Disability Services Specialist



Disability Services Specialist

Salary

$86,840.00 - $110,073.60 Annually

Location

Seattle, WA

Job Type

Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week

Job Number

2021JM14083

Department

MTD - Metro Transit

Division

Enterprise Employee Services

Opening Date

11/09/2021

Closing Date

Continuous

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines

Summary

NOTE: The application period has now closed. Only Priority Placement Program participant applications will be added to the candidate pool.


King County Metro Transit has an opening for a Disability Services Specialist (Human Resources Analyst- Senior).  This position is open to the general public and all King County Employees.
 
This position is part of the Enterprise Employee Services Division's, Human Resources unit, and is one of four professional staff providing consultation and coordination in the areas of medical leave, reasonable accommodations, and disability services for the Metro, which has over 5,000 employees. 
 
This position ensures compliance with all applicable State and Federal disability and leave laws, collective bargaining agreements, and court decisions, and advises management of their responsibilities and employees of their rights under Federal and State laws as well as King County policies and regulations. This position will also provide expert testimony in medical separation arbitration hearings and other related litigation.
 

Job Duties

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and foundational expectation for all King County employees.  In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of this work.   As the Disability Services Specialist, you will:
 

  • Provide advice and consultation to management and leadership on the administration of leaves in accordance with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, King County Family and Medical Leave ordinance, and other federal, state and local leave laws and statutes
  • Advise management on options for employees who are unable to meet contractual requirements to work on a regular basis and/or who may be misusing sick leave
  • Perform case management duties in a high volume, fast-paced environment for employees who need assistance and have been diagnosed with a medical condition that impacts their ability to work
  • Work with employees, supervisors, managers and Department and Division leadership to facilitate the reasonable accommodation and interactive process, including researching, identifying and recommending reasonable accommodations.
  • Provide technical expertise and consulting services in analyzing, comparing, and contrasting the various Federal, State, and local disability and leave statutes, regulations and case law to determine appropriate actions/solutions
  • Coordinate job modification evaluations and appropriate actions prompted by requests for reasonable accommodations, transitional return-to work and stay-at-work needs of Metro employees; facilitate medical separations and medical resignations; and forward referrals for Career Center, Reassignment Program and Transitional Duty placement services
  • Track disability services, accommodations and leaves of absence within Metro Transit to ensure consistency and compliance with regulatory requirements, workers compensation guidelines, county personnel rules and collective bargaining agreements
  • Provide education and training, and communicate legal updates in reasonable accommodation, disability and leave laws and policies to Metro supervisors, managers and leadership
  • Provide direct support to identify and facilitate resources for employees who may be facing a medical crisis; provide information about benefits, FMLA/KCFML, Washington state leave laws and other assistance as appropriate
  • Review and analyze confidential medical information, essential job functions and employee records, and prepare written correspondence and communicate with health care providers to identify and clarify medical and work restrictions
  • Maintain comprehensive and complete case notes for assigned cases, preserving confidentiality of case information, and ensure accommodations provided to employees are documented
  • Other duties as assigned in support of Metro’s Leave and Disability Services team

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Minimum Qualifications
 
A Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Counseling or related field, or the equivalent combination of education and experience, and at least two years of increasingly responsible experience in coordinating and providing medical leave, reasonable accommodations and/or disability services, or equivalent work with persons with disabilities OR Any equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and abilities required to perform the work.
 
Additional required qualifications are:
 

  • Experience interpreting and applying the WLAD, ADA, FLSA, FMLA, Title VII, and applicable WAC, RCW's, and court rulings related to disability and industrial insurance
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required, including effective interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, problem solving and promoting collaboration
  • Ability to communicate policies and legal/medical terminology to clients and staff
  • Ability to adapt communication style to suit situations that will include meetings with senior managers, correspondence with medical personnel, and facilitating medical separation meetings with upset clients
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with centralized disability services staff in order to effectively implement King County's Reasonable Accommodation in Employment for Individuals with Disabilities policy
  • Knowledge of and ability to read and understand medical terminology, interpret technical reports and understand disabilities
  • Skill in effective time-management, planning, prioritizing and coordinating multiple projects with critical timelines
  • Ability to interpret and evaluate events/issues and use analytical skills to successfully anticipate, recognize and resolve problems
  • Ability to operate without well-defined policy and recognize precedent-setting situations Proficiency in the following: MSWord, Teams, OneDrive, Excel, Outlook, and the Internet
  • Experience in the design and implementation of disability and leave training to various levels of employees within an organization
 
