Manager, Leaves & Accommodations; Remote

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.

• 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.

• 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…