Medical Leaves & Accommodation Services Administrator

YOU MUST BE AN ALAMEDA COUNTY EMPLOYEE TO APPLY

THIS IS A NEW PROMOTIONAL ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended. Qualified applicants must be current county employees and have completed, by the last day for filing, the equivalent of six months of continuous service following a regular appointment in the Alameda County classified service. A regular appointment does not include provisional, TAP (Temporary Assignment Pool), or STEP-UP appointments.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line.

Established in 1853, Alameda County has a population of over 1.6 million residents making it the second largest county in the Bay Area and the seventh largest in the State. The County encompasses 14 cities including Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and Union City as well as six unincorporated communities and rural areas that span a total of 738 square miles. 

Alameda County employs approximately 9,000 employees working in 21 different agencies and departments and has an annual budget of over $3 billion. As a major urban County, Alameda delivers a full spectrum of services, including general government and internal services, health care, social services, public works, criminal justice, and other public safety services for its community. 

The County celebrates the rich diversity of its workforce, which in large measure, reflects the cultural and ethnic diversity of the community it serves. The County’s mission is to enrich the lives of its residents through visionary policies and accessible, responsive, and effective services. Its vision is to be recognized as one of the best counties in which to live, work, and do business.

THE HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES DEPARTMENT:

• Department Mission: Deliver high quality and timely human resource services in partnership with County agencies, departments and special districts to enable our customers to reach their organizational goals. 

• Vision: To be the employer of choice and a great place to work. 

• Values: In a spirit of partnership, HRS strives for: Excellence in everything we do. Responsiveness to our customers and their needs. Fairness in our policies and practices. Innovation in developing and implementing new programs. Diversity in recognizing everyone’s unique contribution. Development of every employee’s full potential. Anticipate and meet the changing needs of employees and candidates to ensure the recruitment and retention of a talented and committed workforce. Support the County’s organizational culture that values customer service, performance excellence, diversity, and fiscal stewardship. Redesign and transform the recruitment function for improved customer service and satisfaction. Champion workforce planning and development to ensure that employees have every opportunity to assume leadership positions as baby boomers retire. Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of services through the increased use of technology.

THE POSITION:

Under general direction, plans, organizes and directs the work activities and staff of the centralized Medical Leaves & Accommodation Services Unit; counsels and advises County Human Resources Personnel Officers and liaisons, County managers/supervisors and Alameda County employees on Federal and State disability laws, leave provisions, other applicable statutes, and County policies and procedures; develops and establishes Countywide policies and procedures, rules, regulations guidelines designed to eliminate disability discrimination practices and reduce liability issues; and to actively develop and promote a centralized disability management program.  

This single management/supervisory class is located in the Medical Leaves & Accommodation Services Unit of the Human Resource Services Department and reports to the HR Division Manager, Employee Benefits, Medical Leaves & Accommodation Services of Human Resource Services. It is distinguished from the lower supervisory classification in the Medical Leaves & Accommodation Services Unit in that this position is responsible for the overall managing, designing, implementing and operating of the County’s Medical Leaves & Accommodation Services programs while the supervisory classification is directly responsible for supervising the day-to-day functions of the Unit and staff.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications stated below, the ideal candidate will possess experience providing disability case management and professional and technical consultation, assistance and support on disability related matters pursuant to state and federal disability laws and leaves. These disability laws and leaves include the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), California Family Rights Act (CFRA), and Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), and Workers’ Compensation and possess the following competencies:

• Exceptional oral and written communication skills;
• A sound technical understanding of various disability related laws and leaves such as FMLA, CFRA and PDL, ADA, FEHA and Workers' Compensation;
• Strong disability case management skills and the ability to identify high-risk cases and collaborate and coordinate with others in addressing such cases;
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to provide comprehensive consultation and appropriate recommendations;
• Strong organizational skill with the ability to value and manage work groups by inspiring, advising and delegating to facilitate goal accomplishment and track, monitor and evaluate performance to ensure success;
• Political savvy and skills necessary for identifying, navigating and successfully interacting within the dynamics of the organization while maintaining confidentiality;
• Strong collaboration skill and be a consensus builder, adept in identifying opportunities and taking action to build strategic relationships to help achieve department goals;
• Experience writing policies, procedures and analyzing and preparing statistical reports;
• The ability to respond quickly in a changing environment and provide quality solutions to programmatic and organizational problems;
• A practiced problem solver with good judgment, capable of thinking logically, taking initiative and reacting calmly under pressure in order to arrive at sound conclusions, make well supported decisions and take appropriate action;
• A strong coordinator with exceptional organizational skills and a demonstrated ability to plan and organize work for self and others in order to ensure that work is completed efficiently and in a timely manner;
• Someone capable of making a positive impact on others by exuding an air of confidence, creating good first impressions, professionally commanding attention, and earning professional trust and respect of others.

EITHER I

Experience:  

The equivalent of two (2) years full-time experience overseeing the disability management functions of subordinate staff in the class of Departmental Human Resources Manager or in an equivalent or higher classification in the Alameda County classified service.  

OR II  

Experience:  

The equivalent of three (3) years full-time experience in the class of Departmental Human Resources Officer that included two (2) years of having managed disability-related cases in the Alameda County classified service.      

OR III  

Education:  

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Public Administration, Human Resources or in a related field.  

AND

Experience:  

The equivalent of four (4) years recent full-time experience in a public or private organization working in professional level personnel work involving disability management and reasonable accommodation and the use of the knowledge and abilities described in this specification. Two (2) years of the required experience should have been at a Supervisor or Manager level.   

Substitution:  

Four (4) additional years of work experience may substitute for the degree requirement.  

NOTE:    The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of public and personnel administration.
• State and Federal disability laws, leave provisions, and regulations.
• County policies and procedures, Administrative Code, CS Rules, Personnel Procedures, Memoranda of Understanding (MOU’s) and personnel administration.
• EEO concepts and guidelines for compliance related to employee/applicant disabilities.    
• Principles and practices of management, supervision, and training. 
• Effective techniques of interpersonal relations, negotiation, strategies, conflict resolution and problem solving.
• Statistical methods used to analyze data.

Ability to:

• Provide effective and efficient leadership to staff.
• Analyze, problem solve, and make sound judgments and appropriate recommendations.
• Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.
• Establish effective working relationships and conferring at all levels.
• Negotiate and strategize.
• Plan and organize.
• Effectively communicate, orally and in writing.
• Coordinate and supervise the processing of disability management cases.
• Develop and conduct training in related areas of disability management and reasonable accommodation.
• Make presentations to individuals and groups.
• Read, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, standards and procedures.
• Use applicable State and Federal provisions as well as Charter and Civil Service Rules and Regulations.

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:
1. A review of applicants' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the testing.
2. An oral examination which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this examination.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work. 

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Applicants will be informed via e-mail with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. 

The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @jobaps.com, @acgov.org, Noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org and Noreply@jobaps.com as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email boxes Noreply@jobaps.com and noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org are routed to unmonitored mailboxes. If you have questions, please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Monique Hill | Personnel Services Program Manager, Recruitment and Selection
Human Resource Services, County of Alameda
510-208-4841 or email Monique.Hill@acgov.org
www.acgov.org/hrs

 DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law.  Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect.  Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.