Human Resources Specialist - FMLA

DPHHS offers a variety of opportunities to help you make a difference in your community and further your career. As a service-oriented employer, DPHHS seeks employees who are passionate about customer service and committed to the mission: Serving Montanans in their communities to improve health, safety, and well-being, and empower independence. Benefits of working for DPHHS: Work/life balance. Family-friendly policies. Dedicated and caring colleagues. Health coverage. Retirement plans. Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays (combination of up to 38 per year). Opportunities and room for professional growth. Public Service Loan Forgiveness – Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under PSLF. This position may be eligible for partial teleworking within the State of Montana. The supervisor will provide specific conditions, and you must adhere to state policy. Helena is a crossroads between past and present, tame and untamed, mountainous wilderness and hometown warmth. It is a place where you can hike for miles without seeing a soul, stroll through the charming downtown, and enjoy breweries with breathtaking views all on the same day. From the early roots of Blackfeet, Salish, Crow, and Bannock tribes who found this land abundant with bison and natural resources, to the four prospectors who struck gold in 1864, Helena is a place rich with history, beauty, and life. Learn more by visiting helenamt.com. Job Overview: Your primary focus in this position is serving as the Department of Public Health and Human Services’ subject‑matter expert on the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and its intersection with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Workers’ Compensation (WC). Rather than receiving and processing all FMLA requests directly, this role provides consultation and guidance to HR Partners, who serve as the first point of contact for employees and supervisors on routine FMLA matters. DPHHS has over 3,000 employees statewide, and you would support a high volume of varied, complex leave situations. You will act as the bridge between FMLA, ADA, and Workers’ Compensation, helping HR Partners recognize when a case involves overlapping legal, accommodation, return‑to‑work, or safety considerations and ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are informed and aligned. In complex or high‑risk situations, you will review the facts, interpret applicable laws and policy, recommend a compliant path forward, and support consistent communication among HR Partners, the Civil Rights/EEO Coordinator, the Safety/Workers’ Compensation Specialists, management, and other appropriate parties. You are also responsible for the accuracy and completeness of FMLA documentation and related data, as well as for producing clear, reliable reports that support leadership decision‑making and compliance. In addition, you will contribute to policies, procedures, templates, training, communications, audits, and process improvements that strengthen cross‑program coordination. You may provide secondary operational HR support in areas such as compensation and classification, recruitment and onboarding, and employee relations, and may serve as backup for other HR functions as needed, but this is not your primary focus. This position may be eligible for a statutory $1.00 per hour base pay increase effective July 1, 2026. What You Will Do: Provide expert guidance on complex leave matters by consulting with the HR Partners on difficult, unusual, or high‑risk FMLA cases and helping ensure consistent application of law, policy, and best practice. Coordinate overlapping programs by identifying when FMLA cases also involve ADA accommodations, Workers’ Compensation, return‑to‑work issues or safety concerns and ensuring the right stakeholders are brought in at the right time. Strengthen consistency across the Department by developing and maintaining tools, templates, training, workflows, and communication methods that help HR Partners navigate medical leave and cross‑program issues. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required for the first day of work: Analytical, solution‑focused problem solver: Able to spot patterns, identify issues, and recommend process improvements that align with best practices. Comfortable with complex rules and ambiguity: Researches and interprets technical and legal information, then summarizes it clearly for others. Self‑directed and adaptable: Works proactively with minimal supervision, manages competing priorities, and meets deadlines in a changing environment. Detail‑oriented and quality‑driven: Produces accurate, thorough work and routinely checks for errors or inconsistencies. Strong communicator: Clearly and professionally communicates in writing and verbally with varied audiences. Collaborative relationship‑builder: Works effectively in teams, builds professional relationships, and adjusts approach based on different roles and levels in the organization. Technically proficient: Learns and uses complex, service‑related software and HR systems. Trainer and customer‑service oriented: Guides and trains others while providing excellent, responsive customer service. Professional and discreet: Remains neutral and calm in adversarial situations and maintains confidentiality and discretion. Minimum Qualifications Associate degree in a related field such as human resources, business, public administration, psychology, journalism, English, or marketing. Three years of job‑related experience working in a professional office environment. Relevant experience may include human resources, leave administration, accommodations, Workers’ Compensation coordination, benefits, risk/safety, case management, compliance, or similar work involving documentation, policy application, and customer service. Other combinations of education and experience that clearly demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for this role may be considered. If you do not have a degree but have developed comparable skills through work experience, training, or education, you are encouraged to describe that in your application materials. #J-18808-Ljbffr