Senior Manager, Absence and Accommodations

Cox Automotive is currently seeking a Senior Manager, Absence & Accommodations to join our team. Candidates must reside within the Eastern or Central time zones of the United States. Atlanta, GA is the preferred location and operates under a hybrid work arrangement. Candidates located elsewhere within the Eastern or Central time zones will be considered for remote employment.

Job Summary: The Senior Manager, Absence & Accommodations leads the strategy, compliance, and delivery of Cox Automotive's (CAI) absence and accommodations programs. This role requires deep expertise in federal and state regulations, including FMLA, ADA, FMCSA, PWFA, and Workers' Compensation, as well as internal leave and accommodation policies, to ensure compliant and effective administration of applicable benefits.

Serving as the subject matter expert (SME) and trusted advisor, this leader provides strategic direction, guidance, and support to the CAI Absence & Accommodations Operations team, Employee Service Center (ESC) teams and leaders, Legal, and other key stakeholders. The role also leads large-scale, enterprise-wide initiatives, develops and operationalizes best practices, and builds strong stakeholder partnerships to optimize operational effectiveness and enhance the employee experience.

Responsibilities:

• Manages a team of multi-level Absence & Accommodations advocates responsible for the end-to-end administration of leave, accommodation, and claims management processes across CAI.
• Leads Absence & Accommodations activities related to mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and business transitions, including due diligence, operational readiness, risk assessment, and integration planning.
• Oversees M&A-related claims transitions, ensuring accurate transfer of eligibility data, utilization history, and leave status for both in-house and third-party administrator (TPA) managed populations.
• Interprets and operationalizes requirements within union Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), implementing process enhancements in partnership with the Labor Relations Center of Excellence.
• Develops and implements operational processes to support compliance with federal regulations, including but not limited to FMCSA, OFCCP, ADA, and Workers' Compensation requirements.
• Partners cross-functionally with Environmental Health & Safety, Workers' Compensation, DOT, Legal, HR Compliance, and other stakeholders to design and execute integrated Absence & Accommodations workflows.
• Establishes and maintains governance, quality, and compliance frameworks to mitigate risk and ensure operational excellence and audit readiness.
• Serves as the escalation point for complex leave and accommodation matters, driving resolution and continuous improvement across both in-house and TPA-supported processes.
• Translates enterprise strategy into scalable operational plans, standardizing best practices and driving consistency across the Absence & Accommodations lifecycle.
• Acts as a trusted advisor to HR leaders and business stakeholders on Absence & Accommodations policies, compliance requirements, and operational best practices to support an exceptional employee experience.

• Oversees end-to-end leave and accommodation programs, including FMLA, STD, ADA, LTD, Workers' Compensation, and company leave policies, ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Develops scalable processes, procedures, and tools that drive consistency and efficiency across both in-house and TPA managed absence and accommodations programs.
• Identifies, designs, and implements process improvements to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and overall effectiveness of Absence & Accommodations operations.
• Establishes, monitors, and continuously refines operational KPIs, service level standards, and compliance controls to ensure a high-quality employee experience and regulatory adherence.
• Applies deep subject matter expertise to the design, implementation, and optimization of transactional and service delivery processes across the Absence & Accommodations lifecycle.
• Drives operational innovation and continuous improvement through the strategic use of AI-enabled solutions, workflow automation, intelligent case management, and enhanced cross-functional collaboration.

• Partners closely with HR Technology, Benefits, Compensation, Payroll, and the ESC to identify, design, and implement technology enhancements and integrated workflows that support evolving business needs.
• Contributes to the development and execution of operational strategies, policies, and practices that drive quality, efficiency, compliance, and service excellence across the organization.
• Collaborates with cross-functional stakeholders to share insights, resolve recurring challenges, and identify opportunities for process optimization, service improvements, and…