Position Title: Contractual ( CII) – Senior Accommodations,
ADA, and Leave Specialist
Department: Office of Human Resources – Employee and Labor
Relations
Reports To: Leave Management and Employee Relations
Administrator
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: 620 W. Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD (hybrid
eligible per UMB Telework Policy)
Benefits: Contractual (
Contingent Category
II)
UMB offers a
competitive
benefits package for Contingent Employment that includes
Healthcare Assistance for CII employees. In addition, CII employees
receive a generous leave package that includes ten (10) days of
annual leave, five (5) days of sick leave, three (3) days of
personal leave, and ten (10) holidays, subsidized comprehensive
health insurance and supplemental retirement options; professional
learning and development programs; limited tuition remission for
employees enrolled at UMB; life insurance and long-term disability.
Leave balances are awarded at the beginning of the contract year
and can be used only during the duration of the contract
period.
After 90 days, this position has a teleworking option of two (2)
days/week. UMB is a public university and constituent institution
of the University System of Maryland. All employees are expected to
work primarily physically within the State of Maryland.
The ideal candidate will personally connect with the
Administration and Finance Guiding Principles which closely mirror
UMB's core values: Respect and Integrity, Well-Being and
Sustainability, Equity and Justice, and Innovation and
Discovery.
UMB is a public university and constituent institution of the
University System of Maryland. All employees are expected to work
primarily physically within the State of Maryland.
Position Summary
Under the supervision of the Leave Management and Employee
Relations Administrator, the
Senior Accommodations, ADA, and
Leave Specialist serves as the University of Maryland,
Baltimore's (UMB) subject-matter expert on workplace accommodations
across multiple legal frameworks, including the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) and ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
(PWFA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (religious
accommodations), and applicable Maryland law.
The Senior Accommodations, ADA, and Leave Specialist independently
manages a complex caseload of accommodation requests from faculty,
staff, and applicants, leads the interactive process from intake
through resolution, and partners with HR representatives, Faculty
Affairs, Schools and Units, and the Office of the General Counsel
to ensure consistent, employee-centered, and legally sound
practice. The role also provides consultation on the intersection
of accommodations with Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) and/or the
Family Medical Leave Act, supplemental leave programs, workers'
compensation, sick and safe leave, and long-term disability.
The Senior Accommodations, ADA, and Leave Specialist also
coordinates the intake of, and processes, leave requests and leave
adjustments, while supporting employees and managers throughout the
leave process. This includes Federal Family and Medical Leave
(FMLA), USM Paid Family and Medical Leave non-medical leave of
absence, leave related to workers' compensation, paid parental
leave, military leave, advanced sick and extended sick leave,
supplemental leave, and other forms of unpaid leave/leave of
absence. The specialist serves as a key resource for Oracle HCM
leave-related inquiries and supports the overall efficiency of
leave operations.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
I. ADA & Accommodations — 50%
- Serve as primary confidential case manager for workplace
accommodation requests from UMB faculty, staff, and applicants,
including ADA/ADAAA disability accommodations, PWFA
pregnancy-related accommodations, and Title VII religious
accommodations, as well as escalated and high-complexity
matters.
Conduct individualized assessments by reviewing accommodation
request forms, supporting documentation (medical, religious, or
other as applicable), and essential job functions; engage health
care providers or other relevant sources for clarification when
appropriate and within the bounds of permissible inquiry.
Correctly interpret and apply appropriate legal and compliance
standards when evaluating requests under the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), and
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Lead the interactive dialogue with employees, supervisors,
deans, department chairs, Faculty Affairs, and HR Representatives
to identify and implement reasonable accommodations. Advise
supervisors, HR representatives, and School/Unit leadership on
accommodation strategy, performance management of employees with
disabilities or other accommodation needs, return-to-work planning,
and fitness-for-duty considerations. Serves as a liaison regarding
the intake of leave-related ADA accommodation requests for faculty
and staff.
