Human Resources Disability Specialist

The Overview
The Human Resources Disability Specialist is a position in the Human Resources Department, focusing in the areas of disability. Acting as a subject matter expert, the HR Disability Specialist manages processes and benefits to ensure compliance on occupational and non-occupational leave of absences, return to work programs, and Title I ADA reasonable accommodations. The person in this role will play a key role in the design of alternate employment programs and establish new processes that align and support disability retirement. The candidate selected for this position must possess strong collaboration and change management skills, the ability to influence at multiple levels in the organization, and the ability to work autonomously to solve employee issues is essential.

The candidate of choice for this role will possess a demonstrated expertise and experience related to within Federal/State FMLA, short- and long-term disability plans, and/or disability accommodation such as ADA (title I)/ADAAA/FEHA, etc., Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Workers Compensation and retirement/pension plans.

The Opportunity

• Responsible for employee disability program administration. Assist with City's leave administration;
• Ensure compliance with current laws, regulations, benefit plans and contract provisions related to disability management;
• Manage daily activity of claims, disability certification, recertification, and return-to-work processes, including Firefighter and Police Officer Pension plans; meet and counsel participants about their benefits;
• Support the Alternate Employment, Line of Duty, Gainful Employment and Pension Disability processes;
• identify employees who may be eligible for return-to-work status, and collaborate with interdepartmental team and staff to reduce the duration of disability and enhance the probability of return-to-work;
• Drive the continued development of policies related to disability management in concert with industry best practices;
• Establish and implement, in coordination with the pension division, procedures for disability retirement audits and recertification;
• Engage in regular communications with department representatives, Pension Administration, Risk Management, and City Attorney's Office about ongoing and potential disability cases;
• Lead as a subject matter expert and facilitate organizational discussions regarding disability administration, as well as serve on the City's disability committee; and
• Performs other duties as assigned.

About the Department
The Human Resources Department is made up of a dedicated team of professionals working to support the strategic direction of the City government through the recruitment, development, and retention of a high-quality workforce capable of delivering public services in a complex and stimulating community environment. Through thoughtful planning and the diligent execution of work, the Human Resources Department focuses on the critical needs of our dynamic organization and its employees. If you are curious for a broader view of our City government click here , or for a broader view of the City of Alexandria click here .

Minimum & Additional Requirements

To qualify for this position, all candidates must possess a bachelor's degree and at least three (3) years of professional experience in a human resources management field; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

To be considered an ideal candidate, candidates must possess a bachelor's degree and at least five (5) years of direct experience in disability and case management and an advanced working knowledge of Federal/State FMLA, short- and long-term disability plans, and/or disability accommodation such as ADA (title I)/ADAAA/FEHA, etc., Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Workers Compensation and retirement/pension plans. It is also advantageous for the ideal candidate to possess one or more of the following (or comparable) certifications:

• Certified Disability Management Specialist (CDMS)
• Certified Case Manager (CCM)
• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)
• SHRM-CP/SCP

Notes

This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to a criminal background.