Lead HR Analyst- Leave Administrator

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Job Summary

The Lead HR Analyst- Leave Administrator will support the Human Resources (HR) department and Leaves vendor to manage and administer the process for all leaves of absence (LOA) across the company. This role ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as company policies, while maintaining appropriate communication with employees, supervisors, and other stakeholders. This position will work closely with the HR team on other team projects and initiatives which includes our Employee Assistance Program and Critical Incident Process. The ideal candidate will possess a deep knowledge of federal and state leave of absence regulations, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a customer-service mindset to support the leave management process for a sophisticated and high-performing workforce.

Responsibilities

• Manage all leaves of absence (LOA), including but not limited to USERRA regulations, FMLA, state-protected leaves, parental leave, medical leaves, military leave, and other company-provided leave programs
• Monitor the statutory leave landscape at the state levels to determine whether any new or updated state laws would impact the Company
• Partner with employees and supervisors throughout the leave process, providing guidance and updates on leave requirements and timelines
• Partner with SMEs (Employee Relations, HR Legal, Benefits Legal, Workers' Compensation, Medical Services) effectively
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local leave laws, such as FMLA, ADA, and applicable state-specific leave regulations
• Ability to interpret and understand plan information, including policies, summary plan booklets, plan documents, and contracts
• Effectively manage vendor relationships and ensure issues are recognized and addressed in a timely manner.
• Work closely with internal and external legal counsel or leave experts as needed
• Maintain documentation and records for all leaves and related communications in accordance with compliance requirements and company policies
• Act as the primary point of contact between employees, human resources, leadership, time reporting / payroll, and external vendors for leave-related inquiries and administration
• Facilitate clear communication to all stakeholders regarding leave outcomes, responsibilities, and next steps
• Maintain accurate records related to leaves, including required notices, supporting documentation, and correspondence
• Assistance with maintenance of Time away portal webpage
• Provide support on HR-related projects, initiatives, and communications, and provide additional assistance to HR management as assigned
• In-depth understanding of FMLA, ADA, and other key leave legislation, along with the ability to interpret and apply them in a business context Familiarity with state-specific regulations regarding leaves (e.g., California CFRA, WA PFML)
• Understanding of basic payroll processes and their interaction with leave management
• Self-motivated with strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize competing tasks and meet deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to navigate and lead sensitive, high-impact conversations with empathy, clarity, and professionalism
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and leave management software
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and professionalism when working with sensitive employee information
• Comfortable navigating complex leaves scenarios and effectively communicating recommendations to employees and management
• Adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving environment while maintaining precision and accuracy in work
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and instincts for identifying when to escalate issues to senior HR leadership or legal counsel

Basic / Required Qualifications

Desired Qualifications

Working Conditions