Leave Management Specialist (Temp)

About Us Community health is about more than just vaccines and checkups. It’s about giving people the resources they need to live their best lives. At Neighborhood, this is our vision. A community where everyone is healthy and happy. We’re with you every step of the way, with the care you need for each of life’s chapters. At Neighborhood, we are Better Together. Neighborhood Healthcare PACE is a managed medical plan built around surrounding participants with a team of physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists and care coordinators to help them maintain good health and a good quality of life. Our goal is to keep our seniors happy and healthy at home surrounded by their family and community. As a private, non-profit 501(C) (3) community health organization, we serve over 500k medical, dental, and behavioral health visits from more than 100,000 people annually. With two PACE centers located in Riverside County, our PACE program is positioned to serve over 650 senior participants. This position is temporary, with an estimated assignment duration of 6 months. ROLE OVERVIEW And PURPOSE The Leave Management Specialist serves as the primary subject matter expert for employee leaves of absence, workplace accommodations, and worker’s compensation. The role manages and coordinates cases from initial notice through return to work or case closure, helping ensure timely communication, accurate documentation, consistent administration, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and Neighborhood Healthcare policies. This position works closely with employees, business leaders, Human Resources leadership, third-party leave administrators, worker’s compensation carriers, Payroll, Benefits, and other internal partners. The Specialist owns the case-management and compliance process within leave, accommodation, and worker’s compensation programs. Responsibilities Leave of Absence Management Independently administer routine and complex employee leave cases through return to work, separation, or case closures, including FLMA, CFRA, PDL, USERRA, personal leave, sabbatical, and other applicable federal, state, and company-sponsored leave programsAnalyze leave requests and supporting documentation, determine eligibility and applicable leave protections, identify overlapping entitlements, and ensure appropriate designation and administration Third-Party Leave Administrator Partnership Serve as the primary internal liaison with the organization’s leave administratorMonitor case activity, resolve escalations, review discrepancies, and help ensure employees and leaders receive timely and accurate information Employee & Manager Guidance Serves as an advisor to employees and leaders regarding leave eligibility, available leave programs, documentation requirements, timelines, return-to-work requirements, and related organizational proceduresAdvises leaders regarding temporary work arrangements, work restrictions, modified duty, and appropriate next steps when an employee is unable to return to work Workplace Accommodations/Interactive Process Lead the interactive process for accommodation requests in accordance with applicable requirementsGather and review supporting documentation, evaluate potential accommodations with the employee, managers, and appropriate business partners, document outcomes, and monitor approved accommodations as needed Worker’s Compensation Own worker’s compensation claims from initial report through return to work or claim closuresMaintain communication with the employee, supervisor, carrier/administrator, and internal partners; support timely claim reporting; track work restrictions and coordinate modified duty or return-to-work activity as applicable Return-to-Work Coordination Manage return-to-work and fitness for duty processes for leave, accommodation, and worker’s compensation casesConfirm required documentation, communicate restrictions to appropriate stakeholders, and coordinate transition back to work while protecting confidential medical information Safety Partnership Partner with Safety and worker’s compensation partners to review injury trends, support reporting and recordkeeping, and identify opportunities to reduce workplace injuries and improve return-to-work outcomes HRIS & Timekeeping Coordination Maintain and audit employee leave status, work status, timekeeping information, and related case data are accurately reflected in the HRIS (UKG) Determine required leave-status updates and coordinate necessary adjustments with Payroll, HRIS, Benefits, and other partners to resolve discrepancies Case Documentation & Confidentiality Maintain complete, accurate, and timely case notes and records for leaves, accommodations, and worker’s compensation mattersProtect medical and other confidential information and limit access to business need-to-know requirements Data, Reporting & Program Improvement Track and analyze case volume, leave utilization, accommodation activity, worker’s compensation trends, return-to-work outcomes, case aging, and other relevant measuresIdentify recurring issues, service gaps, and compliance risks and recommend process, policy, system, or training improvements Compliance & Regulatory Knowledge Maintain comprehensive knowledge of applicable federal and California leave, disability/accommodation, and worker’s compensation requirementsInterprets regulatory and policy requirements, advise HR and operational leaders regarding application, identify compliance risks, and recommend changes to practices, procedures, or employee communications as appropriatePerform other duties as assigned Education/Experience Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience may be considered 4 to 6 years of human resources, leave administration, benefits, disability/accommodation, or worker’s compensation experience required, including at least 2 years of direct leave and/or accommodation case management experienceComprehensive knowledge of federal and California leave and accommodation requirements, including FMLA, CFRA, PDL, ADA, PWFA, and related leave protections required Experience coordinating workers’ compensation claims, work restrictions, return-to-work processes requiredHR Certification preferred HRIS experience required; UKG preferred Experience working with a third-party leave administrator, workers’ compensation carrier, HRIS and case-management system preferredHealthcare or other highly regulated industry experience preferred ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS (Knowledge, Skills And Abilities) Effective written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and customer service skillsStrong MS Office (Word, Excel, OneNote, Power Point & Outlook) skills requiredDetail oriented with excellent customer service skills required Must be able to organize and prioritize to meet daily, weekly or program deadlines Must be able to work independently, lead others and participate as a team memberExcellent verbal and written communication skills, including superior composition, typing and proofreading skillsAbility to work as part of a team as well as independentlyAbility to work with highly confidential information in a professional and ethical manner Physical Requirements Ability to lift/carry 10lbs/weightAbility to stand for long periods of time COMPLIANCE (Safety & HIPAA) Follows all safety procedures as outlined in Neighborhood Healthcare’s Illness and Injury Prevention Plan (IIPP) and report any injuries and/or unsafe conditions immediately Maintains current knowledge of policies and procedures as they relate to safe work practicesUses appropriate body mechanics to ensure an injury free environmentFamiliarity with location of nearest fire extinguisher and emergency exitsFollows all infection control procedures including blood-borne pathogen protocolsMaintains privacy of all patients, employee and volunteer information and access such information only on a need-to-know basis for business purposesComplies with all regulations regarding corporate integrity and security obligationsReports all behavior and/or activity that are unethical, fraudulent, or unlawful Pay Range: $80,200.00 to $115,500.00 per year, depending on experience Compensation Disclosure: The posted salary range reflects the designated pay grade for this position. While this range represents the broader classification of the role, actual compensation will be based on several factors, including but not limited to: the candidate’s overall knowledge, skills, and experience, market data and industry benchmarks, internal equity within the organization, Budgetary considerations and organizational needs. As a result, placement within the range is not guaranteed, and the full pay grade range may not be utilized.