Workforce Availability Manager

Description

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), an agency within the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), is seeking a Workforce Availability Manager responsible for the strategic and operational oversight of employee availability programs that directly impact MTA's ability to deliver safe, reliable, and continuous transit service.

This role reports to the Deputy Director of Human Resources and is responsible for advising management regarding the administration of sick and other leave provisions, policies, and procedures for represented employees, as well as leave policies and procedures for non-represented and managerial employees, as needed. The position serves as a critical liaison between Human Resources and Operations and will advise and assist in taking appropriate action regarding time and attendance and other leave of absence related issues.

Primary Job Responsibilities:

Workforce Availability & Leave Management

• Responsible for leading the administration, coordination, and compliance of all leave of absence and return-to-work programs across MTA. This includes oversight of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), return to work (RTW), State Medical Examiners Referrals, Fit for Duty determinations (workability), Leave Bank, Parental Leave, and other Sick Leave options (e.g. Advanced Sick Leave, Extended Sick Leave, and Sick/Safe Leave).
• Ensure consistent application of leave policies, CBAs, state/federal law, and MTA directives.
• Monitor leave trends, absenteeism, and availability risks impacting operations.
• Design, develop, implement and continue to enhance an overall FMLA management procedure in accordance with Federal Regulations and State/MDOT policy. Generate and distribute related reports.

Program Leadership & Governance

• Formulate, implement, and manage programs to monitor, audit, investigate, and address employee fraud, malingering, chronic absenteeism, and sick leave abuse.
• Advise management on the proper and consistent implementation and administration of applicable contract provisions and policies, and employee availability issues.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce SOPs, workflows, and service-level standards for workforce availability programs.
• Serve as the subject-matter expert on leave-related policy interpretation and complex case resolution.
• Partner with Legal and Labor Relations on grievance responses, arbitration preparation, and compliance matters.

Operational & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Collaborate closely with Operations leadership to support workforce planning and mitigate service impacts.
• Coordinate with Payroll, HRIS, and Operations to ensure accurate coding, timekeeping, and pay outcomes.
• Work with Worker's Compensation, EEOC/ADA, Risk & Safety, and medical providers on certifications, restrictions, and RTW planning.
• Partner with operations to review, research, respond, and resolve time and attendance related disciplinary and contractual interpretation cases, related complaints, and information requests.
• Conduct weekly staff meetings, review data and develop reports regarding activities within the division to support reducing absenteeism and increasing workforce availability.

Data, Reporting & Systems

• Maintain accurate case logs, dashboards, and management reports related to leave usage, trends, and risk exposure.
• Leverage MTA systems (HRIS, ADP, Trapeze) to optimize leave tracking, workflow automation, and data integrity.
• Use data to inform executive decision-making and workforce planning strategies.

Manager/Employee Training & Development

• Develop and conduct training for all levels of management regarding coordination of ADA Reasonable Accommodations, Leave Bank, Accident Leave, EAP, FMLA, etc.
• Provide management training and access to the FMLA database (OHMS) in order to decrease absenteeism through early detection and procedure enforcement.
• Conduct town hall meetings with employees to educate about their rights under the FMLA and to discuss the rights of management related to recertifications and consequences of fraudulent information.

Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Six years of experience in administrative or related professional work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor s degree in Human Resources or Business Administration
• Experience in public sector, transportation, or safety-sensitive operations.
• Supervisory or people-management experience.
• HR certifications in FMLA, Absence Management, or Leave Administration.
• Demonstrated experience administering FMLA, ADA, and Workers  Compensation in a unionized environment.
• Strong working knowledge of federal and state employment laws, including FMLA, Worker's Compensation, and ADA.
• Strong investigative and critical thinking skills
• Experience collaborating with operations, legal, payroll, and medical partners.
• Proven ability to manage sensitive, high-risk employee cases with discretion and professionalism.

Notes: This recruitment contains a Selective…