Supervisor, Leave of Absence

The Supervisor, Leave of Absence role oversees the daily operational management and continuous improvement of the business's leave of absence, disability, and related employee benefit programs. As a key cross-functional partner, this role connects HR leadership, payroll, employees, brokers, and third-party carriers to ensure compliant and seamless program delivery. A typical day involves managing team workflows, providing ongoing direction, escalation support, and evaluating complex or escalated leave cases, monitoring compliance trends, and analyzing operational metrics.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversees and administers comprehensive Leave of Absence (LOA), disability, and benefit programs across the business in alignment with internal policies.
• Directly supervises and provides guidance to Leave of Absence staff, including the Senior HR Administrator, overseeing daily workload, performance management, and professional development.
• Serves as the primary escalation point for complex LOA inquiries, advising employees, managers, and HR partners on medical, parental, military, disability, and personal leaves.
• Manages third-party vendor performance and Leave Administration Service operations to ensure service level compliance and high-quality employee support.
• Audits leave data, adjusted hours, pay status, and benefit premium billings on a regular cadence across HRIS and payroll systems to maintain data integrity.
• Partners with legal counsel, HR leadership, and insurance brokers to ensure program compliance with changing federal, state, and local legislation.
• Tracks key operational metrics, generates analytical leave reports, and manages department project schedules to streamline leave processes.
• Oversees digital leave resources, Benefits Portal content, new hire onboarding materials, and employee communications to maintain clarity and compliance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Comprehensive working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment and leave laws, including FMLA, CFRA, PFL, ADA, and ACA.
• Proven leadership abilities with experience supervising, mentoring, or leading administrative personnel.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to explain complex policy details to diverse audiences.
• Customer-centric approach with strong interpersonal skills to navigate sensitive employee situations compassionately and professionally.
• Demonstrated capability in tracking metrics, building analytical reports, and leading project schedules.
• Advanced proficiency in HRIS systems, vendor management portals, and Microsoft Excel functions (data modeling, formulas, importing/exporting).
• Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills with a track record of resolving escalated compliance or case management issues independently.

Education and Experience
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Required
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• Minimum of 5 years of HR experience with a primary emphasis on leave of absence administration.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

Desired: Prior supervisory or team leadership experience in a human resources or benefits environment.

• Certified Leave Management Specialist (CLMS), Certified Professional in Disability Management (CPDM), or SHRM/HRCI certification.
• Proactivity/Initiative
  :
  
  Recognizes what needs to be done and accomplishes it in a manner appropriate for one’s level/position and with minimal supervision.
• Perseverance
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  Shows wherewithal to fight for difficult goals despite challenges and to bounce back from adversity.
• Motivation/Dedication
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  Commits to excellence in pursuing unselfish goals.
  
  Initiates action with collective goals, takes responsibility, and shows personal humility.
• Technical Curiosity/Willingness to Learn
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  Interest in seeking out new experiences, knowledge, and candid feedback; demonstrating an openness to learning and change.
• Insight
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  The ability to gather and make sense of information that suggests new possibilities.
• Engagement
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  Shows a knack for using emotion and logic to communicate a persuasive vision and connect with people.
• People Skills
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  Is approachable and gains the mutual trust and respect of others. Understands people’s strengths & weaknesses and actively seeks to…