Manager – Employee Leaves & Accommodations

Department Overview

The Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for employee leave and accommodation programs, including administration of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Oregon leave laws and programs, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations, pregnancy and religious accommodations, return-to-work programs, and related leave and disability initiatives.

The position is responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance, operational excellence, a positive employee experience, and effective case management practices across all leave and accommodation services. The Manager oversees program administration, policy development, process improvement, compliance monitoring, workforce planning, and staff development to ensure consistent, equitable, and legally compliant service delivery.

The Manager provides confidential analysis and advisory support to Human Resources leadership and Labor Relations regarding leave, accommodation, disability management, and return-to-work matters that may have collective bargaining, contract interpretation, labor relations, or operational implications. The position participates in management bargaining preparation, evaluates proposed contract language, and supports implementation of negotiated provisions.

The Manager is expected to maintain an appropriate onsite presence based on operational needs, including participation in leadership and team meetings, complex employee matters, workplace accommodation assessments, training, and other activities where in-person engagement supports effective service delivery.

This position reports to the Director of Benefits.

Function/Duties of Position

Strategic Planning and Operational Oversight

• Maintain awareness of operational needs across OHSU work environments through onsite engagement with leaders, employees, HR partners, and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Maintain, evaluate, and continuously improve standard operating procedures for receiving, documenting, evaluating, approving, denying, and implementing workplace accommodations. Lead strategic planning related to effective support and coordination of employee accommodations and other employment processes (e.g., workers’ compensation, temporary work adjustments, leave, reassignment, performance management, etc.).
• Ensure day-to-day operations are managed effectively to achieve program objectives and deliver timely, consistent, and compliant services. Partner with department leadership and key stakeholders to establish annual goals, priorities, and performance measures. Analyze accommodation and leave program data and trends to identify opportunities for process improvements, risk mitigation, workforce support, and organizational initiatives that promote accessibility and inclusion. Monitor compliance with applicable federal, state, and institutional policies, regulations, and program requirements.
• Oversee the administration, optimization, and ongoing enhancement of case management systems, including Ethics Point and related technology solutions. Develop, monitor, and distribute operational, compliance, and performance metrics and reports to leadership and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with peer institutions, industry professionals, and subject matter experts to identify, benchmark, and implement best practices in leave and accommodation management.
• Provide confidential analysis and recommendations to Human Resources leadership and Labor Relations regarding leave and accommodation matters that may affect collective bargaining strategy, contract administration, workforce operations, or organizational risk.

Management of Human Resources:

• Maintain regular engagement with team members through a combination of virtual and in-person meetings and provide onsite leadership when operational, team, or employee needs require it.
• Ensure the correct staffing mix of roles based on scope and responsibilities.
• Hire, orient, evaluate, promote, counsel, discipline and discharge personnel as needed and appropriate.
• Manage/conduct staff development and planning.
• Develop and facilitate internal training, in person and virtually, regarding workplace accommodations.
• Ensure staff comply with OHSU’s Code of Conduct, core departmental and job specific competencies, requirements for staff members as outlined in Compliance Roles and Responsibilities in OHSU hospitals and Clinics.
• Ensure staff are operating within the scope and standards of the licensure or certification.

ADA Consultation, Support, and Case Management

• Provide training, guidance and support in person and virtually to Accommodations Specialists on accommodations requests.
• Provide reporting and analysis of accommodations, including measurement of success through key performance indicators
• Interpret data to gain insights into patterns and trends concerning accommodations.
• Review and approve draft accommodation plans, determination letters, and other consequential documentation prepared in connection with evaluating or denying an accommodation request.
• Support the Accommodations Specialists by administering the accommodation request processes independently and in accordance with federal, state and local laws and OHSU policies as needed dependent on staffing and case load. This includes engaging in the interactive process with the requesting individual, management and/or human resources as well as health care providers and religious affiliates to request additional permissible information for clarity when needed.
• Consult, coordinate, and partner with Human Resources, The ADA Coordinator, The Standard, the Department of Public Safety, Legal, Benefits, team members and other departments/systems as appropriate.

Budgeting and Financial Management

• Monitor monthly financial reports, investigating and reconciling discrepancies between actual vs. budgeted revenue and expenses.
• Maintains fiscal responsibility ensures departmental resources are being utilized effectively, efficiently and productively.
• Develops business plans and negotiate funding for department initiatives, as needed; Act as primary contact for all internal and external agreements between the department and OHSU partners.
• Looks for opportunities to reduce waste. 

Interdepartmental Collaboration 

•  Collaborate with key internal stakeholders on matters of shared interest, including complex case review, investigations, policy interpretation, process improvement initiatives, referrals, and case coordination. Participate in person, when appropriate, in leadership meetings, complex case discussions, operational planning, training, and cross-functional initiatives with HR, Legal, the ADA Coordinator, and other organizational partners.
• Serves as a liaison to other departments such as Human Resources, Office for Student Access, Legal, Environmental Health & Safety, Risk Management, Quality Management, the Deans’ offices, and the Provost’s Office.
• Partners directly with OHSU managers, including through onsite consultation when appropriate, regarding their responsibilities in the leave and accommodation processes and resolution of complex cases.
• Collaborates on the development or revision of policies, procedures and protocols related to leaves and accommodations.
• Support implementation of negotiated contract provisions and provide guidance regarding operational impacts and compliance requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and seven (7) years of progressively responsible program leadership, management, or administrative experience; OR equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Leadership and organizational skills and management style that emphasizes teamwork, strategic thinking, accountability, communications (written and verbal), flexibility, diplomacy and strong work ethic.
• Program management skills with ability to meet stringent deadlines, undertake multiple priorities concurrently and self-prioritize in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to interface effectively at all levels of the organization with demonstrated track record for interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Ability to lead and inspire others.
• Commitment to ongoing performance improvement

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field or Juris Doctorate
• Experience handling reasonable accommodation requests made under the Americans with Disabilities Act in a healthcare setting
• Experience supporting labor relations, collective bargaining, grievance administration, or contract interpretation.
• Experience providing confidential recommendations to leadership regarding complex employee relations, disability management, or accommodation matters.
• Relevant professional membership 

Additional Details

• Work is performed in an office environment.
• Work is primarily performed during OHSU core business hours; however, schedule flexibility is required to support in-person events, leadership meetings, employee engagement activities, and other operational or organizational needs that may occur outside standard business hours.  
• This role requires onsite presence and the ability to respond in person to critical events at any OHSU location within 4 hours.
• This position requires the frequent use of a computer.  

Why apply to OHSU?

We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact [email protected]