Draft and issue timely, accurate, and legally compliant
accommodation resolutions and reassessment determinations based on
the facts, documentation reviewed, interactive process discussions,
and applicable legal requirements.
Coordinate and conduct periodic and as-needed accommodation
reassessments, including the review of updated medical
documentation, operational impacts, and accommodation effectiveness
and communicate outcomes in a timely manner.
Manage cases in which leave functions as a reasonable
accommodation, coordinating closely with Leave Management on PFML
and/or FMLA, sick and safe leave, supplemental leave programs,
workers' compensation, and disability benefits.
Maintain confidential, audit-ready case files in accordance
with EEOC recordkeeping requirements and UMB data governance
policies; ensure medical and other sensitive supporting
documentation 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 timely
communication of all leave-related requests and/or relevant
modified work schedules for faculty and staff; serves as a liaison
regarding the intake of leave; independently approves or denies
leave requests based on documentation and policy. Assists Campus
end users with leave inquiries and leave reconciliations.
- Provides effective guidance to management and employees in
response to questions regarding the interface between accrued paid
leave, leaves of absence, workplace accommodations and relevant
policies and procedures. Responsible for gathering and ensuring
correct completion of required paperwork, determining paid/unpaid
leave eligibility, designating leave as PFML and/or FMLA-qualifying
and designating other appropriate leave categories as needed,
requesting medical certification as needed and identifying any
impact of leave usage.
- Coordinates the return-to-work process for employees returning
from extended PFML and/or FMLA, workers compensation, or other
leave requiring return-to-work documentation.
- Reviews leave payout and leave adjustments, ensures accuracy
and that transactions are processed in accordance with system and
applicable authority. Administers and maintains leave accounts to
verify accuracy of transactions and uniform application of payroll
policies, procedures, and acceptable standards.
- Collaborates with Payroll and Benefits teams to ensure accurate
coordination of leave-related pay and benefits when applicable, and
works with colleagues in HRS, Risk Management and Office of the
Controller to address inquiries related to employee health and
welfare benefits, leave usage and timesheet issues.
III. Integrated ADA/Accommodations & Leave Program
Responsibilities — 15%
- Maintain accurate accommodation, ADA, and Leave Management case
data in UMB systems; recommend and help implement enhancements to
intake forms, tracking, and reporting across all accommodation
types.
- Interpret and apply applicable federal and state laws,
regulations, and University System of Maryland (USM) policies
governing employee accommodations, ADA, and Leave Management,
including medical and non-medical leaves of absence, and related
employment matters.
- Recommend updates to UMB accommodation policies, standard
operating procedures, forms, and request workflows for ADA, PWFA,
religious accommodations, Leave Management; support implementation
of changes HR systems based on regulatory developments, EEOC
guidance, OCR letters of finding, and relevant case law across all
accommodation frameworks, and new and/or changing legislation
related to all forms of leave.
- Provide training and resource materials for managers, HR
representatives, and faculty leadership on the full range of
accommodation obligations — ADA, PWFA, religious, and related — and
on the interactive process and inclusion practices; assist with the
development and delivery of training to educate faculty, staff, HR
representatives, and payroll representatives on leave policies,
procedures, and processes.
- Generates, analyzes, and maintains data metrics and reports on
leave management programs, performs audits, and makes
recommendations for process improvements, and assists with
coordinating and implementing appropriate actions; produces regular
on case volume, time-to-resolution, accommodation types and
outcomes, and trends.
- Participate in cross-campus and USM working groups on
disability, leave, religious accommodation, and accessibility
matters; 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 related
field.
Experience: Four (4) years of experience in administering
workplace accommodation and involving an interactive process in a
complex employer setting. Prior experience in higher education,
academic medical center, healthcare, or government experience is
strongly preferred.
