GDI - Benefits & Leave Director

Great Day Improvements: A Family of Brands•Twinsburg, OH

15h•$110,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Benefits and Leave Director is responsible for the hands-on management, administration, and continuous improvement of the organization’s benefits and leave of absence programs, including FMLA, ADA/reasonable accommodations, state and local leave laws, disability, and workers’ compensation. This role serves as the primary subject matter expert for benefits and leave administration, vendor coordination, compliance, and the HR systems supporting these programs. The Director partners closely with HR leadership to ensure programs are operationally sound, compliant, cost-effective, and employee-focused while balancing technical and regulatory expertise with strong execution and service delivery.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field strongly preferred.
7–10+ years of progressive Human Resources experience with a strong focus on leave of absence management and benefits administration.
Demonstrated hands-on experience managing leave programs, including FMLA, ADA/reasonable accommodation, state and local leave requirements, disability, and related return-to-work processes.
Hands-on experience administering employee benefits programs and HRIS/benefits platforms within a multi-location or growing organization; experience with ADP or similar systems strongly preferred.
Experience supporting open enrollment, benefit renewals, vendor and broker coordination, audits, regulatory reporting, reconciliations, and system implementations or enhancements.
Strong working knowledge of benefits and leave compliance requirements and the ability to monitor regulatory changes and translate them into operational processes.
Strong analytical and technical aptitude, including the ability to maintain accurate data, analyze leave and benefits trends, and clearly present actionable information.
Strong organizational and project management skills with a high level of accuracy, attention to detail, and accountability.
Effective communicator with a service-oriented approach and the empathy, discretion, and judgment required to support employees through sensitive leave and benefits matters.
Collaborative and adaptable, with the ability to work effectively across HR, Payroll, Finance, IT, Legal, Operations, vendors, and leadership in a change-driven environment.
Demonstrated commitment to improving employee experience through operational excellence, scalable processes, and continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR, CEBS, CLMS (Certified Leave Management Specialist), or similar professional certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end administration of leave programs, including FMLA, ADA/reasonable accommodation, state and local leave laws, personal leave, military leave, short- and long-term disability, and workers’ compensation coordination, from initial intake through return to work.
Determine leave eligibility, issue required notices and certifications, track key dates, and ensure timely and compliant case management, including job protection and intermittent leave tracking.
Partner with employees, managers, HR Business Partners, Payroll, and leave/disability vendors to coordinate pay, benefits continuation, job protection, return-to-work planning, light-duty arrangements, and accommodation logistics.
Maintain leave administration documentation, standard operating procedures, training materials, and internal controls while monitoring evolving federal, state, and local regulations and partnering with leadership and Legal on required changes.
Manage the day-to-day administration of employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement plans, wellness programs, and workers’ compensation.
Serve as the primary point of contact for benefits and leave vendors, brokers, and third-party administrators, ensuring effective coordination and issue resolution.
Support annual benefits renewals, open enrollment planning, employee communications, and execution.
Provide employee support related to benefits and leave questions, enrollments, eligibility, system transactions, and issue resolution.
Ensure accurate benefit eligibility, payroll deductions, reconciliations, vendor invoicing, and data administration.
Ensure ongoing compliance with federal, state, and local requirements governing leave and benefits administration, including FMLA, ADA, and applicable state and local leave laws.
Coordinate and support regulatory filings, audits, reporting requirements, and nondiscrimination testing.
Produce recurring and ad hoc reporting related to leave case volume, enrollment, utilization, costs, participation, compliance, employee demographics, and benefits and leave trends.
Maintain data integrity across HR, benefits, and leave systems through regular audits and reconciliation processes, and translate data into clear, actionable insights for leadership.
Identify and implement opportunities to improve leave and benefits administration through automation, workflow optimization, standardization, system enhancements, and new tools.
Maintain scalable, repeatable administration practices that support organizational growth while improving operational efficiency and the employee experience.
Collaborate closely with HR Business Partners, Payroll, Finance, IT, Legal, Operations, and benefits, disability, and leave vendors to ensure accurate data flow, aligned processes, and effective program administration.
Support workforce planning, reporting, and broader total rewards initiatives through benefits and leave data and serve as a trusted internal resource for leave and benefits administration questions.