Workplace Accommodations and Leaves Manager (Open and Promotional)

This high-impact position leads the County’s disability-management and employee-leave programs, helping employees navigate complex circumstances while supporting departments in meeting their operational responsibilities. The Workplace Accommodations and Leaves Manager serves as the County-wide subject matter expert for ADA Title I reasonable accommodations, the interactive process, return-to-work coordination, protected and non-protected leaves of absence, and the County’s Long-Term Disability program.

The successful candidate will balance sound judgment, empathy, confidentiality, and strong compliance expertise. They will partner closely with employees, departmental leadership, labor relations, Workers’ Compensation, Benefits, Payroll/Controller partners, medical providers, and County attorneys to resolve sensitive cases fairly, consistently, and efficiently.

Workplace Accommodations and Leaves Manager duties may include, but are not limited to

• Lead, administer, and continuously improve County-wide ADA Title I reasonable accommodation, return-to-work, leave-of-absence, and Long-Term Disability programs.
• Serve as the principal resource for County departments, managers, supervisors, and employees regarding disability accommodation, medical and family leave, and return-to-work matters.
• Facilitate timely, individualized, good-faith interactive processes; evaluate accommodation options; and work with departments to develop and implement reasonable accommodation plans.
• Coordinate return-to-work plans for employees recovering from work-related and non-industrial injuries or illnesses, considering medical restrictions, essential job functions, operational needs, and applicable legal requirements.
• Administer and interpret federal, state, and County leave provisions, including FMLA, CFRA, Pregnancy Disability Leave, military-related leave, paid family leave, disability-related leave, and other applicable protected and non-protected leaves.
• Oversee the County’s Long-Term Disability program, including recipient eligibility and tracking, payment-schedule coordination with the Controller’s Office, case review, program entries and exits, and opportunities to improve program efficiency and cost effectiveness.
• Develop, revise, and implement policies, procedures, forms, correspondence, tracking tools, and intranet content to promote consistent, accessible, and efficient program administration.
• Monitor changes in statutes, regulations, case law, and best practices; evaluate program impacts; and recommend policy, procedural, and operational improvements.
• Create and deliver practical trainings and presentations for managers, supervisors, employees, and HR staff on leave administration, disability management, reasonable accommodation, return-to-work responsibilities, and related topics.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and confidential records; prepare reports, metrics, and recommendations for Human Resources leadership and County stakeholders.
• Build effective partnerships with County departments and advise leadership on complex, sensitive, and high-risk employee matters.
• Collaborate with the County Attorney’s Office on relevant administrative matters, investigations, claims, and litigation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a trusted advisor who combines technical expertise with a respectful, employee-centered approach. They are skilled at explaining complex requirements in plain language, guiding stakeholders through difficult decisions, and managing multiple cases with discretion and consistency.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Extensive knowledge of disability accommodation, leave-of-absence, and return-to-work practices in a complex public-sector or similarly regulated organization.
• A strong working knowledge of ADA Title I, FEHA, PWFA, FMLA, CFRA, Pregnancy Disability Leave, military leave, workers’ compensation coordination, and related disability-management requirements.
• The ability to assess complex and sometimes overlapping leave, accommodation, and return-to-work obligations.
• Expertise navigating unionized environments and collaborating with labor representatives, Employee and Labor Relations professionals, internal and external attorneys, and employee representatives on complex or contested workplace matters.
• Sound independent judgment, strong conflict-resolution skills, and the ability to handle confidential medical and personnel information with care.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to deliver engaging and useful manager and employee training.
• A continuous-improvement mindset, with experience developing policies, procedures, forms, workflows, and data-tracking methods.
• Patience, empathy, and professionalism when supporting employees during challenging personal, medical, or family circumstances.

Education and Experience: 

Any combination of experience, education, and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Three years of progressively responsible professional experience administering ADA Title I reasonable accommodation, return-to-work, disability management, leave-of-absence, or closely related human resources programs; and
• Education, training, or coursework in human resources, public administration, business administration, disability management, employment law, or a related field; and
• Experience in a federal, state, or local government agency or another large, highly regulated organization is strongly preferred. 
• Experience developing and delivering training for managers and employees is highly desirable.

Knowledge of:

• Federal, California, and local laws, regulations, and best practices governing disability accommodation, disability discrimination, employee leave, return-to-work, and case management.
• ADA Title I, FEHA, PWFA, FMLA, CFRA, Pregnancy Disability Leave, military-related leave, workers’ compensation coordination, and paid family leave programs.
• Principles and practices of reasonable accommodation, the interactive process, essential-function analysis, medical certification review, and return-to-work planning.
• Human resources, employee relations, and public-sector personnel practices.
• Long-Term Disability program administration, eligibility monitoring, recordkeeping, and payment coordination.
• Policy development, process improvement, records management, data analysis, and report preparation.
• Effective adult-learning and training practices.

Skills and Ability to:

• Administer and coordinate complex disability-management, leave, and return-to-work cases from intake through resolution.
• Apply laws, policies, and procedures consistently while exercising sound judgment in unique circumstances.
• Conduct effective, timely interactive processes and collaborate with departments to identify reasonable and operationally feasible solutions.
• Interpret medical restrictions and documentation in consultation with appropriate stakeholders while maintaining medical confidentiality.
• Communicate sensitive and complex information clearly, compassionately, and persuasively.
• Develop and deliver effective trainings and presentations to varied audiences.
• Research and analyze laws, regulations, case developments, and operational data; translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Develop, revise, and implement policies, procedures, forms, and program materials.
• Establish and maintain productive working relationships with employees, managers, labor representatives, medical providers, County departments, and legal counsel.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and confidential records.
• Manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently as well as collaboratively.
• Use Microsoft Office Suite and case-management tracking and reporting tools effectively.

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in the County of San Mateo, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the “Apply” button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

Tentative Recruitment Timeline
LinkedIn Live Information Session: Tuesday, October 6 at 12:00PM
Final Filing Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: Week of October 19, 2026
Panel Interviews: Week of November 2, 2026, and/or November 9, 2026

About the County

Talent Acquisition Analyst: Priscilla Bermudez (09242026) (Management Analyst – D181)