Leave Benefit Administrator

Official Title: Leave Benefit Administrator

Pay Grade: Grade 20

Starting Pay: $82,699.50: Pay Range Maximum $121,885.92 

Departmental Mission Statement: The Human Resources (HR) Department partners with Trial Court management to create and maintain a talented, qualified workforce by recruiting a diverse applicant pool, by facilitating the fair merit-based selection for appointment of the most qualified candidates, by developing appropriate workforce training (in consultation with the Trial Court's CourtEd), by fostering positive management-employee relations, by promptly addressing workplace issues, and by developing performance based measures to ensure the continued excellence of the workforce. The HR Department will use best practices to ensure that this collaborative effort advances the mission of the Trial Court. The HR Department also provides information and assistance to all Trial Court employees on a variety of workplace issues.

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/trial-court-human-resources-department

Notes: This position is a confidential, non-union position assigned to the Trial Court Human Resources Department

• All new hires must start at the entry-level rate for this role per the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual. Pay may advance within the salary band according to the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.

Position Summary: Responsible for supporting the administration, processing, and management of all employees’ leave requests including Family Medical Leave (FMLA), medical, Parental Family Medical Leave (PFML), military, Workers' Compensation (WC) claims, and all employee accommodation requests. Coordinates with the Labor Relations department and ensures organization wide ADA compliance.

Supervision Received: Works under the direction of the Asst. Chief HR Officer, Benefits & Onboarding, or his/her designee.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Assists in the processing and reviewing of leave of absence and disability accommodation requests ensuring federal and state regulations and Trial Court (TC) policies are adhered to and administered.
• Receives and acknowledges accommodation requests from employees, conducts a full review, engages in discussions with employees and managers, and identifies reasonable accommodations in compliance with state and federal law, with a system for tracking the accommodations provided.
• Provides interpretation of personnel policies and procedures to managers and employees regarding leaves and Trial Court benefits.
• Directly assists and acts in a confidential capacity to supervisor or manager.
• May have access to or exposure to confidential information concerning labor relations or the Trial Court’s position on personnel matters and/or collective bargaining positions
• Ensures that leave usage is tracked and reported, responds to questions regarding leave usage and compliance requirements.
• Handles issues related to Paid Leave Administration Programs for both court employees and the Judicial Paid Leave Bank.
• Directly assists and acts in a confidential capacity to supervisor or manager.
• May have access to or exposure to confidential information concerning labor relations or the Trial Court’s position on personnel matters and/or collective bargaining positions.
• Distributes required notices, physician certifications and fitness for duty forms.
• Ensures that employees comply with conditions set forth for approved leaves such as periodic medical documentation and fitness for duty prior to returning to work.
• Reviews employment accommodation requests.
• Reviews claims with Worker’s Compensation Division.
• Reviews eligibility and termination of benefits with Legal Department.
• Administers the Trial Court and Statutory Paid Leave Banks.
• Prepares leave donation forms, distributes donated time to employees.
• Reviews fitness for duty reports and coordinates return to work with manager.
• Assists with the yearly Statement of Financial Interest for OCM/Executive Office employees.
• Assists in the completion of annual OSHA surveys of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses for the Trial Court submission to Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Prepares survey for submission to the Department of Labor Standards (Occupational Statistics).
• Performs other duties as required.

Job Competencies: 

Ethics and Values: Communicates and demonstrates the ethics and values of the Trial Court.

Mission Driven: Employees are fully committed to fulfilling the Trial Court and associated Departmental missions.

Professional Development: Employees are committed to participating in ongoing Trial Court training and educational offerings to advance their professional development. Managers are equally committed to affording opportunities to those they supervise as scheduling permits.

Customer Service: Conducts oneself in a courteous and professional manner towards both Trial Court employees and the public.

Applied Knowledge: Demonstrates experience and ability in understanding and properly administering benefits administration, including workers’ Compensation, leave administration, and workplace accommodations preferably in a unionized environment.

Problem Solving: Accurately assesses operational problems in the Trial Court and recommends and facilitates appropriate solutions.

Commitment to Diversity: Promotes an environment of diversity through understanding, respect, and positive communication with persons of varied racial, ethnic, economic, and cultural backgrounds.

Collaboration: Works with others cooperatively, demonstrating a willingness to be a team player, and contributing to a work environment that focuses on shared departmental goals.

Minimum Requirements:

Education and Experience:
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university
• Four (4) years of related work experience
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered for meeting minimum qualifications.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of:
• Trial Court leave policies and procedures.
• Federal and state disability laws.
• Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.
• Union contracts’ leave policies.
• Worker’s benefits.
• MA Worker’s Compensation data base.
• Conflict of interest laws.

Skill in:
• Verbal and written communication.
• Organization and prioritization.
• Time management.
• Data research.
• Survey submission.

Ability to:
• Handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Maintain effective working relationships.
• Review medical reports.
• Coordinate accommodations.

Supervisory Responsibility: This position does not lead the work of others.

Working Conditions:  Work is frequently performed in office or similar indoor environments.

Physical Demands: This position requires sedentary work:
Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.