Sr. Benefits & Leave of Absence Specialist

Job Description:

The Benefits & Leave of Absence Specialist operates within the Benefits organization and plays a critical role in the end-to-end administration of U.S. leave of absence and workplace accommodation programs. This role provides centralized, compliant support while ensuring strict adherence to all applicable federal and state regulations. The Specialist contributes to a positive employee experience and strong operational execution through effective case management, analytical problem-solving, and clear communication. In addition to leave and accommodation responsibilities, this role also contributes to and supports other areas of the Benefits function as needed, helping to ensure overall benefits program effectiveness and continuity. The role partners closely with the leave vendor, Benefits, HR Business Partners, Payroll, and Legal to ensure consistent processes, risk mitigation, and positive employee outcomes.

Leave of Absence and Accommodations Management:

• Independently manage end‑to‑end U.S. leave of absence and accommodation cases, including FMLA, non‑FMLA, and ADA, applying judgment to complex or non‑standard situations.
• Interpret and apply federal and state leave and accommodation requirements to individual cases, ensuring compliant and equitable outcomes.
• Lead the ADA interactive process for employees requesting accommodations or returning to work with restrictions, partnering with managers and HR to determine reasonable solutions.
• Act as a subject-matter resource to HR Business Partners and managers on complex leave scenarios, intermittent FMLA usage, and overlapping disability considerations.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and confidential case documentation within the leave management system and HRIS.

Compliance & Reporting:

• Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable leave and accommodation regulations through regular review of cases, documentation, and vendor outputs.
• Identify patterns, risks, or process gaps and recommend improvements to workflows, standard work, knowledge content, or vendor practices.
• Contribute to audits, reporting, and analysis related to leave and accommodation activity, accuracy, and trends.

Knowledge & Employee Enablement:

• Create, maintain, and improve leave and accommodation knowledge content for employee and manager self‑service channels.
• Share expertise and best practices with Benefits and HR colleagues; act as a go‑to resource for less experienced team members.
• Support employee wellness initiatives as needed, providing benefits‑related guidance and insights informed by leave trends.

Interdepartmental Collaboration:

• Partner closely with the leave vendor/TPA to ensure accurate claim administration, timely updates, and effective resolution of escalations or exceptions.
• Coordinate with Benefits, Payroll, HR Business Partners, and Legal to ensure alignment across leave status, pay impacts, benefits continuation, and return‑to‑work processes.
• Proactively communicate leave status, requirements, and next steps to employees and managers, tailoring messaging to complex or sensitive situations.

Competencies – Essential for the role

• Customer Focus & Ownership
  Independently manage leave of absence and accommodation cases end‑to‑end within defined role scope, applying judgment to drive timely, compliant resolution and clearly communicate next steps to employees and managers.
• Clear & Compassionate Communication
  Communicate complex or sensitive information accurately, professionally, and empathetically to employees, managers, and partners; document case details, decisions, and knowledge content clearly and thoroughly to support consistent outcomes.
• Bias for Standardization
  Apply and reinforce standard work, documented processes, and established decision paths while exercising judgment in non‑standard scenarios to ensure consistent, compliant handling of sensitive cases.
• Collaboration & Influence
  Partner effectively with Benefits, vendors/TPAs, HR Business Partners, Payroll, and Legal to resolve complex cases, support smooth handoffs, and achieve aligned end‑to‑end outcomes across stakeholders.
• Calm Under Pressure
  Maintain quality, confidentiality, and responsiveness in high‑volume or time‑sensitive environments, including during escalations, competing priorities, or vendor and service disruptions.
• Sound Judgment & Confidentiality
  Exercise sound judgment, risk awareness, and strict confidentiality when handling medical documentation and accommodation‑related information, balancing employee experience with regulatory and policy requirements.

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