Human Resources Specialist (41059)

Job Duties/Scope Of Work

About Us:

Join the Hanford team, where our mission is to maintain a safe, compliant, and supportive work environment while advancing the Department of Energy’s environmental remediation efforts. Our Human Resources team plays a crucial role in ensuring our employees have the resources and support they need to succeed. We are seeking a dedicated Leave of Absence Subject Matter Expert (SME) to join our team and contribute to the well-being of our workforce.

Position Overview:

The Leave of Absence/ Disability SME is responsible for assessing and managing employee disability claims, ensuring compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and company policies. This role facilitates communication among employees, supervisors, and healthcare providers, maintains accurate documentation of cases, and delivers comprehensive case management services. The specialist proactively monitors claim activity, coordinates return-to-work processes and collaborates with Occupational Health and Other Hanford Contractors (OHCs) to optimize disability program operations. The position plays a key role in supporting employee well-being, resolving challenges, and continually improving disability management procedures across the Hanford Site.

• Assess and manage employee disability claim requests.

• Ensure compliance with plan documents, collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), and applicable federal and state laws, including ADA, FMLA, and Washington State regulations.

• Coordinate effective communication between employees, supervisors, and healthcare providers regarding disability management.

• Maintain, revise, and implement policies and procedures related to disability claims and processes.

• Document and manage all disability cases in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.

• Deliver case management services, including timely follow-up and monitoring.

• Counsel employees and managers concerning rights and responsibilities under disability laws and company policy.

•Track, analyze, and report disability management metrics.

• Respond to audits, grievances, and other inquiries related to disability claims.

• Monitor claim activity and proactively troubleshoot challenges to resolution.

• Lead and facilitate partnership meetings with Leave Coordinators from all Occupational Health Contractor (OHC) partners.

• Evaluate, recommend, and implement improvements to processes for short-term and long-term disability programs.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field preferred and three (3) years' experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Previous experience in leave management or HR preferred but not required.

• Thorough understanding of relevant laws and regulations (ERISA, ADA, FMLA, Workers' Compensation, HIPAA)

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional judgment.

• Strong organizational and communication skills.

•Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and HRIS systems.

•Ability to obtain and maintain a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential badge.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working with unions and understanding Collective Bargaining Agreements.

• Proficient with data analytics and metric-driven reporting.

• Advanced communication and presentation skills

• HR certification (e.g., PHR/SPHR, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP).

• Experience with HRIS (PeopleSoft or other similar HR information system).

• Extensive knowledge of federal and state leave laws with demonstrated experience managing complex leave cases and ensuring regulatory compliance across a large, diverse workforce.

Compensation & Benefits

Grade 15: $82,000 to $103,400

Grade 16: $90,150 to $113,550

Grade 17: $99,063 to $124,788

HMIS offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical/dental/vision, short-and long-term disability, life insurance, 401(k) plan, and paid time off. For a full list of benefits please visit our benefits website: https://hmis.hanford.gov/hr/page.cfm/employeebenefits

In accordance with the HMIS salary determination process, offers will be made by taking into consideration the level of assigned job duties, responsibilities, and the candidate's qualifications relative to internal peers and the external labor market. A candidate's salary history will not be used in compensation decisions. The salary range listed represents the full range of salary that may be offered.

In compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford Field Office (HFO) direction, employees issued initial badges on or after September 1st, 2025, are required to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a federal background check investigation. This investigation encompasses multiple areas of eligibility and includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year.