BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY:
The Senior Accommodation Specialist serves as the organization's subject ? matter expert on workplace accommodations, accessibility compliance, and complex interactive-process determinations. This role independently owns and resolves high-risk, sensitive, and precedent-setting accommodation cases under the ADA, ADAAA, PWFA, Title VII, and related state and local laws.
The Senior Accommodation Specialist provides strategic counsel to HR and business leaders; exercises independent judgment in accommodation determinations; proactively identifies legal and employee ? relations risk; and drives continuous improvement of accommodation programs, policies, tools, and accessibility initiatives across the organization. This role operates with a high degree of autonomy and is accountable for ensuring compliant, consistent, and equitable accommodation outcomes while balancing operational and business needs.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Independently lead and manage workplace accommodation requests for disability, pregnancy, religious practices, and other protected needs.
- Serve as the organization's primary expert and decision authority throughout the interactive process, assessing functional limitations and advising on reasonable, effective accommodations.
- Evaluate, interpret, and challenge complex medical documentation; identify inconsistencies, clarify functional impacts, and assess operational feasibility.
- Partner at a senior level with leaders to define essential job functions, explore creative accommodation solutions, and resolve competing business considerations.
- Develop, issue, and defend clear, well ? reasoned accommodation determinations, including denials when appropriate, and oversee implementation.
- Ensure ongoing enterprise ? wide compliance with ADA/ADAAA, PWFA, Title VII, and state and local accommodation requirements.
- Maintain audit ? ready, legally defensible documentation and case records.
- Proactively identify, assess, and escalate legal, compliance, and employee ? relations risks; provide expert guidance and recommended resolution strategies.
- Support responses to internal audits, legal inquiries, and external agency matters (EEOC, state agencies).
- Act as a primary liaison with Legal on high ? risk, escalated, or precedent ? setting cases.
- Support and contribute to responses for internal audits, legal inquiries, demand letters, and external agency matters (EEOC and state agencies).
- Coordinate closely with Leave of Absence, FMLA, ADA leave, Workers' Compensation, Short ? and Long ? Term Disability, Payroll, and Benefits to ensure integrated, seamless case management.
- Lead and advise on return ? to ? work and stay ? at ? work strategies, including job modification, transitional duty, and phased returns.
- Provide senior ? level guidance to Talent Acquisition on candidate accommodations and accessibility considerations, as needed.
- Analyze accommodation metrics and trends (volume, timelines, outcomes, risk indicators) and translate insights into program enhancements.
- Design and implement process, policy, and workflow improvements to improve efficiency, consistency, and associate experience.
- Contribute to and influence accommodation ? related policies, guidelines, manager toolkits, and training development.
- Serve as an internal advocate and educator, promoting organizational awareness of accommodation obligations, inclusive practices, and shared accountability.
- Deliver a consistent, empathetic, and employee ? centered experience while balancing business needs.
- Promote organizational awareness of accommodation rights, responsibilities, and inclusive practices.
- Fosters the MSC Culture in the department and throughout the company to ensure fulfillment of MSC's vision and unity of purpose.
- Participation in special projects and performs additional duties as required
QUALIFICATIONS
What You Need:
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field, or equivalent work experience required.
- 5+ years of direct experience in facilitating ADA accommodations, including complex and high-risk cases. Additional experience in leave administration, employee relations, or HR compliance preferred.
- Demonstrated expertise in multi ? state accommodation compliance, interactive ? process best practices, and emerging accommodation laws.
- Advanced knowledge of ADA, interactive process best practices, and multi-state accommodation laws.
- Professional certification such as SHRM, PHR, or CLMS certification strongly preferred.
- Proven ability to operate independently and make defensible accommodation decisions with minimal oversight.
Bonus Points If You Have:
- Advanced Communication – ability to influence, advise, and navigate difficult conversations with employees, leaders, and counsel.
- Legal & Risk Judgment: Strong ability to assess risk, apply legal standards, and make sound, defensible decisions.
- Strategic Thinking: Ability to balance individual needs with enterprise impact and operational realities.
- Technology – ability to accurately utilize programs to track leaves and accommodations.
- Program Leadership: Experience improving systems, processes, and policies at scale.
- Detail & Documentation Excellence: Maintains thorough, precise, and audit ? ready records.
- Time & Priority Management: Effectively manages competing deadlines and escalations.
Other Requirements:
- Travel of up to 10% may be required.
- This position may require access to International Traffic in Arms Regulations Information (“ITAR”) and/or Controlled Unclassified Information (“CUI”) - if needed for specific orgs/roles.
