Leave of Absence Senior Associate

Leave of Absence (LOA) Senior Associate – Overview

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. The role ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and serves as a subject matter expert for leave administration.

• 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. Identify gaps and recommend 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.

• 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.

• 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.