRehabilitation Act, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), TitleVII of the Civil Rights Act (religious accommodations), andapplicable Maryland law.

The Senior Accommodations, ADA, and Leave Specialist independentlymanages a complex caseload of accommodation requests from faculty,staff, and applicants, leads the interactive process from intakethrough resolution, and partners with HR representatives, FacultyAffairs, Schools and Units, and the Office of the General Counselto ensure consistent, employee-centered, and legally soundpractice. The role also provides consultation on the intersectionof accommodations with Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) and/or theFamily Medical Leave Act, supplemental leave programs, workers’compensation, sick and safe leave, and long-term disability.

The Senior Accommodations, ADA, and Leave Specialist alsocoordinates the intake of, and processes, leave requests and leaveadjustments, while supporting employees and managers throughout theleave process. This includes Federal Family and Medical Leave(FMLA), USM Paid Family and Medical Leave non-medical leave ofabsence, leave related to workers’ compensation, paid parentalleave, military leave, advanced sick and extended sick leave,supplemental leave, and other forms of unpaid leave/leave ofabsence. The specialist serves as a key resource for Oracle HCMleave-related inquiries and supports the overall efficiency ofleave operations.

Responsibilities

I. ADA & ACCOMMODATIONS — 50%

• Serve as primary confidential case manager for workplaceaccommodation requests from UMB faculty, staff, and applicants,including ADA/ADAAA disability accommodations, PWFApregnancy-related accommodations, and Title VII religiousaccommodations, as well as escalated and high-complexitymatters.
• Conduct individualized assessments by reviewing accommodationrequest forms, supporting documentation (medical, religious, orother as applicable), and essential job functions; engage healthcare providers or other relevant sources for clarification whenappropriate and within the bounds of permissible inquiry.
• Correctly interpret and apply appropriate legal and compliancestandards when evaluating requests under the Americans withDisabilities Act (ADA), Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), andTitle VII of the Civil Rights Act.
• Lead the interactive dialogue with employees, supervisors,deans, department chairs, Faculty Affairs, and HR Representativesto identify and implement reasonable accommodations. Advisesupervisors, HR representatives, and School/Unit leadership onaccommodation strategy, performance management of employees withdisabilities or other accommodation needs, return-to-work planning,and fitness-for-duty considerations. Serves as a liaison regardingthe intake of leave-related ADA accommodation requests for facultyand staff.
• Draft and issue timely, accurate, and legally compliantaccommodation resolutions and reassessment determinations based onthe facts, documentation reviewed, interactive process discussions,and applicable legal requirements.
• Coordinate and conduct periodic and as-needed accommodationreassessments, including the review of updated medicaldocumentation, operational impacts, and accommodation effectivenessand communicate outcomes in a timely manner.
• Manage cases in which leave functions as a reasonableaccommodation, coordinating closely with Leave Management on PFMLand/or FMLA, sick and safe leave, supplemental leave programs,workers’ compensation, and disability benefits.
• Maintain confidential, audit-ready case files in accordancewith EEOC recordkeeping requirements and UMB data governancepolicies; ensure medical and other sensitive supportingdocumentation is stored separately from personnel records.
• Monitor implemented accommodations, schedule periodic reviews,and reopen the interactive process when circumstances change.

II. LEAVE MANAGEMENT — 35%

• Coordinates the intake, record keeping, and timelycommunication of all leave-related requests and/or relevantmodified work schedules for faculty and staff; serves as a liaisonregarding the intake of leave; independently approves or deniesleave requests based on documentation and policy. Assists Campusend users with leave inquiries and leave reconciliations.
• Provides effective guidance to management and employees inresponse to questions regarding the interface between accrued paidleave, leaves of absence, workplace accommodations and relevantpolicies and procedures. Responsible for gathering and ensuringcorrect completion of required paperwork, determining paid/unpaidleave eligibility, designating leave as PFML and/or FMLA-qualifyingand designating other appropriate leave categories as needed,requesting medical certification as needed and identifying anyimpact of leave usage.
• Coordinates the return-to-work process for employees returningfrom extended PFML and/or FMLA, workers compensation, or otherleave requiring return-to-work documentation.
• Reviews leave payout and leave adjustments, ensures accuracyand that transactions are processed in accordance with system andapplicable authority. Administers and maintains leave accounts toverify accuracy of transactions and uniform application of payrollpolicies, procedures, and acceptable standards.
• Collaborates with Payroll and Benefits teams to ensure accuratecoordination of leave-related pay and benefits when applicable, andworks with colleagues in HRS, Risk Management and Office of theController to address inquiries related to employee health andwelfare benefits, leave usage and timesheet issues.