Other: Except for qualifications established by law,
additional related experience and formal education in which one has
gained the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for full
performance of the work of the job class may be substituted for the
education or experience requirement on a year-for-year basis with
30 undergraduate college credits being equivalent to one year of
related experience. In instances where specific education and/or
experience is required only directly related education and/or
experience may be substituted.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Progressively responsible experience in leave program
administration, leave management functions, processing, or
interpretation is preferred.
- Experience drafting legally compliant accommodation
determinations, analyses, and supporting documentation across
multiple accommodation frameworks.
- Demonstrated case management experience administering leaves of
absence and ADA accommodation requests, and proven ability to
manage a substantial active caseload independently while
maintaining quality, timeliness, and confidentiality, including the
ability to deal with confidential information.
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, and Outlook, particularly MS Excel; experience with
HRIS platforms (Oracle preferred), case management tools, and leave
tracking software, and the ability to learn HRIS and case
management systems.
- Master's degree, or equivalent advanced credential,
preferred.
- Professional certification such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, ADA
Coordinator Certification (ADACC), or Certified Rehabilitation
Counselor (CRC).
- Experience supporting both faculty and staff populations,
including in a unionized environment with collective bargaining
considerations preferred.
- Experience supporting accommodations in clinical, laboratory,
or research-intensive settings.
- Experience handling religious accommodation requests, including
dress and grooming, scheduling, and observance-related
matters.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Working knowledge of, and experience applying, Title I of the
ADA, ADAAA, Section 504, PWFA, Title VII religious accommodation
obligations, FMLA, regulatory and legislative requirements of
employee leave programs, and the interplay between leave and
accommodation programs.
- Working knowledge of Maryland state employment, leave
management, and disability law and how to apply applicable
policies.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including
strong public speaking skills and the ability to translate legal,
medical, and religious-belief considerations for non-specialist
audiences with sensitivity.
- Sophisticated judgment and a high level of discretion in
ambiguous, high-stakes situations involving competing regulatory,
legal, operational, and human considerations.
- Skill in conducting individualized assessments, including
medical inquiry analysis, essential function review, sincerely-held
belief considerations, and identification of effective
alternatives.
- Ability to build trust quickly with employees in distress, with
managers under pressure, and with senior leaders; ability to work
collaboratively and foster effective relationships with a broad
range of constituents to include administrators, faculty, staff,
employees, and union leaders.
- Ability to engage respectfully with employees across a wide
range of religions, beliefs, and lived experiences.
- Demonstrated strong analytical, problem solving,
organizational, priority setting, and time management skills with
the ability to identify and evaluate problems, balance and achieve
multiple priorities, manage multiple active cases without
compromising quality or timeliness, and devise timely and effective
solutions in a fast-paced work environment.
- Ability to identify basic problems and procedural
irregularities, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid
conclusions.
- Ability to demonstrate, understand, apply, and adhere to the
UMB Core Values of Respect and Integrity, Well-being and
Sustainability, Equity and Justice, and Innovation and
Discovery.
Working Conditions
This position operates in a professional office environment with
the possibility of a hybrid remote work flexibility consistent with
the UMB Telework Policy. The role involves regular review of
sensitive medical and personnel information and frequent
interaction with employees, supervisors, and senior leaders.
Reasonable accommodation is available to enable individuals with
disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.
Hiring Range: $84,000 - $93,000, Commensurate with education and
experience
UMB is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce
and is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All
qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment
without regard to race, color, religion, age, ancestry or national
origin, sex, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression, genetic information, physical or
mental disability, marital status, protected veteran's status, or
any other legally protected classification.
If you anticipate needing a reasonable accommodation for a
disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), during
any part of the employment process, please submit a
UMB Job Applicant Accommodation Request . You
may also contact
leave_and_accom@umaryland.edu Please note that
only inquiries concerning an ADA request for reasonable
accommodation will be responded to from this email address.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore prohibits sex discrimination
in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals
may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. Read
the
UMB Notice of Non-Discrimination for more
information.