Desirable Qualifications:
The most competitive candidates may have a national certification such as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), Professional Human Resource designation (SPHR, PHR, SHRM- SCP, SHRM-CP, or IPMA-HR), Certified Disability Management Specialist (CDMS) or Registered Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC). Other desirable qualifications are:
 
Knowledge of benefits programs related to persons with disabilities is highly desirable. Experience working in the public sector and unionized environment
Experience in designing and/or providing ongoing training for management and staff regarding their roles, responsibilities and legal obligations on issues such as federal, state and King County leave benefits, medical absence and accommodation issues, and disability discrimination or harassment
Demonstrated ability to conduct or provide support on internal investigations regarding disability discrimination
 
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: A valid Washington State driver's license or the alternate ability to travel around the County is required.

Supplemental Information

Application & Selection Process 
 An online employment application, letter of interest, and answers to the supplemental questions are required.
  
 Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more interviews.

This recruitment may be used to create an eligibility list to fill future career service, TLT and/or SDA Sr. Human Resources Analyst vacancies that may occur within the next 12 months from the establishment of the list, at the discretion of the hiring manager.  
 
 Work Schedule 
 This position is not subject to the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and therefore is not eligible for overtime pay if scheduled.  Anticipated start date January 2022.
  
 Union Representation/Job Code/Grade
 This position is not represented 
  
 Work Location
 The primary location of this position is in the King Street Center (201 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA)

  
 Teleworking Requirement
 The work associated with this position will be performed predominantly in a hybrid work environment working in the office and at home. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
  
 Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the wearing of masks in some situations. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.
  
 King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.  
  
 (New) Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
 King County employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  If hired, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine.  Employees may make requests for a reasonable accommodation based on a medical disability or for sincerely held religious beliefs.  Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation. This directive applies to employees in the Executive branch*, the Assessor’s Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff’s Office, and the Executive Office.

  
 To Apply

 If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact:  Jessica Mango at Jmango@kingcounty.gov  
  
 Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
 
 Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work, and play.
  
 Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion, and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way, and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
  
 King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.  

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being.  Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
  • Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
  • Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
  • Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
  • 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
  • Generous vacation and paid sick leave
  • Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Wellness programs
  • Onsite gyms and activity centers
  • Employee giving program
  • Employee assistance programs
  • Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
  • Training and career development programs
For additional information about employee benefits please visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy.  If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.  Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
 
NOTE:  Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
 
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

01
Are you applying to this position as an eligible Current or Previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant AND Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff AND Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?
  • Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my role at King County AND I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. AND The position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
  • no
02
If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoff
03
. Will you need an accommodation in this selection process due to having a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? If you select YES on this question, you will be contacted by our Human Resources staff if you are invited to proceed in the selection process. All disability status information will be treated as confidential.
  • Yes
  • No
04
How many years of experience in coordinating and providing medical leave and/or disability services or equivalent work with the person with serious health conditions?
  • Less than two years
  • Two or more years
  • None
05
State which, if any, of the following certifications you currently have
  • Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)
  • Professional Human Resource designation (SPHR, PHR, SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP, or IPMA-HR)
  • Certified Disability Management Specialist (CDMS)
  • Registered Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)
  • None
06
Do you possess a valid state driver's license?
  • Yes
  • No
07
Which best describes your highest level of education?
  • General Education Degree
  • High school
  • Some college
  • Associate's or technical degree
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Master's degree
  • PhD
  • Other advanced degree
08
What does your work experience include? Check all that apply
  • Experience in the public sector
  • Experience in a unionized environment
  • Knowledge of benefits programs related to persons with disabilities
  • PHR-SPHR/SHRM-CP Certification
  • CRC/CDSM Certification
  • None of the above
09
I certify that the statements made by me on the application and supplemental questions are, to the best of my knowledge, true, complete and correct. I understand that any misrepresentation or material omission of fact on this or any other document required by King County may constitute grounds for rejection, or if employed by King County, for disciplinary measures, including dismissal.
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

Agency
King County
Address
King Street Center
201 South Jackson Street
Seattle, Washington, 98104
Phone
206-477-3404