III. INTEGRATED ADA/ACCOMMODATIONS & LEAVE PROGRAMRESPONSIBILITIES — 15%

• Maintain accurate accommodation, ADA, and Leave Management casedata in UMB systems; recommend and help implement enhancements tointake forms, tracking, and reporting across all accommodationtypes.
• Interpret and apply applicable federal and state laws,regulations, and University System of Maryland (USM) policiesgoverning employee accommodations, ADA, and Leave Management,including medical and non-medical leaves of absence, and relatedemployment matters.
• Recommend updates to UMB accommodation policies, standardoperating procedures, forms, and request workflows for ADA, PWFA,religious accommodations, Leave Management; support implementationof changes HR systems based on regulatory developments, EEOCguidance, OCR letters of finding, and relevant case law across allaccommodation frameworks, and new and/or changing legislationrelated to all forms of leave.
• Provide training and resource materials for managers, HRrepresentatives, and faculty leadership on the full range ofaccommodation obligations — ADA, PWFA, religious, and related — andon the interactive process and inclusion practices; assist with thedevelopment and delivery of training to educate faculty, staff, HRrepresentatives, and payroll representatives on leave policies,procedures, and processes.
• Generates, analyzes, and maintains data metrics and reports onleave management programs, performs audits, and makesrecommendations for process improvements, and assists withcoordinating and implementing appropriate actions; produces regularon case volume, time-to-resolution, accommodation types andoutcomes, and trends.
• Participate in cross-campus and USM working groups ondisability, leave, religious accommodation, and accessibilitymatters; contribute to special projects.
• Performs other duties and/or projects as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in human resources,industrial/organizational psychology, rehabilitation counseling,public administration, disability studies, law, or a relatedfield.

EXPERIENCE: Four (4) years of experience in administering workplaceaccommodation and involving an interactive process in a complexemployer setting. Prior experience in higher education, academicmedical center, healthcare, or government experience is stronglypreferred.

OTHER: Except for qualifications established by law, additionalrelated experience and formal education in which one has gained theknowledge, skills, and abilities required for full performance ofthe work of the job class may be substituted for the education orexperience requirement on a year-for-year basis with 30undergraduate college credits being equivalent to one year ofrelated experience. In instances where specific education and/orexperience is required only directly related education and/orexperience may be substituted.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Progressively responsible experience in leave programadministration, leave management functions, processing, orinterpretation is preferred.
• Experience drafting legally compliant accommodationdeterminations, analyses, and supporting documentation acrossmultiple accommodation frameworks.
• Demonstrated case management experience administering leaves ofabsence and ADA accommodation requests, and proven ability tomanage a substantial active caseload independently whilemaintaining quality, timeliness, and confidentiality, including theability to deal with confidential information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel,PowerPoint, and Outlook, particularly MS Excel; experience withHRIS platforms (Oracle preferred), case management tools, and leavetracking software, and the ability to learn HRIS and casemanagement systems.
• Master’s degree, or equivalent advanced credential,preferred.
• Professional certification such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, ADACoordinator Certification (ADACC), or Certified RehabilitationCounselor (CRC).
• Experience supporting both faculty and staff populations,including in a unionized environment with collective bargainingconsiderations preferred.
• Experience supporting accommodations in clinical, laboratory,or research-intensive settings.
• Experience handling religious accommodation requests, includingdress and grooming, scheduling, and observance-relatedmatters.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Working knowledge of, and experience applying, Title I of theADA, ADAAA, Section 504, PWFA, Title VII religious accommodationobligations, FMLA, regulatory and legislative requirements ofemployee leave programs, and the interplay between leave andaccommodation programs.
• Working knowledge of Maryland state employment, leavemanagement, and disability law and how to apply applicablepolicies.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, includingstrong public speaking skills and the ability to translate legal,medical, and religious-belief considerations for non-specialistaudiences with sensitivity.
• Sophisticated judgment and a high level of discretion inambiguous, high-stakes situations involving competing regulatory,legal, operational, and human considerations.
• Skill in conducting individualized assessments, includingmedical inquiry analysis, essential function review, sincerely-heldbelief considerations and identification of effectivealternatives.
• Ability to build trust quickly with employees in distress, withmanagers under pressure, and with senior leaders; ability to workcollaboratively and foster effective relationships with a broadrange of constituents to include administrators, faculty, staff,employees, and union leaders.
• Ability to engage respectfully with employees across a widerange of religions, beliefs, and lived experiences.
• Demonstrated strong analytical, problem solving,organizational, priority setting, and time management skills withthe ability to identify and evaluate problems, balance and achievemultiple priorities, manage multiple active cases withoutcompromising quality or timeliness, and devise timely and effectivesolutions in a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability to identify basic problems and proceduralirregularities, collect data, establish facts, and draw validconclusions.
• Ability to demonstrate, understand, apply, and adhere to theUMB Core Values of Respect and Integrity, Well-being andSustainability, Equity and Justice, and Innovation andDiscovery.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position operates in a professional office environment withthe possibility of a hybrid remote work flexibility consistent withthe UMB Telework Policy. The role involves regular review ofsensitive medical and personnel information and frequentinteraction with employees, supervisors, and senior leaders.Reasonable accommodation is available to enable individuals withdisabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

About Us

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is Maryland’s publichealth, law, and human services university. Six professionalschools and the interdisciplinary Graduate School confer themajority of health care, human services, and law professionaldegrees in Maryland each year.

Our goal is to support the University’s mission of education,research, clinical care, and public service by amplifying UMB’svoice as a thought and action leader, and to enhance goodwill inthe communities and people with whom we engage. UMB is a publicuniversity and constituent institution of the University System ofMaryland. All employees are expected to work primarily physically within the State of Maryland.

UMB is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforceand is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. Allqualified applicants will receive consideration for employmentwithout regard to race, color, religion, age, ancestry or nationalorigin, sex, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation,gender identity or expression, genetic information, physical ormental disability, marital status, protected veteran's status, orany other legally protected classification.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore prohibits sex discriminationin any education program or activity that it operates. Individualsmay report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. Readthe UMB Notice of Non-Discrimination for moreinformation.

UMB is a public university and constituent institution of theUniversity System of Maryland. All employees are expected to workprimarily physically within the State of Maryland. Regular and contractual employee are eligible for acomprehensive benefits package.