Leave of Absence Specialist

Position Overview

We’re seeking a Leave of Absence (LOA) Specialist to join our HR team and provide high-touch support to employees navigating FMLA, ADA, and other leave programs. This individual contributor role is central to delivering a compassionate, clear, and compliant experience for employees while serving as a liaison between staff, leadership, and our external leave administration vendor.

This is not a management role but demands a high level of ownership, emotional intelligence, and functional expertise. You’ll guide stakeholders through the entire leave lifecycle—from initial inquiries to post-leave reintegration—ensuring clarity, compliance, and care every step of the way.

Key Responsibilities

Employee & Manager Support

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees, managers and 3rd party vendor throughout the leave process.
• Proactively guide individuals through FMLA, ADA, military leave, and life event scenarios.
• Provide empathetic, white-glove service: answer questions, follow up, and ensure employees are supported, not overwhelmed.

Process Facilitation

• Coordinate with our external vendor to track, manage, and report on leave activity.
• Facilitate and document LOA interactive process conversations between managers and employees.
• Train managers on leave policies, email templates, system use, and compliance documentation.

Compliance & Reporting

• Monitor and interpret leave-related reports (3–4 daily); summarize key actions needed for managers and stakeholders.
• Ensure consistent documentation and follow-through in line with FMLA, ADA, and internal policies.
• Develop internal reference materials (e.g., training decks, FAQs, email scripts).

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with HR team members to ensure seamless hand-offs and coordination.
• Work with 3rd-party administrators to escalate and resolve service issues when needed.

Qualifications

Required

• 3+ years of experience in a LOA or benefits-focused HR role.
• Strong knowledge of FMLA, ADA, and other statutory leave requirements.
• Associate’s degree or higher.
• Proven ability to distill complex policy information in a calm, clear, and supportive manner.
• Strong organizational skills with experience managing high-volume reporting and follow-up tasks.

Preferred

• Experience working with Matrix or similar vendors (e.g., Unum).
• Experience supporting large, multi-site workforces.
• Prior experience creating HR training or policy communication materials.