Absence & Disability Advisor; StratAdvsr, Exempt BU-P

Overview

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is seeking an experienced Absence & Disability Advisor (SA1) to join our Human Resources team. This strategic role is responsible for administering workers' compensation programs, coordinating return-to-work processes, and managing ADA accommodations. The ideal candidate will provide expert guidance on complex absence and disability matters while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and City regulations. This position serves as a trusted advisor to employees, managers, and leadership, promoting a culture of support, accountability, and regulatory compliance.

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost. SPU also provides drinking water for 1.5 million customers in the region. SPU’s work includes system maintenance and improvements and keeping Seattle clean. Over 1,400 SPU employees work with our community to provide affordable and equitable stewardship of our water and waste resources for future generations.

SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring and promotional opportunities.

We know work isn’t only about what you do, it’s also about who you work for and with. SPU provides a fun and family-friendly work environment that supports a work life balance, including:

• Hybrid work schedule opportunities
• Family-friendly and multicultural work environment
• Generous benefits package
• Free public transportation options
• City pension plan with employer/employee contributions
• Growth potential and advancement opportunities

• Program Administration & Compliance: Administer workers' compensation, return-to-work processes, and ADA accommodations by coordinating all required interactive processes, maintaining comprehensive documentation in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and ensuring confidentiality and appropriate handling of sensitive employee information in accordance with HIPAA, ADA, and other privacy regulations.
• Consultation & Problem Resolution: Provide expert guidance and problem resolution to employees and managers on complex absence and disability matters including FMLA, workers' compensation, ADA accommodations, and Washington State PFML, ensuring clear, compliant, and customer-focused solutions that balance organizational needs with employee support.
• Stakeholder Liaison & Claims Management: Serve as the primary liaison with Seattle Human Resources (SHR), third-party administrators, medical providers, and other stakeholders on workers' compensation claims, ensuring timely claim management, accurate documentation, and proactive identification of trends or risks while partnering with employees, supervisors, and leadership on complex absence and disability issues.
• Return-to-Work & Accommodation Coordination: Lead return-to-work initiatives and oversee ADA accommodation plans by developing and implementing modified duty programs, conducting interactive processes, evaluating accommodation requests, coordinating with supervisors to identify suitable work assignments, collaborating with medical providers, monitoring employee progress, and ensuring reasonable accommodations are implemented in accordance with applicable laws.
• Data Management & Strategic Analysis: Maintain tracking, reporting, and recordkeeping systems aligned with City policies and regulatory standards, analyze data and identify trends related to workplace injuries, absences, and accommodations to inform strategic decision-making and risk mitigation efforts, generate reports on workers' compensation trends and accommodation outcomes, and support the development and continuous improvement of absence and disability policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Training & Technical Support: Conduct…