Leaves Specialist Seattle, WA

Benefits & Leaves Specialist

We are looking for a Benefits & Leaves Specialist to support a non-profit organization in Seattle, Washington through the administration of employee leave and accommodation programs. This is a Contract position for an HR specialist who can balance compliance, empathy, and accuracy while guiding employees and managers through complex leave-related matters. The ideal candidate will bring strong case management skills, maintain confidential records with care, and collaborate effectively across HR, payroll, benefits, and external partners.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee end-to-end administration of employee leave programs, including family and medical leave, workplace accommodations, workers' compensation, parental leave, military leave, and other protected absences.
• Assess incoming leave requests, confirm eligibility, and explain employee rights, documentation needs, timelines, and manager responsibilities in a clear and supportive manner.
• Work closely with third-party administrators, medical providers, and internal teams to move leave cases forward efficiently and resolve outstanding items.
• Maintain complete and confidential records within HR systems, ensuring documentation is accurate, current, and aligned with policy requirements.
• Monitor leave balances, certification deadlines, pay impacts, and return-to-work dates to support smooth case management from start to finish.
• Partner with HR business partners, payroll, and benefits teams to ensure pay processing and benefit continuation are handled correctly during employee absences.
• Stay current on federal, state, and local leave laws and apply company policies consistently to support compliance across all cases.
• Respond to employee and manager questions related to leave programs, accommodations, and benefit implications with discretion and care.
• Recommend process enhancements that improve service quality, reporting accuracy, and overall leave administration practices.