Senior Manager, Human Resources - Leaves Administration

Company Description

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

Job Description

As Senior Manager, Human Resources - Leaves Administration, you will design and lead a compassionate, compliant, and scalable leave experience that supports employees across the organization. You will shape enterprise-wide leave strategy through strong cross-functional partnerships, ensuring employees feel informed, supported, and cared for during pivotal moments in their lives. In this role, you will oversee a team and design systems that balance regulatory rigor with Uncommon’s commitment to equity and employee experience. If you enjoy turning complexity into clarity and building programs that make a meaningful difference for people, this role offers the opportunity to have a lasting impact.

Responsibilities

Leave Strategy and Program Design

• Develop and execute a comprehensive leave strategy across federal, state, and internal leave programs, including family and medical leave, disability, workers’ compensation, and accommodations.
• Design and steward a standardized, organization-wide leave framework that promotes consistency, equity, and clarity.
• Partner cross-functionally to ensure leave policies align with organizational values, compliance requirements, and employee needs.
• Lead policy review cycles, stakeholder approvals, and clear communication of updates.

Systems, Data, and Process Excellence

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of leave management systems and tools, including HRIS and third-party administrator platforms.
• Build standardized workflows, templates, and decision tools to ensure accuracy and consistency across leave scenarios.
• Establish metrics, dashboards, and reporting to monitor compliance, case volume, turnaround time, cost, and employee experience.
• Ensure strong data governance and privacy practices for sensitive employee information.

Team Leadership and Organizational Partnership

• Oversee a team responsible for leave administration and case management.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex leave and accommodation cases.
• Build strong relationships with managers across the organization to support coverage planning and effective return to work practices.
• Delegate effectively while guiding new initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.

Compliance, Risk, and Employee Experience

• Maintain deep knowledge of federal and state leave laws and proactively guide policy and practice updates as regulations evolve.
• Oversee external vendors to ensure service quality, accuracy, and adherence to service level agreements.
• Partner to ensure accurate and timely pay during leaves.
• Design training, resources, and communications that help employees and managers navigate leave options with confidence.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Seven to nine years of professional experience, including five to six years of directly relevant experience in leave administration, HR operations, benefits, or a related field.
• Experience overseeing teams and leading work through others.
• Strong experience administering multi-state leave programs and interpreting federal and state regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to design scalable systems, policies, and processes.
• Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and care.

Preferred

• Experience working in complex, multi-site, or mission-driven organizations.
• Familiarity with HRIS platforms and third-party leave administrators.
• Experience partnering across functions to deliver compliant, people-centered programs.

Not sure you meet every qualification? We encourage you to apply. We are excited to learn what you bring.

Additional Information

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy