Leave of Absence and Accommodations Specialist

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit www.innovatingjustice.org.  

The Center is a 900-employee, $130 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs

The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area. 

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Leave of Absence and Accommodations Specialist will play a critical role in managing employee leave, accommodations, and benefits administration at the Center. Reporting to the Senior Benefits Manager, this position will serve as the subject matter expert on leave policies, ADA accommodations, and workers’ compensation, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations as well as internal policies. The selected candidate will work closely with HR leadership, third-party leave administrators, payroll, and staff supervisors to facilitate smooth leave processes, support employees through the accommodations process, and provide clear guidance on benefits enrollment and administration. This role requires a detail-oriented and empathetic professional who can balance compliance with employee support while maintaining confidentiality and adhering to privacy laws.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Manage all leave of absence (FMLA, STD, LTD, NYPFL, Workers’ Compensation) and ADA requests, including, but not limited to: 

• Serve as the subject matter expert for accommodations, all leave of absence, and workers’ compensation until the guidance of HR leadership and the Legal Department; 

• Interpret and administer all applicable state and federal leave policies in accordance with the Center’s internal policies; 

• Work closely with the HR team and third party leave administrators to ensure that all relevant completed medical documentation is submitted for timely review and leaves are properly administered; 

• Maintain appropriate contact with all relevant staff on leave and coordinates all aspects of return to work for staff on leave; 

• Providing regular updates to project leadership and staff supervisors on leaves and accommodations while adhering to HIPAA and other privacy laws; 

• Conduct consult calls with employees to explain all relevant procedures and policies; 

• Work with employees and managers to evaluate ADA requests by engaging in frequent communication, including cooperative dialog; 

• Manages all administrative aspects of leave and workers’ compensation claims to include tracking hours used/taken and working closely with the Payroll Department to ensure that pay for staff is accurate and correct. 

• Conduct Benefits Orientation by providing new hires with explanation of benefits and instructions on enrollment; 

• Assist with open enrollment and ensure staff are accurately enrolled in all voluntary and ancillary benefits; 

• Work with the payroll department on tracking and reconciling benefit deductions for staff on leave; 

• Resolve employee issues with leave administrators and insurance providers; 

• Assist in developing benefits training for managers and staff; 

• Providing ongoing support for the People team; and 

• Additional tasks as necessary. 

Qualifications:   

• A bachelor’s degree with at least 3-5 years of related experience required; 

• Proven experience and knowledge of relevant employment law including ADA, FMLA, Disability policies and Worker’s Compensation is required; 

• Excellent interpersonal verbal and written communication skills; 

• Exceptional organizational, analytical and detail-oriented skills; 

• The ability to work in a fast-paced environment, while efficiently completing tasks with multiple priorities and deadlines; 

• The ability to use available resources and feedback to continually pivot, adapt and grow;  

• The ability to work independently, maintain confidentiality and discretion; 

• Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks to ensure the timely completion of projects; and 

• Excellent interpersonal skills in communication to staff requesting leave or accommodations, colleagues, and benefits vendors.  

Position Type: Full time

Position Location: 2-3 days a week on-site at our main office in midtown with potential travel within the five boroughs to other sites.  

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $75,000 - $95,000 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. While the Center does not require vaccination, we strongly recommend that all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up to date.

In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.