BENEFITS AND LEAVE SPECIALIST

About the position

The Benefits and Leave Specialist is responsible for managing and coordinating employee leave offerings. Working closely with the Benefits Team, Vendors, HR, and other key stakeholders, ensures compliance with federal, state, local, and company-specific policies regarding employee leaves, including Family and Medical Leave (FMLA), short-term disability, long-term disability, and other leaves, as applicable. Additionally, the specialist will support the Benefits Team by assisting employees with their benefits enrollment, eligibility, and general inquiries, providing excellent service and guidance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the company's leave programs, including but not limited to, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD), Paid Family Leaves, as well as educating employees on available leave benefits, policies, and processes.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on LOA Administration and serve as the primary contact for employees, managers, and HR regarding the organization's leave programs, including parental, medical, disability, military, and unpaid leaves and provides assistance with leave related issues.
• Partner with HR on leave requests, communication of approvals, denials, and extensions.
• Ensure documentation and tracking of leave requests and approval processes are entered in the HRIS system and with our 3rd party system, to ensure accurate reporting of employee leaves.
• Work closely with our third-party leave administrator and direct billing/COBRA administrator.
• Ensure all required documentation is submitted and kept confidential (e.g. Medical certifications, doctor's notes, etc.).
• Monitor company policies and practices related to leave and benefits to ensure they are up-to-date and compliant with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations such as FMLA, ADA, etc.
• Collaborate with HR and supervisors across all locations to ensure smooth processing of leave requests and assist employees in understanding the impact of leave on their benefits, job status, etc.
• Provide support to employees, managers and HR for return-to-work communication and/or requested accommodations.
• Create reports for management regarding leave patterns, potential issues, or workforce planning based on leave data.
• Organize and calculate disability payments through TPA for exempt and non-exempt payments.
• Prepare and maintain templates related to leave and benefits, to include, state specific leave letters, confirmation letters, approval notices, and reminders.
• Stay up to date with industry trends, leave regulations and best practices in leave and benefits administration.
• Assist in the development and continuous improvement of the leave process and benefits programs.
• Provide support to the Benefits team on benefits matters and future planning to develop, and/or implement new or modified plans, including setup, testing, and coordination of employee communications, wellness program communications, etc.
• Primary workflow approver in HRIS System.
• Assist the Benefits Team during Open Enrollment periods, educating employees on available benefits and assisting with elections.
• Some domestic travel required.
• Provide ongoing administrative support, and other duties as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• 3-5 years with leave and benefit administration.
• Advanced skillset with Microsoft office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Experience with HRIS system, UKG preferred.
• Experience with reporting and benefits analysis, preferred.
• Knowledge of collective bargaining units a plus.

Nice-to-haves

• Strong understanding of leave laws and regulations (e.g. FMLA, ADA, state-specific leave law).
• Strong customer service orientation with the ability to handle employee inquiries professionally.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Exceptional organizational skills.
• Excellent communication both written and oral.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced work environment and changing regulations.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative and solve problems in a positive manner.

Benefits

• Health insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Wellness programs.
• Employee discounts.
• 401k matches.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Ongoing development.
• Advancement opportunities.
• Bonus program.