Senior HR Operations Specialist; Shelton, CT

Position: Senior HR Operations Specialist (Shelton, CT)
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Job Description The Senior HR Specialist is responsible for delivering a high-quality employee experience through efficient HR administration, employee support, and leave management. Serving as a primary point of contact for employees, this role provides guidance on payroll, benefits, HR policies, and employee lifecycle processes while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and exceptional customer service.  In additions, this role will manage, alongside the organizations leave management vendor, the organization's employee leave programs, including Family and Medical Leave (FMLA), Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD), Workers' Compensation, state-mandated leave programs, and other statutory or company-sponsored leave benefits.

The Specialist acts as the internal leave program administrator, partnering closely with employees, managers, HR Business Partners, Payroll, Benefits, and the organization's third-party leave management vendor to ensure a seamless leave experience and regulatory compliance.  
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* Location:

** On Site M-F in our Shelton, CT office.  
** Key Responsibilities
**** Employee Support & HR Operations
*** Serve as a first point of contact for employee inquiries related to:  + Pay and payroll processes  + Benefits programs and enrollment  + HR policies and procedures  + Time-off programs  + Employee records and employment verification
* Provide timely, accurate, and customer-focused responses to employee questions and concerns.
* Support onboarding activities, including:  + Preparing new hire documentation  + Coordinating pre-employment requirements  + Facilitating onboarding and orientation processes  + Ensuring completion of required paperwork and system setup
* Maintain employee data within HRIS, ensuring accuracy and data integrity.
* Partner with Payroll and Benefits teams to resolve employee issues and ensure smooth administration of HR programs.
* Develop and maintain HR process documentation, knowledge articles, and employee resources.
* Assist with audits, reporting, compliance activities, and special HR projects as needed.
* Ensure compliance with company policies and applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.
* Contribute to a culture of operational excellence by identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, enhance service delivery, and streamline employee and manager experiences.
** Immigration & Vendor Management
*** Coordinate immigration-related processes with the Company's external immigration counsel and vendors to support employee visa, work authorization, and sponsorship activities.
* Prepare, collect, and submit required documentation for immigration cases while ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with applicable requirements.
* Serve as an HR liaison for employees, managers, and immigration partners regarding case status, documentation needs, and process requirements.
* Track immigration case milestones, deadlines, and required employee actions to support a positive employee experience and maintain compliance.
* Maintain confidential immigration records and documentation in accordance with company policies and legal requirements.
** Billing & Administrative Support
*** Review, process, and monitor invoices from immigration and other HR-related vendors for accuracy and adherence to established budgets and approval processes.
* Submit purchase requisitions and billing requests, track payment status, and partner with Finance to resolve invoice discrepancies when needed.
* Maintain vendor expense records and provide reporting on immigration and HR operational expenditures as requested.
* Support vendor relationship management by ensuring timely communication, documentation, and issue resolution.
** Leave of Absence Administration
*** Serve as the internal administrator and primary HR contact for all employee leave programs.
* Manage the administration and coordination of:  + Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)  + Short-Term Disability (STD)  + Long-Term Disability (LTD)  + Workers' Compensation  + Paid Family and Medical Leave programs  + State and local leave requirements  + Military, personal, and other company-sponsored leaves
* Partner with the organization's third-party leave administrator to ensure timely and accurate case management.
* Guide employees and managers through the leave process, explaining eligibility, documentation requirements, timelines, and return-to-work expectations.
* Monitor leave cases and proactively follow up to ensure appropriate documentation…