Disability Accommodation Specialist

Disability Accommodation Specialist

Office of Institutional Accessibility and ADA Compliance

The Office of Institutional Accessibility and ADA Compliance is seeking a Disability Accommodation Specialist to join its Interactive Process Center of Expertise. This role is critical to ensure faculty and staff with disabilities receive appropriate workplace accommodations while maintaining full regulatory compliance. This role handles complex accommodation challenges, develops strategic solutions that meet both employee needs and legal requirements, and strengthens the university's position as a leader in accessibility compliance.

About the Role

The Disability Accommodation Specialist ensures equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities by managing the interactive accommodation process and providing expert guidance on state and federal disability laws. This role conducts individualized assessments of accommodation requests, reviews medical documentation, and collaborates with employees, managers, and senior leadership to implement reasonable accommodations that enable employees with disabilities to perform in their roles and supports return-to-work with employees on leave. The specialist serves as a consultative resource on complex compliance matters involving multiple offices and intersecting laws, while championing the university's commitment to accessibility and maintaining ongoing communication throughout the accommodation process.

Key Responsibilities

Accommodation Assessment & Implementation

• Conduct individualized assessments for faculty and staff requesting disability or medical accommodations through an interactive process, reviewing job functions, consulting with employees, analyzing medical documentation, and evaluating accommodation options for reasonableness

• Partner with department leadership to determine feasibility, identify alternatives, implement approved accommodations, monitor effectiveness, and make final accommodation determinations

• Partner with HR colleagues within schools that manage their own HR needs to consult and advise on accommodation decisions

Medical Leave & Return-to-Work Support

• Assess non-statutory Medical Leave requests and return-to-work accommodations in partnership with stakeholders while maintaining current knowledge of federal, state, and Workers' Compensation laws

• Provide direct support on complex work-related accommodations through coordination with relevant university departments

Documentation & Legal Compliance

• Maintain complete, accurate records of interactive processes, track and report accommodation data, prepare case summaries upon request for senior leadership, and respond to requests from general counsel to support risk management activities.

• Safeguard personally identifiable and protected health information per all applicable privacy laws and university policies

Collaboration & Advisory Services

• Partner with university stakeholders on complex accommodation matters, advise academic leadership on faculty accommodations and policy intersections, and deliver customized training to client groups

• Assess medical separation cases, provide recommendations to leadership, and coordinate fitness-for-duty evaluations

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (combined experience/education may substitute for minimum education)

• 5 years in leave administration, claims management, or ADA accommodations

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field

• 7 years in leave administration, claims management, or ADA accommodations

• Certified Leave of Absence Specialist, ADA Coordinator certification and/or similar certifications

• SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification credential, or other comparable certification

The annual base salary for this position is $89,500.00. When determining an offer, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, education, training, key skills, internal peer alignment, applicable laws, contractual requirements, grant funding, and market conditions.

The position is a hybrid work arrangement, with employees expected to be on-site 3 days per week.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree
Additional Education Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
Minimum Experience: 5 years in leave administration, claims management, or ADA accommodations.
Minimum Skills: Expertise in federal and state Disability Laws and Regulations (e.g., ADA, FEHA) and federal and state Medical Leave Laws and Regulations (e.g., FMLA, CFRA, PDL. Act). Familiarity with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations and disability laws applicable to the position. Experience in disability management, return-to-work administration, accommodations, and the interactive process. Excellent written and oral communication skills and attention to detail, able to exercise discretion with confidential information. Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholder managers at various levels, from entry level manager to dean. Familiarity with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations and healthcare laws applicable to individual positions (e.g., HIPAA). Ability to discern appropriate application of broad range of laws (e.g., ADA, FEHA, CFRA, WC). Team-oriented self-starter with excellent relationship-building skills, able to work independently and proactively and provide support and guidance as needed on projects. Ability to assist in developing and modifying guidelines, procedures, policies, and documentation within the department and university. Ability to quickly gain familiarity with university policies and procedures and apply consistently and fairly. Demonstrated emotional intelligence and exceptional professional judgment. Demonstrated fairness, impartiality, and integrity in decision-making in ambiguous situations. Proficiency with Microsoft Office. Demonstrated organizational and analytical skills, able to think strategically and creatively. Experience in disability management, return-to-work administration, reasonable accommodations, and the interactive process. Demonstrated ability to analyze and resolve complex issues around various business and accommodations-related issues.
Preferred Education: Master's degree In Human Resources Or Business Administration Or in related field(s)
Preferred Certifications: Certified Leave of Absence Specialist, ADA Coordinator certification and/or similar certifications. SHRM (Human Resource Certification) SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification credential, or other comparable certification.
Preferred Experience: 7 years