Leave of Absence Senior Associate

Description & Requirements

The Leave of Absence (LOA) Senior Associate is responsible for managing and supporting the organization's leave programs, including FMLA and other statutory or company-sponsored leaves. This role ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, partners with HR Business Partners and Employee Relations, and serves as a subject matter expert for leave administration. The position requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage complex cases while delivering exceptional employee experience.

What You Will Do:

* Administer leave of absence programs in compliance with federal, state, and company policies.

* Manage complex leave cases, including intermittent and overlapping leaves, coordinating with payroll and benefits teams to ensure accurate pay and benefits continuation.

* Partner with third-party vendors, individual states and internal stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate processing of claims and documentation.

* Respond to employee questions regarding leave eligibility, processes, and documentation requirements.

* Facilitate return-to-work process.

* Develop and update policies and procedures to reflect changes in legislation and best practices. Identifies gaps and recommends enhancements to leave administration workflows.

* Provide education and communication to employees and managers about leave policies and procedures.

* Act as liaison with HR Business Partners and Employee Relations to resolve complex leave issues.

* Track and monitor FMLA and other leave types to ensure compliance and timely updates.

* Manage vendor relationships for smaller, less complex leaves to ensure service quality.

* Maintain accurate records and documentation for all leave cases in HRIS (Workday experience preferred) and generate reports for compliance and trend analysis.

* Support audits and reporting related to leave programs as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

* High school diploma or equivalent

* 3+ years of experience in leave administration processes with a strong understanding of leave laws and regulations, including FMLA, ADA, and state-specific requirements.

* Proficient in Microsoft Excel and other reporting tools

Preferred Qualifications:

* Associate or Bachelor's degree

* 5+ years of experience in leave administration strongly preferred

* SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional), PHR (Professional in Human Resources), or CEBS (Certified Employee Benefit Specialist)

* Experience using Workday for HR and benefits processes

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