Manager, Leaves & Accommodations

Leads and manages team consultant team responsible for employee leave and accommodation activities. Oversees leaves of absence and reasonable accommodation interactive processes - ensuring alignment with applicable federal/state laws and internal Molina policies and procedures. Responsible for maintaining knowledge of applicable laws and regulations related to leaves, accommodations, and worker’s compensation, and applies knowledge/best practices, and recommendations for changes in policy, practice, and/or resources to applicable stakeholders.

Essential Job Duties

• Oversees team responsible for facilitating consultation in the areas of leaves and accommodations; ensures alignment with federal and state regulations and internal Molina policies and procedures, including Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), statutory leaves and accommodation entitlement programs as well as military, company-offered, and other types of leaves of absence.
  • Provides high level consultation to leadership and human resources (HR) stakeholders regarding absence management strategy, business planning, required documents and processes, caseload, eligibility, determination, and/or other legal requirements.
  • Independently handles high-risk or sensitive issues and/or escalations, identify recurring or systemic issues, and analyzes data by preparing consumable reports for leadership and stakeholders.
  • Proactively works to mitigate risk and contain liability to the organization; escalates issues as appropriate for further resolution.
  • Regularly exercises discretion and independently provides counsel on state and federal laws as well as company policy/compliance strategies to meet obligation to reasonably accommodate the known disabilities of employees and ensure FMLA application is consistent and without interference risk.
  • In conjunction with the leave team, provides high level consultation through facilitating the interactive process with employees for reasonable accommodation requests in accordance with federal and state and/or local laws and regulations.
  • Collaborates with other human resource centers of excellence (COEs) and stakeholders, serving as the subject matter expert in the areas of leaves and accommodations; solicits regular feedback regarding the quality of service from team and/or individual consultant’s performance.
  • Manages the partnership with the third-party administrator (TPA) to ensure open cases for leave, disability and/or worker’s compensation are managed in accordance with federal and state or local laws and organizational policies and processes.
  • Develops and delivers leave/accommodation trainings for HR business partners (HRPBs), leaders and other stakeholders.
  • Navigates complex HR data, laws, and policies in a fast-paced environment, while effectively de-escalating high-pressure or emotionally sensitive situations.
  • Maintains the highest levels of confidentiality and discretion; work routinely involves handling confidential or sensitive information, requiring protection and disclosure on an as-needed basis.
  • Prioritizes workload to ensure legal compliance and responsive customer service while maintaining highest levels of confidentiality and discretion.
  • Provides expert guidance on leaves and accommodations to enhance knowledge and alignment on best practices.
  • Hires, trains, develops and manages team; demonstrates accountability for team performance and achievement of department-specific goals.

Required Qualifications

• At least 7 years of experience in human resources (HR), counseling, social work, law, or a reasonably comparable field, and at least 3 years of experience supporting employee leave/accommodation entitlement programs, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
  • At least 1 year of management/leadership experience.
  • In-depth understanding of Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), American's with Disabilities Act (ADA), state-specific leave laws, and reasonable accommodation requirements.
  • Experience managing, administering and/or consulting on entitlement programs (leaves of absence, reasonable accommodations).
  • Human Resource Information System (HRIS) database experience and absence management software experience.
  • Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
  • Ability to communicate and provide professional service and work products across all levels of the organization.
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze, interpret, and apply rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
  • Ability to navigate, maintain, and analyze employee data to support HR operations and compliance.
  • Proven ability to work independently while prioritizing competing deadlines and projects.
  • Ability to remain calm while successfully working to de-escalate stressful, emotionally charged situations.
  • Ability to speak concisely, compassionately, and persuasively; strong listening skills, in addition to conflict resolution, negotiation and mediation skills.
  • Organizational and time-management skills; ability to manage simultaneous projects and tasks to meet internal deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, including experience providing coaching/training.
  • Microsoft Office suite and applicable software programs proficiency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Health care experience.

To all current Molina employees: If you are interested in applying for this position, please apply through the Internal Job Board.

Molina Healthcare offers a competitive benefits and compensation package. Molina Healthcare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/D/V

Originally posted on Himalayas