Human Resource Consultant 4- Protected Leave & Accommodation Supervisor

The State of Washington Parks and Recreation Commission is hiring a permanent Human Resource Consultant 4 to lead its Protected Leave and Accommodation work. This hybrid role in Lacey, WA supports the agency’s reasonable accommodation and protected leave programs while providing oversight for workers’ compensation, return-to-work, and agency wellness initiatives. In addition, the position supervises an HRC3 who implements protected leave programs and coordinates related efforts.

Key responsibilities

• Manage the reasonable accommodation and protected leave programs, providing oversight for workers’ compensation, return-to-work, and agency wellness programs.
• Provide expert-level consultation, guidance, and support to agency managers, supervisors, and staff on reasonable accommodations and complex leave programs, including protected leave such as FMLA, PFML, and Shared Leave.
• Lead the interactive reasonable accommodation process end to end, including drafting medical questionnaires, analyzing medical documentation, advising management on legally defensible options, communicating appointing authority decisions, and documenting each step.
• Maintain an electronic tracking system for follow-up and produce monthly reports.
• Maintain confidentiality for personnel and medical information.
• Interpret and clarify Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), federal laws, Washington Administrative Code (WAC), and applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, using sound judgment to support legally defensible recommendations.
• Develop and deliver tools and resources, including training, to multiple audiences to improve understanding of leave laws, the reasonable accommodation process, and how to have professional employee conversations.
• Supervise an HR Consultant responsible for implementing protected leave programs and coordinating workers’ compensation claims, return-to-work efforts, and agency wellness programming.

Minimum qualifications

• Seven (7) years of broad-based professional human resource experience advising and consulting on complex issues (including labor relations, employee relations, performance management, classification and compensation, reasonable accommodation, and protected leave).
• At least two (2) years of experience must include professional-level administration of leave of absence programs (FMLA, PFML, Shared Leave) and administration of reasonable accommodation interactive processes.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook).
• Expert knowledge of employment, privacy, disability, and medical leave laws as they relate to employment, including protected leave, reasonable accommodation, and workers’ compensation claims, and evaluating eligibility and medical documentation.
• Experience incorporating new information when interpreting CBAs, federal laws, WAC, and related regulations to offer legally defensible courses of action.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and foster collaboration across internal teams and external oversight bodies (including L&I and medical providers).
• Ability to organize highly confidential case files and present HR data clearly for executive decision-making.
• Experience composing precise, formal, and legally sound written communications for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to coach, mentor, and motivate staff to support team effectiveness and individual career growth.
• Experience incorporating new information and different perspectives, including self-awareness through reflection on strengths, growth areas, and biases.
• Ability to adapt communication and approach across communities and individuals, valuing different identities and perspectives, and responding empathetically to unique co-worker and customer needs.

Additional desired qualifications

• Two (2) years of experience managing a protected leave program and reasonable accommodation cases in a state environment.
• Two (2) years of supervisory experience, including writing expectations and evaluations.
• Ability to research, evaluate, and draw conclusions from data; support recommendations with facts and analysis; and interpret and apply rules, laws, policies, and procedures.
• Experience training adult learners of varying group sizes on HR topics.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including manipulating complex data and reports.
• Knowledge of collective bargaining agreements and labor relations.
• Ability to work effectively with people across a wide range of abilities, backgrounds, and experiences.
• Ability to manage and respond to frequent and rapidly changing workload and priorities.

Working conditions and schedule

• Eligible for flexible schedule and/or hybrid telework, subject to supervisory approval.
• Default assigned work location for Parks positions (on-site and telework eligible) is within the State of Washington.
• Standard business hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with alternate scheduling and/or hybrid telework options possibly available at the employee’s request and with supervisory approval.
• Daily contact with internal and external customers, including individuals who may be angry, distraught, and/or frustrated.
• Infrequent travel may be required, with occasional overnight stays, for meetings or training.
• For state business, the employee must be able to legally operate a state or privately-owned vehicle or arrange alternate transportation.

Pay and location

• Location: Lacey, WA (hybrid)
• Salary: USD 76,608 - 102,996 per year

How to apply

• Only candidates who meet the minimum qualifications on their NEOGOV profile will be considered.
• Complete your NEOGOV profile, including three professional references.
• Attach a cover letter addressing how you meet the qualifications and competencies.
• Attach a current resume.

Veteran preference: you may attach documentation such as a DD214 (Member 4 long-form copy), NGB 22, or USDVA signed verification of service. Black out any PII (such as social security numbers) and include your name as it appears in your careers.wa.gov application.