Senior Manager, Leaves and Accommodations

Position Summary:
The Senior Manager of Leaves and Accommodations oversees the strategic and operational leadership of our company-wide leave of absence and job accommodation programs across the U.S. and Canada. This role is critical to ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws (including FMLA, ADA, ACA, and other relevant laws), while delivering an exceptional associate experience.

The Senior Manager will provide day-to-day leadership to a team of supervisors and specialists, ensuring timely, accurate, and compassionate handling of leave and accommodation requests.  This individual will play a pivotal role in ensuring compliance, managing vendors and cases, supporting return-to-work strategies, driving process improvements, overseeing reporting, and maintaining a strong focus on delivering exceptional customer service.

Qualified candidates will possess a bachelor's degree, a minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in Human Resources with a focus on leave and accommodations, and at least 3 years of experience in a management or leadership role.  The ideal candidate will have working knowledge of leave and accommodation laws and practices in the U.S.; experience in Canada is a plus.

This position reports to the Director of Shared Services within our HR Operations department and will collaborate closely with all HR functional teams and several HR leaders. The role is based at our corporate headquarters in Reading, PA, with an in-office presence required at least 3–4 days per week. Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.

Key Responsibilities:
• Hire, train, and develop a team of supervisors and their team of specialists in managing all aspects of leave and job accommodation program across the organization.
• Actively manage the performance of the team by setting clear expectations and goals, providing regular feedback, coaching for development, and addressing performance issues promptly. 
• Ensure consistent, timely, and legally compliant handling of all requests, including state medical leaves, FMLA, ADA, military leave, personal leave, and other programs.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and escalation point for complex leave and accommodation cases.
• Drive associate experience and minimize disruptions in the workplace by effectively partnering with internal stakeholders on complex issues or escalations surrounding return-to-work, reassignment/ vacant position searches, leave and/or accommodations. 
• Oversee vendor partnerships and third-party administrators to ensure compliance, service level performance, and alignment with Penske’s standards.
• Develop and maintain policies, procedures, and training programs related to leave of absence and accommodation.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts focused on compliance, efficiency, automation, and customer satisfaction.
• Monitor legal and regulatory changes impacting leave and accommodation programs; proactively adjust policies and procedures as needed.
• Generate and analyze management reports to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Foster a culture of care, empathy, and exceptional service for our associates during times of personal or medical need.
• Other duties or projects as assigned by Director – Shared Services
 

Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or related field required; master’s degree or HR certification (e.g., PHR, SHRM-CP/SCP) preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive HR experience, including experience with leave of absence management and ADA accommodations; with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Deep understanding of FMLA, ADA, ACA, USERRA and related leave and accommodation laws and regulations.
• Demonstrated experience managing teams and vendors in a high-volume, multi-state/province environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to handle sensitive and complex employee matters with professionalism and empathy.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency with leave management systems, HCM and HRIS platforms; OracleHCM experience preferred.
• Proven ability to drive process improvements and lead change in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite 
• Regular, predictable, full attendance is an essential function of the job 
• Willingness to travel as necessary, work the required schedule, work at the specific location required, complete Penske employment application, submit to a background investigation (to include past employment, education, and criminal history) and drug screening are required.

Physical Requirements: 
• The physical and mental demands describe