HRSS, Master Specialist, Leaves of Absence and Accommodations

DESCRIPTION

The Accommodations Master Specialist will contribute deep subject matter expertise to LOAA initiatives, including operational performance, product development and continuous improvement. As a thought-leader, the position collaborates with key business stakeholders and LOAA program leaders to ensure the program is successful across the organization.

The Accommodations Master Specialist will possess demonstrated expertise in workplace accommodations, disability management with strong knowledge of the ADA/ADAAA, FEHA, and other applicable regulations. The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable and have experience with Integrated Disability and Absence Management (IDAM) programs and practices. The Accommodations Master Consultant will work within a team of similarly-situated subject matter experts (SMEs), providing support to our regionally-deployed operational team, as well as teams located in Costa Rica and India.

The Accommodations Master Specialist must have strong self-management skills, a desire to influence and teach, and an ability to translate business needs and goals into human resource capabilities, producing favorable results for the company and associates. In addition, the Accommodations Master Specialist should exhibit exceptional change management and organizational skills, superior attention to detail and an ability to prioritize and scale in a fast-paced environment. This individual will demonstrate strong communication, analytical and critical thinking skills, along with a customer service focus that associates and program stakeholders expect from Amazon.

Responsibilities

The primary responsibility for the Accommodations Master Specialist will be to operationalize new program and continuous program improvement initiatives, and mentor the development of our operational team. In this “hands on” role, the Accommodations Master Specialist will work with LOAA process owners to develop best practice workflows, establish deployment strategies, deliver learning and training, participate in quality and audit assessments, provide guidance to internal and external stakeholders, and be a source of expertise for LOAA operational teams.

The major areas of influence are:

New Program Feature Launches
Participates as contributory Subject Matter Expert (SME) in implementing new elements of the LOAA program, as defined by LOAA leadership and in partnership with the LOAA Design & Develop team:
· Contributes to operational deployment plans outlining critical and best practice launch activities
· Conducts new program initiative readiness assessments and establishes goals and success indictors to ensure successful feature implementation
· Develops and implements standardized training materials, tools and resources
· Conducts post-deployment evaluations to measure launch effectiveness
· Supports the ongoing “incubation” of new features among the LOAA operational team, many of whom are outside the U.S. in our Costa Rica and India delivery hubs

Continuous Program Improvement
The Accommodations Master Specialist contributes deep subject matter expertise to the continuous improvement of all LOAA operations, as defined by LOAA leadership and in partnership with the LOAA Continuous Program Improvement (CPI) team:

· Provides guidance with respect to best practices related to disability, return to work, accommodation, and leave of absence;
· Participates in assessments of program performance;
· Engages in reviewing compliance of work process flows, Standard Operating Procedures, and Service Level Agreements.
· Delivers data driven recommendations and best practices to leaders to improve program performance.

Stakeholder Partnership
The Accommodations Master Specialist is viewed as, and accessible as, a deep subject matter expert outside LOAA, among the many stakeholders touched by leave and accommodation, as called upon by the LOAA operational team:
· Builds trust and confidence in the LOAA team
· Influences change to ensure operational standards are met
· Contributes to growing the expertise of our stakeholders, by participating in summit meetings, tough case reviews, resolution of escalated cases and consultation
· Collaborates with legal and compliance stakeholders on regulatory/employment liability issues as they relate to complex cases and/or policy development with leave, disability and/or accommodation

Program Consultation and Ownership
The Accommodations Master Specialist is viewed as, and accessible as, a deep subject matter expert inside LOAA:
· Serves in a consultative role to the LOAA teams on complex cases
· Consults and partner with LOAA program leaders and stakeholders to ensure programs are fully integrated across all LOAA business lines
· Serves in a consultancy role in the design and development of new program features and cutting edge solutions to enhance LOAA program services and performance

Apprenticeship Master
The Accommodations Master Specialist plays a key leadership role in refining and deploying an apprenticeship learning and development model, designed to bring all members of the LOAA operational team to a sound foundational competency in the domains of leave, disability and/or accommodation:
· Works with our learning team on development activities
· Develops expertise-based content for learning and development initiatives
· Delivers learning and training activities, as assigned and consistent with the individual’s domain of expertise
· Mentors individuals, as assigned, in their professional development
· Participates as a preceptor in proctored learning and development assessments
· Ability to travel as appropriate (60%), including foreign travel; must be able to have legal documentation (passport, travel document, etc.) in force for traveling internationally within 30 days of hire and continuously during the duration of the position specifically to Costa Rica and India.